The newest installment of our film column showcases a contender for film of the year from Paul Thomas Anderson, possibly the most unusual comedy you'll encounter, and our inaugural Cult Classic selection to pay tribute to a Hollywood icon.
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
In theaters starting September 26th…
Paul Thomas Anderson's tenth film is a loose adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's 1990 novel Vineland. Leonardo DiCaprio takes on the role of Bob, a stoned, traumatized revolutionary who has spent 16 years living off the grid to protect his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti). When an old adversary (Sean Penn) abuses his governmental authority to kidnap Willa, Bob must revert to his former tactics to save her.
Nearly three decades since his debut feature (1996’s Hard Eight), Anderson remains an essential filmmaker, presenting a narrative that resonates with the current era. This thrilling and often humorous satire highlights modern anxieties about military power being exploited for personal interests and the extreme measures one influential individual will take for self-gratification. Captivating us from start to finish, every moment of the 162-minute runtime is expertly crafted.
As expected, the film boasts outstanding performances. Penn is wonderfully vile as a sadistic sergeant, while Benicio Del Toro delivers an excellent portrayal of Bob’s "sensei," a martial arts instructor running an underground railroad. However, it is Infiniti and DiCaprio who truly shine – the former exhibiting remarkable toughness, and the latter crafting a disheveled antihero who commands attention.
One Battle After Another is a rare gem—a big-budget studio film with an indie spirit. In a year when authority is scrutinized constantly, the film's themes resonate as if taken directly from today’s news. Another remarkable addition from a legendary filmmaker.
10/10
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EBONY & IVORY
In theaters from September 19
Jim Hosking, known for the 2016 horror-comedy The Greasy Strangler, shifts his focus to the music realm in a comedy that is definitely not inspired by real-life events. Sky Elobar and Gil Gex play fictionalized versions of Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder, who convene on the Mull of Kintyre to smoke cannabis, discuss music, and eventually explore the possibility of collaboration.
There’s surreal, and then there’s whatever this film presents. A foul-mouthed, brash caricature of Wonder clashes with a serene, vegan nugget-loving McCartney as they meander through nonsensical tangents that bear little connection to the artists or reality itself. Nothing about it makes logical sense, but once you embrace that, the humor eventually emerges. It feels like an extended comedy sketch, and there's something commendable about a film that revels in its own silliness.
Fans searching for musical insight might feel let down, but Ebony & Ivory will delight those who appreciate the unconventional.
6/10
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CULT CLASSIC: THE OLD MAN AND THE GUN (2018)
Available on demand now
On September 16th, the film industry bid farewell to Robert Redford at the age of 89. One of the last great movie icons, he represented both a prominent name in big studio films and a supporter of independent cinema. The Sundance Film Festival, which he founded in 1978, showcased the works of filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, and Damien Chazelle, among others.
Throughout his career, he created timeless classics, and films such as The Sting, All The President’s Men, and Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid are essentials for anyone who hasn’t seen them. My personal favorite, however, would be his final leading role in The Old Man & The Gun, a 2018 crime drama directed by David Lowery (The Green Knight). Redford portrays an aging bank robber and prison escape artist who embarks on one last series of heists, leaving a quietly admiring detective (Casey Affleck) and the woman he loves (Sissy Spacek) in his wake.
This laid-back story relies on the charm of its cast, allowing Redford to display his on-screen charisma one last time and perhaps achieve some sense of closure. Both the character and the actor pursued their passions well into their later years, highlighting the looming question of what happens when one forsakes their calling. Few stars exit as gracefully as the Oscar winner did with this heartfelt farewell.
9/10
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Words: Victoria Luxford
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The newest installment of our film column highlights a potential film of the year from Paul Thomas Anderson, possibly the strangest comedy you'll ever encounter, along with our