Oscars Month marches forward on We Drink & We Watch Things as we tackle the provocative and high-stakes contender that has everyone talking: Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling political odyssey, One Battle After Another. Far from a traditional war movie, this is a stylish, kinetic look at an underground network of anti-fascist revolutionaries navigating a modern America on the brink. Pour yourself something strong and steady - you’re going to need it to keep up with the frantic energy of The French 75.
This week, we examine the film’s portrayal of resistance, following Leonardo DiCaprio’s "Bob" as a former munitions expert forced out of a stoner haze to protect his daughter from a shadow-government cabal. We talk through PTA’s decision to blend Thomas Pynchon’s psychedelic paranoia with very real contemporary anxieties, specifically focusing on the "Latino Harriet Tubman" operation led by Benicio Del Toro’s serene sensei. We also analyze Sean Penn’s unsettling turn as the obsessive Colonel Lockjaw and the film’s central question: in a world of pervasive surveillance and escalating extremism, is organized rebellion a noble necessity or a cycle of "one battle after another?"
If you’re keeping up with Mackenzie’s Oscar ballot or just love a film that feels like a fever dream of the evening news, this episode is an absolute must-watch. We’re blending our technical appreciation for this 35mm powerhouse with our usual casual conversation, making this a truly electrifying entry in our journey toward Hollywood’s biggest night.
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