Leonardo DiCaprio reveals the true stories that fuelled Oscar contender One Battle After Another

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It’s not surprising that Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film is getting good reviews – but even for him, the praise for ‘One Battle After Another‘ has been exceptional.

The new film is receiving rave reviews, with scores of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 96% on Metacritic. Our critics gave it a perfect 5-star rating, calling it the best film of the year and highlighting outstanding performances from Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and newcomer Chase Infiniti.

The movie centers on Bob Ferguson, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, a former radical who’s now a struggling single dad. Sixteen years after his activist days, he’s forced to confront his past when an old enemy threatens his teenage daughter, pulling him back into a world he thought he’d left behind.

Although the movie’s story is made up – and takes some cues from Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel, Vineland – the director shared that the film’s revolutionary group, the French 75, was inspired by actual groups and movements.

He explained that Anderson drew inspiration from the activities of The Weathermen, a revolutionary group from the late 1960s who fought against imperialism, the Vietnam War, and for civil rights.

These individuals, with diverse backgrounds, were forced to disperse across the country and attempt to blend into mainstream society. Despite this need to hide, they had previously been deeply committed to their beliefs and willing to fight for them, even at great personal risk.

DiCaprio explained that the core idea behind One Battle After Another is to explore the consequences if the beliefs of a past organization resurfaced and negatively impacted those who were once involved.

He described a father attempting to raise his daughter independently, away from modern technology, and connect with her despite his own shortcomings. One night, while home alone and under the influence, he’s forced to confront his past.

Those elements are fundamental to creating the character. Once you’ve established that foundation, you start considering who the character turns to for support.

Okay, so this guy is suddenly dealing with his daughter’s karate instructor, and then *helicopters* show up over his town! It’s a total underdog story – they’re facing impossible odds and some seriously powerful enemies. But honestly, what really got me were the characters. They’re fantastic – flawed, relatable, and just incredibly well-written anti-heroes. I was completely hooked!

Teyana Taylor plays Perfidia Beverly Hills, a key supporting character in the film. She’s a member of the French 75 and had a romantic relationship with DiCaprio’s character when they were both involved in the movement.

Taylor delivers a captivating performance as the spirited and unpredictable revolutionary, drawing inspiration from actual historical figures to fully embody the role.

It felt like things came full circle for me,” she said. “One of my all-time favorite books is Assata [Shakur’s autobiography], and I noticed it on Paul’s table when we were talking about Perfidia. It was a surprising connection.

I was really impressed with it, and I have a clear vision for the future direction of Perfidia.

Besides Assata Shakur, Taylor drew inspiration from women she knew personally, using their experiences to shape decisions she made while creating the film.

She explained that Black women are often expected to be strong, and that resilience is a key part of the character Perfidia. Perfidia also embodies a survival instinct, something the speaker personally understands from her own life experiences.

I also found a lot of personal connections to the role. While I didn’t agree with everything about Perfidia, there were many points I did connect with, and I was able to draw on my own experiences to portray that.

While Anderson likely drew inspiration for his unique characters from history, the film unexpectedly resonates with current issues, not just in the United States, but around the world.

The film tackles critical issues like police brutality, the inhumane treatment of immigrants, and the rise of extremist beliefs among those in power, making it a particularly relevant and urgent work.

Regina Hall, the star of the film, explained that Paul began writing it two decades ago, meaning the parallels to today’s issues weren’t intentional. However, she added with amusement that the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

Taylor explained, “It’s like the saying, ‘If the shoe fits, wear it.’ This really applies to the current situation, and it’s something that needs to be addressed. It’s frustrating that we’re still dealing with this issue – why hasn’t anything changed yet?”

Given that this script was written two decades ago, I believe the movie will spark important and constructive conversations.

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2025-09-26 09:41