WHAT WENT WRONG

[Bonus Preview] One Battle After Another Review

October 1, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The film discussed in the *WHAT WENT WRONG* episode "[Bonus Preview] One Battle After Another Review" is an expensive, original, and politically incendiary action thriller directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon's novel *Vineland*. 
  • The hosts found the film highly entertaining, noting that the audience was completely engrossed, but they experienced varying levels of investment in the different character storylines, particularly praising Chase Infinity and Tiana Taylor's performances over Leonardo DiCaprio's central role. 
  • Paul Thomas Anderson developed the script for *One Battle After Another* over 20 years, combining three separate ideas, which resulted in a sprawling narrative that blends 1970s revolutionary themes with modern-day elements like smartphones. 

Segments

Introduction and Film Identification
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(00:00:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The WHAT WENT WRONG bonus episode reviews Paul Thomas Anderson’s expensive, original film, One Battle After Another.
  • Summary: The episode opens by framing the film as an incendiary, original work released by a major studio with a budget between $130 and $175 million. The hosts confirm the film being discussed is One Battle After Another. The film is noted to be at least partially inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland.
Spoiler-Free Initial Reactions
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(00:01:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Lizzie’s initial spoiler-free review suggests the movie is highly entertaining, captivating nearly half the IMAX audience she observed.
  • Summary: Lizzie states she really liked the film and observed the audience was completely wrapped up in the viewing experience. She promises initial thoughts are spoiler-free before moving into details about the making of the movie. She expresses strong attraction to Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance and praises the work of Sean Penn, Tiana Taylor, and Chase Infinity.
Cast Performance Highlights
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(00:03:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance was highly appealing to Lizzie, who compared his character to a version of The Big Lebowski, while Tony Goldwyn looked remarkably young.
  • Summary: Lizzie found Leonardo DiCaprio’s personality in the role the most attractive she’s experienced, noting he was more subdued than his Once Upon a Time in Hollywood role. She praises Sean Penn and Tiana Taylor but felt Regina Hall was underused and Chase Infinity was the heart of the movie. Lizzie also expressed shock at how young Tony Goldwyn looked compared to Sean Penn, despite them being the same age.
Overall Assessment and Box Office Context
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(00:05:19)
  • Key Takeaway: Chris considers One Battle After Another an excellent movie and a potential Best Picture frontrunner, despite its loose structure causing some narrative lulls.
  • Summary: Chris agrees the film is excellent and understands why it is being cited as a Best Picture frontrunner, especially given its status as an original studio release. He notes the film’s loose structure allows immersion but sometimes pulls focus away from more engaging characters, like Leonardo DiCaprio’s Bob Ferguson. Chris highlights Benicio del Toro’s understated performance in a captivating side quest sequence.
Script History and Production Details
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(00:15:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Paul Thomas Anderson has been developing the script for over 20 years, initially combining three separate ideas into a 600-page Microsoft Word document.
  • Summary: The script’s development spanned over two decades, starting before PTA had children and combining ideas about a bounty hunter, a young activist, and an adaptation of Vineland. PTA noted that he spent excessive time working on the script in Microsoft Word, which he still uses for screenwriting despite shooting on analog film. The film is PTA’s first contemporary setting since Punch-Drunk Love.
Casting History and DiCaprio’s Role
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(00:18:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Leonardo DiCaprio joined the film, which helped secure its large budget, after previously regretting turning down a leading role in PTA’s Boogie Nights.
  • Summary: DiCaprio’s involvement likely secured the film’s budget, as he had previously turned down a role in Boogie Nights, calling it the greatest regret of his career. The original concept for the movie involved a sci-fi world where PTA tried to eliminate cell phone technology, which DiCaprio helped change.