Before this film, Paul Thomas Anderson had at least one certifiable classic on his CV in There Will Be Blood. Now, make that two. In saying this, most of his films range from good to brilliant. This is his second adaptation of a Thomas Pynchon novel (after the uneven but interesting Inherent Vice) and it looks at the lives of modern American revolutionaries, notably members of French 75. The group are apparently named after a WWI weapon, and then a cocktail, both of which have something of a kick.
Leonardo DiCaprio plays Bob, The Rocket Man, who makes the ordnance for the group and is in a relationship with fellow revolutionary, Perfidia (Teyana Taylor). A combination of a run-in with Sean Penn's Colonel Steven Lockjaw, and a rash killing of a security guard triggers more interest in the group, and so a roundup begins. Perfidia is caught, then forced to name names before doing a runner. But not before she has a daughter with Bob, whom he is left to raise on the run.
After this frankly electric set-up, the film settles a smidge as we see Bob and teenage daughter Willa (newcomer Chase Infiniti) ensconced in Baktan Cross, somewhere near the Mexican border. When ex-member, Billy Goat is picked up, it's not long before Lockjaw and the military arrive on the scene. In the 16 or so years since Willa's birth, Bob has been keeping his head down, more often than not, over a bong. When the warning call comes in, he's in no fit state to react correctly, so he enlists he help of Willa's martial arts sensei, Sergio (Benicio Del Toro).
This film really has it all - thrills, laughs, emotion, incredible set pieces, peerless performances (basically, they need to give Penn all the supporting awards now to save time). It's not often that a film can be 'worthy' and hilarious, as well as incredibly tense, but PTA has pulled it off here. It's almost like he looked at the very best bits of the Coen Brothers, Scorsese and Tarantino, and thought, 'Let's see what I can do.'
The level of acting in this is fantastic, right from the kick-off. The first meeting of the two heavyweights (DiCaprio and Penn) sets the tone for the film - "Charlene? Sounds like a black girl's name." Penn's posture, his mouth movements, his formal enunciation, it's a brilliant composition of 'bits' that make the whole. Del Toro is perhaps the least demonstrative of the leads and his non-plussed attitude is a great foil to DiCaprio. Chase Infiniti has it all to do amongst these champs but she rises to it and has a couple of really impressive scenes, especially with Bob. And DiCaprio is just improving with age. His shouted proclamations start out as revolutionary fervour, and become, sixteen years later, brilliantly absurd verbal hiccups. The scene with Willa's friends at the door is priceless.
Thematically, it's not afraid of going for the jugular, either. The French 75 are both satirised and lionised. Their aims of justice, and equality for all races are valid, and the raids on immigration detention centres seems potently prescient. There's also a sidebar relating to a cabal of rich, white conservative twats called the Christmas Adventurers that Lockjaw desperately wants to join. In fact, his need for acceptance in this group cleverly clashes with the machinations of the French 75 and his vendetta against them. This is one of the reasons that Penn is the real star of the film - his character has the edge in agency and internal conflict.
It has a very eclectic soundtrack with songs from Beyonce, The Jackson 5 and Steely Dan, as well as a cracking score by Jonny Greenwood. I've said enough, though, just go and see this at the cinema. It's the best film of the year so far. An absolute gem.
See also:
Daniel Goldhaber's How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022) is another fine exploration of justifiable political dissent, and There Will Be Blood (2007) is another of Paul Thomas Anderson's equally brilliant films.
(Film stills and trailer ©Warner Bros, 2025)
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