Video Review - One Battle After Another: Is PTA Bringing Our Political Nightmares to Life?

Video Review - One Battle After Another: Is PTA Bringing Our Political Nightmares to Life?

      EJ Moreno reviews One Battle After Another…

      Could it be that Paul Thomas Anderson is at his peak? With One Battle After Another, we witness the filmmaker taking bold, extravagant steps, and presenting a distinctly modern vision. In other words, this is the film that feels essential at this moment.

      In this nearly flawless masterpiece, PTA brings forth an absolute political horror show, a father/daughter saga, and Leonardo DiCaprio enjoying himself like never before. One Battle After Another embodies the worst fears of every Republican and could ignite the cinematic revolution we've been longing for.

      The film features a cast that includes DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, Wood Harris, and Alana Haim. Check out the review below, and don't forget to follow us on YouTube for more reviews, exclusive interviews, and additional video content…

      “When their malevolent adversary reemerges after 16 years, a group of former revolutionaries comes together to save the daughter of one of their own.”

      This politically charged dark comedy action film is directed and written by Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood), drawing inspiration from Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland.

      SEE ALSO: Check out our written review of One Battle After Another here

      One Battle After Another is set to hit theaters on September 26th.

      About EJ Moreno: EJ Moreno is a film and television critic as well as an entertainment writer who became a part of the pop culture site Flickering Myth in 2018. He currently serves as the executive producer for Flickering Myth TV, a YouTube channel with over 27,000 subscribers. With more than a decade of experience, he is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and is also affiliated with the Critics Choice Association and GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics.

Video Review - One Battle After Another: Is PTA Bringing Our Political Nightmares to Life? Video Review - One Battle After Another: Is PTA Bringing Our Political Nightmares to Life?

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SYNOPSIS:
As I previously mentioned in my review of the recent Blu-ray release, a 4K Ultra HD edition of Get Carter was on the horizon, and I can confirm that it’s well worth the wait. The remaster is outstanding, and it comes with a generous selection of bonus features, including two commentary tracks, an extensive interview with director Mike Hodges, and additional content. Plus, you also receive a Blu-ray disc that features the remaster, rather than just an older Blu-ray thrown in. Highly recommended. 
In my earlier review of Get Carter on Blu-ray from Warner Archive Collection, I stated that a more comprehensive 4K Ultra HD version was coming soon. Now that it’s here, I can say it’s fantastic. It was certainly worth the wait for those who passed on Warner’s recently reissued, less impressive Blu-ray disc. 
You can read my earlier thoughts on the film, but here’s a brief summary: Get Carter stars Michael Caine as Jack Carter, who is involved with mobsters in London but is drawn back to his hometown of Newcastle following his brother's death. 
Jack quickly becomes suspicious that the official account of a drink-driving accident seems dubious, leading him to disregard warnings from his superiors and to take matters into his own hands. Before long, he's entangled in a variety of perilous situations, and as I noted in my review, it “was likely a remarkable way to launch 1970s cinema.” (I say “likely” because I was born in 1970.) 
The remaster for this release significantly enhances the image quality, which is exceptional. I acknowledge I've made similar statements about other 4K Ultra HD releases, but this disc truly represents the highest standard of image quality for this film on home video. Unless, of course, your home theater is as large as a cinema screen, but if that’s the case, I assume you have the means to possess original source files of films or something similar. 
Additionally, the film is included on a Blu-ray disc, and I want to emphasize that it’s not the same Blu-ray that was previously available in the US. From what I understand, both discs utilize the transfer created by BFI Video when the film was released on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray in the UK in 2022. If it’s not exactly the same transfer, it is reportedly very close. 
The earlier Blu-ray only featured a commentary track with Michael Caine, director Mike Hodges, and cinematographer Wolfgang Suschitsky, along with a few trailers. This same commentary is included here, along with the following extras:
• Commentary track: Film critics Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw came together in 2022 to record this track, which serves as an ideal “film class on a disc” commentary that I appreciate. It offers an excellent exploration of Get Carter’s significance in both overall film history and specifically in UK film history.
• Mike Hodges in Conversation (60:12): Captured by BFI in 2022, this provides a great overview of the director’s career, which also encompasses the cult classic Flash Gordon, which holds a special place in my heart.
• Klinger on Klinger (24:09): Producer Michael Klinger’s son, Tony, reflects on his father’s career, which ranged from dramas to sex comedies.
• The Sound of Roy Budd (17:07): Composer Roy Budd receives recognition here, courtesy of film music specialist Jonny Trunk.
• Don’t Trust Boys (21:53): Petra Markham, who portrayed Jack Carter’s niece in several scenes, shares her experiences working on the film. The number of her scenes isn't meant to comment on her acting skills: I mention it because it allowed her to also participate in productions at the Royal Court and film her scenes for the BBC sitcom Albert and Victoria. 
Additionally, there’s a brief introduction to the film recorded by Caine in 2022, along with three trailers to complete this edition. 
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★ 
Brad Cook Get Carter, 1971. Directed by Mike Hodges. Featuring Michael Caine, Ian Hendry, John Osborne, and Britt Ekland. SYNOPSIS: As I previously mentioned in my review of the recent Blu-ray release, a 4K Ultra HD edition of Get Carter was on the horizon, and I can confirm that it’s well worth the wait. The remaster is outstanding, and it comes with a generous selection of bonus features, including two commentary tracks, an extensive interview with director Mike Hodges, and additional content. Plus, you also receive a Blu-ray disc that features the remaster, rather than just an older Blu-ray thrown in. Highly recommended. In my earlier review of Get Carter on Blu-ray from Warner Archive Collection, I stated that a more comprehensive 4K Ultra HD version was coming soon. Now that it’s here, I can say it’s fantastic. It was certainly worth the wait for those who passed on Warner’s recently reissued, less impressive Blu-ray disc. You can read my earlier thoughts on the film, but here’s a brief summary: Get Carter stars Michael Caine as Jack Carter, who is involved with mobsters in London but is drawn back to his hometown of Newcastle following his brother's death. Jack quickly becomes suspicious that the official account of a drink-driving accident seems dubious, leading him to disregard warnings from his superiors and to take matters into his own hands. Before long, he's entangled in a variety of perilous situations, and as I noted in my review, it “was likely a remarkable way to launch 1970s cinema.” (I say “likely” because I was born in 1970.) The remaster for this release significantly enhances the image quality, which is exceptional. I acknowledge I've made similar statements about other 4K Ultra HD releases, but this disc truly represents the highest standard of image quality for this film on home video. 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Video Review - One Battle After Another: Is PTA Bringing Our Political Nightmares to Life?

EJ Moreno examines One Battle After Another… Could it be that Paul Thomas Anderson has reached the peak of his craft? In One Battle After Another, the director showcases an audacious, extravagant, and highly contemporary style. Essentially, this is the film we crave at this moment. In this nearly perfect masterpiece, PTA creates a complete political disaster, […]