Jakarta. Staying on top of one’s career for years can be extremely hard, but one of the world's highest-paid actors, Leonardo DiCaprio, proves that he is still on top of his game despite debuting back in 1989. Fast forward to 2025, DiCaprio is now back with another masterfully done work, playing as a stoned revolutionary in “One Battle After Another”.

Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson is responsible for the scriptwriting, production, and directing of this nearly three-hour-long film. DiCaprio plays Bob Ferguson, a single dad who used to be a member of the French 75, a revolutionary group that has been fighting against right-wing supremacists. He has paired up with Chase Infiniti (Willa) as the main father-daughter duo. 

“One Battle After Another” starts off by showing the audience why Bob and Willa have to live off-grid. The film introduces us to the fierce revolutionary Perfidia (Teyana Taylor). She is Willa’s mother and Bob’s girlfriend. Perfidia is not only absent in Willa’s life, but will also go missing for the most part of the movie, although she is still a driving force in the story. After some incidents with the brutal big bad Col. Lockjaw (Sean Penn), Perfidia has to abandon Bob and her infant daughter.

The movie then cuts to 16 years later. Willa is now a karate kid thanks to Sensei Sergio St. Carlos (Benicio del Toro), a dojo owner who has been helping local migrants. Unfortunately, all hell breaks loose when Lockjaw wants to join a group of white supremacists. He has sent his men to kidnap Willa to get into the club. And so the stoned single dad Bob is on a journey to save his daughter.

Anderson has made a nice blend of epic action and dark comedy. One recurring joke in the movie is how Bob is too stoned to remember the passcodes to his old group. But thanks to the natural dialogue, coupled with DiCaprio’s acting, this repeated joke never falls flat. And while his never-been-washed red plaid bathrobe makes him look like he doesn’t give a care in the world, Bob is worried sick about his daughter. And this paranoid dad is a role that DiCaprio plays well.  

But “One Battle After Another” doesn’t solely bank on DiCaprio to keep the audience entertained. It continuously switches between Bob and Willa at a nice pace. Each character -- despite how short their screentime is -- has their own story and personality. While heartless, Lockjaw is not a lifeless antagonist.  Composer Jonny Greenwood also knows how to turn the drama into something that is pleasing to the ears. His endless piano staccato scales have added the cherry on top to the film. 

DiCaprio has become an easy indicator of how good a movie is. If DiCaprio is on it, then it must be something worth watching. 

“One Battle After Another” is now playing in Indonesian theaters, a few days earlier than its US release. DiCaprio has gained massive popularity worldwide, including in Indonesia, thanks to the timeless classic “Titanic”. His popularity will help the movie attract a huge crowd, especially those who want something to watch other than horror.

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