One Battle After Another is a commercial film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. I previously watched his film There Will Be Blood, which delves deeply into themes of religion and human nature. This commercial film is clearly different in style from his earlier works, being more direct and simplistic. The character portrayals are overly typical, making them seem less realistic; however, Sean Penn's performance is still very strong, vividly expressing the complexities of a far-right character.
The film primarily explores the intense confrontation between the extreme left and extreme right in America. Both sides have clear viewpoints: the extreme left advocates for revolution, ostensibly for the marginalized, but in reality, they are more concerned with their own interests; the extreme right seeks tradition, claiming to maintain social order, but fundamentally harbors class and racial discrimination. The two factions fight fiercely against each other, yet sometimes they find that they share common ground and mutual respect. The ordinary people caught in the middle are the most innocent; they just want to live normal lives and have no desire for political symbols, but feeling powerless, they can only avoid and hide. The phrase "Be water," frequently mentioned by the master Sensei Sergio, played by Benicio del Toro, represents the attitude of most people: although individual strength may be weak, when united, they form a powerful force, full of resilience, avoiding direct confrontation with opponents, adapting to circumstances, and achieving victory through wisdom.
The cinematography and soundtrack of the film are quite good, and the final segment of the winding road chase is shot like a wave in motion, which is quite distinctive. Watching it in an IMAX theater provides a good experience.