But it was 2003 before he received his first Best Actor Oscar for his work in director Clint Eastwood‘s ‘Mystic River‘. Penn would be rewarded with another Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Harvey Milk in 2008’s ‘Milk‘, directed by Gus Van Sant.
Sean Penn in ‘The Gunman’. Photo: Open Road Films.
Eight years after fleeing the Congo following his assassination of that country’s minister of mining, former assassin Jim Terrier (Penn) is back, suffering from PTSD and digging wells to atone for his violent past. After an attempt is made on his life, Terrier flies to London to find out who wants him dead — and why. Terrier’s search leads him to a reunion with Annie (Jasmine Trinca), a woman he once loved, who is now married to an oily businessman with dealings in Africa.
Paul Rivers (Penn), an ailing mathematician lovelessly married to an English émigré; Christina Peck (Naomi Watts), an upper-middle-class suburban housewife and mother of two girls; and Jack Jordan (Benicio del Toro), a born-again ex-con, are brought together by a terrible accident that changes their lives.
The story of Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) and Alana Kane (Alana Haim) growing up, running around and going through the treacherous navigation of first love in the San Fernando Valley, 1973.
The true story of a disillusioned military contractor employee (Timothy Hutton) and his drug pusher childhood friend (Penn) who became walk-in spies for the Soviet Union.
The impressionistic story of a Texas family in the 1950s. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack (Penn), through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father (Brad Pitt). Jack finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith.
Sean Penn in ‘The Thin Red Line’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
The story of a group of men, an Army Rifle company called C-for-Charlie, who change, suffer, and ultimately make essential discoveries about themselves during the fierce World War II battle of Guadalcanal. It follows their journey, from the surprise of an unopposed landing, through the bloody and exhausting battles that follow, to the ultimate departure of those who survived.
Brad Whitewood Jr. (Penn) lives in rural Pennsylvania and has few prospects. Against his mother’s wishes, he seeks out his estranged father (Christopher Walken), the head of a gang of thieves in a nearby town. Though his new girlfriend (Mary Stuart Masterson) supports his criminal ambitions, Brad Jr. soon learns that his father is a dangerous man. Inspired by the real events that led to the end of the Johnston Gang, who operated in the northeastern United States in the 1970s.
In honor of his birthday, San Francisco banker Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas), a financial genius and a cold-hearted loner, receives an unusual present from his younger brother, Conrad (Penn): a gift certificate to play a unique kind of game. In nary a nanosecond, Nicholas finds himself consumed by a dangerous set of ever-changing rules, unable to distinguish where the charade ends and reality begins.
(L to R) Ben Stiller and Sean Penn in ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
A timid magazine photo manager (Ben Stiller), who lives life vicariously through daydreams embarks on a true-life adventure when a negative goes missing.
A death row inmate (Penn) turns for spiritual guidance to a local nun (Susan Sarandon) in the days leading up to his scheduled execution for the murders of a young couple.
A confident young cop (Penn) is shown the ropes by a veteran partner (Robert Duvall) in the dangerous gang-controlled barrios of Los Angeles, where the gang culture is enforced by the colors the members wear.
Sean Penn in ‘Carlito’s Way’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Free after years in prison, Carlito Brigante (Al Pacino) intends to give up his criminal ways, but it’s not long before the ex-con is sucked back into the New York City underworld.
The true story of Harvey Milk (Penn), the first openly gay man ever elected to public office. In San Francisco in the late 1970s, Harvey Milk becomes an activist for gay rights and inspires others to join him in his fight for equal rights that should be available to all Americans.
The movie follows a group of high school students growing up in Southern California. Stacy Hamilton (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and Mark Ratner (Brian Backer) are looking for love, and are helped along by their older classmates, Linda Barrett (Phoebe Cates) and Mike Damone (Robert Romanus). Jeff Spicoli (Penn), a perpetually stoned surfer faces-off with the resolute teacher, Mr. Hand (Ray Walston). Hilarity and heartbreak ensue.
Hell’s Kitchen, New York. Terry Noonan (Penn) returns home after a ten-year absence. He soon reconnects with Jackie (Gary Oldman), a childhood friend and member of the Irish mob, and rekindles his love affair with Jackie’s sister Kathleen (Robin Wright).
Sean Penn as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw in ‘One Battle After Another.’ A Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
Washed-up revolutionary Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio) exists in a state of stoned paranoia, surviving off-grid with his spirited, self-reliant daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti). When his evil nemesis (Penn) resurfaces after 16 years and she goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her, father and daughter both battling the consequences of his past.
But there was also the usual dull presenter banter, some truly rude moments of worthy winners played off (the ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ songwriting team even had the lights switched off on them, for which O’Brien apologized) and awkward insertions of politics, no matter how important the cause.
Overseeing the Oscars for the second time, comedian, writer and former late night host O’Brien proved he has what it takes to do this job.
His opening skit, dressed as Amy Madigan’s Aunt Gladys from ‘Weapons,’ chased through different other Oscar nominated movies by a bunch of kids, was a winner.
And if his opening monologue veered between pointed political jabs and some softballs that drew muted responses, it was still superior to other recent efforts. He was even able to smoothly deal with technical issues that plagued the ceremony, such as sound problems and cutting back to him unexpectedly.
Cementing its 2025 success, Warner Bros. enjoyed plenty of awards love this year, as Paul Thomas Anderson finally got his Oscar (six, in fact) for ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘Sinners’ also took home plenty of trophies.
Talking of ‘Sinners’, Michael B. Jordan, whose Actor in a Leading Role ascension over waning prior favorite Timothée Chalamet (his ‘Marty Supreme’ went home empty handed) ended with Jordan on stage thanking those who had blazed a trail before him.
Elsewhere, ‘The Secret Agent’ sadly landed zero awards, but Netflix had a very good night, as ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ won two awards and ‘Frankenstein’ three, with the streaming service behind a variety of other triumphs.
Having actors –– particularly those with a film to promote or remember –– hand out awards has often led to some leaden banter, and this year was no exception. Even the star power of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans couldn’t bring a lame bit to life, while one featuring Sigourney Weaver, Pedro Pascal and Grogu (pimping the upcoming ‘Star Wars’ movie) only really worked because of Weaver’s commitment (“Get away from him, you bitch!” she growled at nominee Kate Hudson, who had been cosying up to the critter in the audience).
Anna Wintour might not be everyone’s first choice for a co-presenter, but there she was, alongside ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’s Anne Hathaway in a moment that felt like Disney selling the sequel more than looking to celebrate the Costume Design or Hair and Makeup categories.
There was more mixed luck with reunions –– the ‘Bridesmaids’ cast brought their moment to life with true comic power while Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman just looked award handing out Best Picture and recalling ‘Moulin Rouge!’.
Three big things happened last night in terms of history. There was the first tie in 14 years (only the seventh in Oscar history) as ‘The Singers’ and ‘Two People Exchanging Saliva’ shared the Live-Action Short Film honors.
‘Sinners’ cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman (and woman of color) to win her category, while the first ever Casting award was handed to ‘One Battle’s Cassandra Kulukundis. Long-favoured Actress winner Jessie Buckley, meanwhile, became the first Irish woman to take home her category for her work in ‘Hamnet’.
The annual remembrance for those in the industry was well handled and featured three major spotlights. First, Billy Crystal gave a moving speech about friend and collaborator Rob Reiner (who was murdered in his home last year alongside his wife, Michele), and was then joined by other cast members of Reiner movies.
Rachel McAdams took the stage to pay tribute to the likes of Diane Keaton and Catherine O’Hara, and then the big finish –– Barbra Streisand arrived to memorialize her ‘The Way we Were’ co-star and cinema icon Robert Redford, before singing for the first time in public (she had all but stopped due to stage fright issues and frustration) in years for a memorable finale to the segment.
‘One Battle After Another’ was the biggest winner of the night, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest taking Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actor (for no-show Sean Penn), Editing and, handed out for the first time this year, Casting.
‘Sinners’ was also successful, as Michael B. Jordan nabbed the top male acting award out from ‘Marty Supreme’s Timothée Chalamet (who had been the favorite for a while, but whose momentum had slowed of late), while its director Ryan Coogler scored Adapted Screenplay, composer Ludwig Göransson landed Best Original Score and Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw made more history as the first woman to win her category at the Oscars.
Elsewhere, ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ continued its successful run with two awards (Animated Feature and Original Song for “Golden”), while ‘Weapons’Amy Madigan got a rapturous reception as she took Supporting Actress for her creepy, wild turn as Aunt Gladys.
While ‘One Battle After Another’ has been the presumed winner the entire awards season, having taken home Best Picture at every major award show including Critics Choice, Golden Globes, and BAFTA, ‘Sinners’ won Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the Actor Awards, building some momentum for the Ryan Coogler helmed film.
It’s also been assumed that Paul Thomas Anderson would finally receive Best Director from the Oscars, especially after winning Outstanding Directorial Achievement from the DGA, but don’t count out a surprise win from Coogler just yet.
Speaking of ‘Sinners’, although Timothée Chalamet won Best Actor for ‘Marty Supreme’ from Critic’s Choice and the Golden Globes, he failed to win at BAFTA, and lost to Michael B Jordan at the Actors Awards, which signals trouble for Chalamet’s Oscar run.
On the other hand, ‘Hamnet’s Jessie Buckley has had virtually no competition in her race to the Best Actress Oscar and after winning every other major award, I don’t think anything can stop her from taking home gold on Oscar night.
Best Supporting Actress seems like a two-way race between Golden Globe winner Teyana Taylor for ‘One Battle’ and Actor Awards winner Amy Madigan for ‘Weapons‘, however, ‘Sinners’ Wunmi Mosaku is still in the mix.
Finally, the Best Supporting Actor category is fairly wide open, with BAFTA and Actor Awards winner Sean Penn currently the frontrunner fighting off Golden Globe winner Stellan Skarsgård for ‘Sentimental Value’. But the Oscars love a surprise, so if ‘Sinners’ has a big night, Delroy Lindo could end up having a surprise win.
Below are our predictions for who will win Oscars on Sunday at the 98th Academy Awards. We are only breaking down our predictions for the six major categories, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.
Leonardo Di Caprio as Bob Ferguson in ‘One Battle After Another.’ A Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.
Well, now we finally have a real race!
Since the start of this awards season it has seemed preordained that director Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ would finally earn the filmmaker a long overdue win for Best Picture. The film has won almost every precursor needed to be the frontrunner, including wins at Critics Choice, Golden Globes, BAFTA, and the all important Producers Guild of America Awards.
However, don’t count ‘Sinners’ out just yet! After grabbing an Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture win at the Actor Awards, as well as Michael B. Jordan’s win for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, the vampire epic now has real momentum.
It also did better at the box office than ‘One Battle’, which sometimes but not always is a factor. But keep in mind that Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the Actor Awards is basically a recognition of ensemble acting and not necessarily a film award. And while ‘One Battle’ was also in that category, I don’t buy into the narrative that ‘Sinners’ “beat” ‘One Battle’ for Best Picture at SAG.
It now seems like we have a two-way race but ‘Hamnet’ is still in the mix after winning a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama, and remember it was produced by Oscar favorite Steven Spielberg.
Keep in mind that the Academy uses a preferential ballot for Best Picture, meaning the winner isn’t simply the film with the most No. 1 votes. Instead, voters rank the nominees, and if no film receives more than 50% of the first-place votes, the movie with the fewest No. 1 votes is eliminated and its ballots are redistributed to the next highest-ranked film on those ballots. That process continues until one film crosses the 50% threshold. In other words, it’s not just about passion at the top — it’s about broad support.
The real question isn’t only who voters rank No. 1, but which film consistently appears in the No. 2 and No. 3 spots and can accumulate support as other contenders fall away. My guess is that many voters may not rank ‘Sinners’ first, but could place it second or third, giving it a plausible path in later rounds. Still, the safer bet remains ‘One Battle’, which feels more likely to build the majority coalition needed to win.
(L to R) Leonardo Di Caprio and Director/Writer/Producer Paul Thomas Anderson on the set of ‘One Battle After Another.’ A Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Merrick Morton.
Just like the Best Picture race, since the start of this current awards season it has seemed like this was “Paul Thomas Anderson’s Year”, and that the ‘Boogie Nights’ director would finally win his long-awaited Best Director Oscar. With directorial wins at every other award show including Critics Choice, Golden Globes, BAFTA, and the all important Directors Guild Awards, it does look like Anderson will finally win Best Director at the Oscars.
But what about Ryan Coogler? While he has yet to win a director’s award this season, he is definitely Anderson’s biggest competition, especially now that the film is surging late. Typically, Best Picture and Best Director go hand in hand, but not always, and much like when Damien Chazelle won best director for ‘La La Land‘ but ‘Moonlight‘ went on to win Best Picture, we could see a similar spilt this year. But if we do, I think it is more likely that Anderson still wins Best Director, and the surprise win comes for ‘Sinners’ in Best Picture.
Let’s be honest, the Academy usually don’t get it right! They could be thinking that Coogler will return with another film in the near future, and want to finally reward Anderson now for ‘One Battle’ as well as his overall career, assuming that Coogler’s time will come sooner than later. While I would love to see an upset and have Coogler win, I would also like to see the Academy finally reward Anderson for his body of work, which I think will be the final result on Oscar night.
This is the race to really keep an eye on! The Oscars love a surprise, and if there is going to be a big surprise on Oscar night, it will be in this category.
Timothée Chalamet began the awards season with wins from Critics Choice and Golden Globes, making it look like he was a lock for a Best Actor win at the Oscars. But, when he lost the BAFTA to Robert Aramayo for ‘I Swear‘, who is not even in the Oscar race, it left the young actor’s Oscar chances vulnerable.
That brings us to Michael B. Jordan, who in my opinion gave the best performance of the year, and recently beat Chalamet at the all important Actor Awards. Historically, one Actor Award win is not enough to ensure an Oscar win, as demonstrated by Chalamet last year when he won Best Actor from SAG for ‘A Complete Unknown‘ but then lost the Oscar race to Adrien Brody for ‘The Brutalist‘. But Jordan has the surging momentum of ‘Sinners’ behind him and a lot of goodwill from Academy voters, while Chalamet seems to be cooling off and has fueled criticism for his unusual Oscar campaign style and recent comments on “ballet and opera.”
There is also a theory that Chalamet is really being rewarded for his performance last year in ‘A Complete Unknown’, when he should have won, and not his performance this year in ‘Marty Supreme’. The Academy tends to do that and often tries to make up for their past mistakes. For example, after not nominating Paul Giamatti for ‘Sideways‘, which he should have been nominated for, the following year he was nominated for ‘Cinderella Man‘. So, if Chalamet does win, it will be for playing Bob Dylan and not for playing Marty Mauser!
Also working against Chalamet is the fact that the Academy typically does not give young actors the Best Actor trophy. They love giving the Best Actress award to young actresses, examples including Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, and recently Mikey Madison. But, if Chalamet were to win, he would be just a few months shy of breaking Adrien Brody’s record as the youngest Best Actor recipient ever for his first win in ‘The Pianist‘. Jordan is just reaching his prime as an actor, and with a long body of work to his credit, voters could see him as a strong alternative, especially with his recent win and the ‘Sinners’ surging.
While Chalamet is statistically the frontrunner, I feel like there will be a big surprise on Oscar night and I’m betting on Jordan for the win.
There really is not much to say here. If there is any locked category this year, it is this one.
‘Hamnet’s Jessie Buckley is one win away from a “perfect award season’. After winning Best Actress at Critics Choice, Golden Globes, BAFTA, and the Actor Awards, she is almost guaranteed a win on Oscar night.
Does she have any competition? A little, but not much. Rose Byrne won a Golden Globe for ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You‘, but that’s because the Globes split the Best Actress race into two different categories, Drama and Musical or Comedy. So, Byrne did not compete in the same category as Buckley. When she has, she has lost to the ‘Hamnet’ star, and I see no reason that will not continue to take place.
Kate Hudson has been campaigning hard, but this is the only nomination ‘Song Sung Blue‘ received, and I don’t think that is enough to compete with Buckley and ‘Hamnet’, which received 8 overall nominations. ‘Sentimental Value’ does not seem to have the same momentum it did earlier in the season, leaving actress Renate Reinsve without a real path to the gold. And with two Oscars already on her shelf, Emma Stone’s nomination was more or less given just to round out the five nominees, not unlike some of Meryl Streep‘s past nominations.
The safe money is clearly on Jessie Buckley to win Best Actress, and at this point it would take a miracle for anyone else to beat her and win.
Delroy Lindo at the New York Premiere of ‘Sinners’. Photo: Warner Bros.
This is another very interesting category and one to keep an eye on for big surprises on Oscar night!
With no real frontrunner, Best Supporting Actor is wide-open and really anybody’s for the taking.
The season began with Benicio del Toro positioned as the frontrunner for ‘One Battle’, but the actor has yet to win for that performance, putting his chances of winning the Oscar in doubt.
His co-star, Sean Penn, could be considered a slight frontrunner after winning BAFTA and the Actor Award, but with two Oscars already to his name, I’m not sure the Academy is ready to hand him his third just yet. I also think that having both actors from ‘One Battle’ in the same category will split the vote, leaving them both empty handed on Oscar night.
Jacob Elordi received a surprise win for ‘Frankenstein‘ at the Critics Choice Awards, but the young actor was unable to capitalize on it and has yet to win a second award.
Veteran actor Stellan Skarsgård won the Golden Globe, but also was not able to capitalize with a second win, and with ‘Sentimental Value’s momentum cooling off, I’m not sure it will be enough to earn him the trophy.
Enter Delroy Lindo. Keep in mind that this is his first nomination this entire awards season, meaning that he has not had the opportunity to compete with his fellow nominees yet. It’s not unheard of for an actor to suddenly enter the Oscar race and win. Marcia Gay Harden successfully pulled that off when she won Best Supporting Actress for ‘Pollock‘ over Kate Hudson, the presumed frontrunner for ‘Almost Famous‘.
With ‘Sinners’ surging, Michael B. Jordan’s possible win, no real front runner in this category, and Lindo’s overall likability in the industry, I do think that he will pull off the win on Oscar night.
While its not as wide-open as Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress is really between two, maybe three actresses at this point.
Let’s just get this out of the way. Much like the two ‘One Battle’ actors in the Supporting Male category, I think ‘Sentimental Value’s Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas will cancel each other out. Neither has won any major award this season, and with the film’s lack of momentum, I doubt either actress has a real shot to win.
While Wunmi Mosaku did win BAFTA, I’m not sure that will be enough to win an Oscar. ‘Sinners’ popularity could give her a boost, and if Lindo and Jordan fail to win, this could be where ‘Sinners’ gets an acting award. But since I do think Jordan and Lindo will be triumphant, I’m thinking this award will be given to someone else.
Teyana Taylor won a Golden Globe, and her film is the frontrunner for Best Picture. It would be odd for ‘One Battle’ to win Best Picture with no wins in the actor categories, so if it were to win an acting Oscar, it will be here. But Taylor has some real competition from veteran actress Amy Madigan.
The ‘Weapons’ actress began the season winning Critics Choice, but bounced around a bit before recently winning the all important Actor Award. That doesn’t make her the frontrunner, but puts her on par with Taylor. Working against Madigan is that she is ‘Weapons’ only nomination, but it’s not unheard of for an actor to win for a movie that received no other nominations. It happened when Kathy Bates won Best Actress for ‘Misery‘.
So while it’s a tight race, I think that Madigan’s long career and versatile body of work will in the end give her an edge over Taylor.
The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA will stream on Netflix March 1st.
Preview:
The nominations for the 2026 Actor Awards have been announced.
‘One Battle After Another’ leads the film field with seven nods.
The ceremony will screen on Netflix once more.
Despite the somewhat surprising decision to change the name of the Screen Actors Guild Awards to the clunkier The Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA, everything else about the performer-focused awards is remaining the same.
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
(L to R) Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Sam Nivola in ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3. Photo: Fabio Lovino/HBO.
Leonardo Di Caprio as Bob Ferguson in ‘One Battle After Another.’ A Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.
Preview:
‘One Battle After Another’ is the latest Warner Bros. movie to top the box office.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s ambitious latest stars Leonardo DiCaprio.
‘Gabby’s Dollhouse’ opened second.
It was certainly a gamble for Warner Bros. to back Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film –– for all the acclaim the filmmaker has accrued, he rarely opens to giant box office figures. And even with a bankable star such as Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead, a budget in excess of $130 million was always going to be tough to turn into profit.
Still, a launch of $22.4 million, enough to top the box office this weekend is certainly healthier for ‘One Battle After Another’ than some might have predicted.
v5LFHnAkFrOnjfi1aaL9n4
With plenty of positive reviews and good reactions from cinemagoers, it’s probably about as solid as an original, long movie with controversial themes (social justice, political violence) might have expected.
It opened to $26.1 million across 74 markets, making for a $48.5 million global start.
Of course, it has a long road to travel to get to profitability, but it has premium format screenings and plenty of buzz to help it build legs.
And it represents another good result for Warner Bros., which has already enjoyed success with the likes of ‘Sinners’ and ‘A Minecraft Movie’ this year.
What else happened at the box office this weekend?
Madelaine Petsch as Maya in ‘The Strangers — Chapter 2’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
Second place this weekend went to the kid-friendly blend of live-action and animation that is show adaptation ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse’. The Universal movie opened to $13.5 million, and $19 million worldwide.
Horror title ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ clung on to third, adding $6.8 million, ahead of misfiring Renny Harlin sequel effort ‘The Strangers: Chapter 2’, which landed in fourth with $5.9 million. That one at least has the advantage of only costing $8.5 million to make.
Fifth was ‘Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’, which topped the box office last weekend, and fell, but is still earning money. It made $4.8 million, and is currently sitting at $115.9 million domestically.
Coming up next week is awards-buzzed ‘The Smashing Machine’ starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, but ‘One Battle’ faces no real challenge to its premium screen formats until ‘Tron: Ares’ lands on October 10th and starts gobbling up IMAX locations.
(L to R) Leonardo Di Caprio and Director/Writer/Producer Paul Thomas Anderson on the set of ‘One Battle After Another.’ A Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Merrick Morton.
Leonardo Di Caprio as Bob Ferguson in ‘One Battle After Another.’ A Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.
Acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson returns to theaters with another modern masterpiece and one of the best films of his impressive career. Loosely based on the novel ‘Vineland’ by Thomas Pynchon, ‘One Battle After Another’ is an incredibly timely, frantic farce that delivers action, humor, and heart.
Leonardo Di Caprio gives a powerhouse performance leading a fantastic cast that also includes Sean Penn in an Oscar worthy supporting role. Benicio del Toro is fantastically funny in his small role, but it is young actress Chase Infiniti that shines along with Di Caprio.
Story and Direction
(L to R) Leonardo Di Caprio and Director/Writer/Producer Paul Thomas Anderson on the set of ‘One Battle After Another.’ A Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Merrick Morton.
The film begins by introducing us to Pat (Leonardo Di Caprio), who is an explosives expert and a member of a group of revolutionaries rebelling against the government and their barbaric immigration policies. The group is led by the charismatic Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor) who is also in a relationship with Pat. She soon crosses paths with Col. Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn) and after she makes a fool of him publicly, he becomes obsessed with her.
Eventually, Perfidia becomes pregnant and after having the baby is captured by Lockjaw, who sends soldiers after the other members. Pat takes the baby, and they go underground living under new identities, careful not to draw Lockjaw’s attention. Sixteen years later, Pat is now Bob Ferguson, an alcoholic pothead raising his daughter Willa by himself, with Perfidia’s whereabouts unknown. They live in a small town where Willa studies martial arts from a local Sensei named Sergio (Benicio del Toro).
Lockjaw is now high up in the government and to join an exclusive and elite club he must kidnap Willa to discover the truth behind a secret that her mother was hiding. Now, with the help of an ex-revolutionary named Deandra (Regina Hall) and Sensei Sergio, Bob must escape from Lockjaw’s men and rescue Willa before it’s too late.
(L to R) Director/Writer/Producer Paul Thomas Anderson, Leonardo Di Caprio and Benicio del Toro on the set of ‘One Battle After Another.’ A Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Merrick Morton.
While I love ‘Boogie Nights’ and think ‘There Will Be Blood’ is one of the greatest American movies ever made, I have to say that ‘Inherent Vice’ is probably my favorite Paul Thomas Anderson movie. That film was also based on a novel by author Thomas Pynchon, which is probably why the two films are similar in tone and offbeat humor. But Anderson wisely updated the 60’s to 80’s setting of the book to modern day. While our current President’s name is never invoked, it’s obvious that Anderson is using the movie to comment on the current administration’s war on immigration.
In fact, this is by far the most political film Anderson has ever made, but it also has more action sequences than his previous movies. The director finds humor in the most absurd situations, but never loses the message or heart of the movie. Anderson is the last of a dying breed of filmmakers who make unique, crowd-pleasing epics every time out, and this film is no exception. The movie also boasts an impressive score from Jonny Greenwood and gorgeous cinematography from Michael Bauman and Anderson.
Cast and Performances
Benicio del Toro as Sensei St. Carlos in ‘One Battle After Another.’ A Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
Leonardo Di Caprio is possibly the last true movie star, having never made a superhero film or even a sequel, he is still an actor that puts butts in seats regardless of the movie’s content. Think about it, this guy got us to go see his bear (‘The Revenant’) movie!
Some of Di Caprio’s best work in recent years has been in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ and ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’, and he’s just as good if not better here. There are some similarities between Rick Dalton and Bob Ferguson, but Di Caprio creates a new, awkward, burnout character for us to root for. He’s not a hero, but you do want him to win and his relentless need to find his daughter drives the movie.
(L to R) Teyana Taylor as Perfidia and Sean Penn as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw in ‘One Battle After Another.’ A Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
Sean Penn gives one of his best performances in recent years and is probably a frontrunner for a Best Supporting Oscar nomination at this point. It’s funny to think of the public Sean Penn we all know, a liberal revolutionary in his own right, playing this completely conservative military character. His performance is specific and fits perfectly with Anderson’s tone.
Bencio del Toro gives a gentle and funny performance as Willa’s Sensei Sergio, who helps Bob along the way. He has great chemistry with Di Caprio and shines in all his scenes. Teyana Taylor makes quite an impression as Perfidia Beverly Hills and gives an explosive performance. Unfortunately, her role is limited due to the story, but she lights up the screen regardless.
hase Infiniti as Willa Ferguson in ‘One Battle After Another.’ A Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
And in her first film, Chase Infinity is a revelation. The actress gives a subtle yet strong performance as Perfidia’s daughter and has great chemistry with Di Caprio. She holds her own in her scenes with Penn and is quite a force on screen.
Oscar Chances
Leonardo Di Caprio as Bob Ferguson in ‘One Battle After Another.’ A Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.
I think it’s safe to say that ‘One Battle After Another’ should be a frontrunner for Best Picture and Best Director nominations at this year’s Academy Awards. I would imagine Best Original Screenplay for Anderson and Best Actor for Di Caprio are also in the mix, as well as a Best Supporting nom for Penn. I would also encourage voters to consider Greenwood’s work for Best Score, as well as Infiniti for Best Supporting Actress.
Final Thoughts
Teyana Taylor as Perfidia in ‘One Battle After Another.’ A Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.
Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson has delivered a movie that is as funny, exciting and exhilarating as it is timely and culturally important. With brilliant performances from the entire cast but especially Di Caprio, Penn, del Toro and Infiniti, ‘One Battle After Another’ is a must see and one of the best films of the year.
‘One Battle After Another’ receives a score of 99 out of 100.
‘One Battle After Another’ opens in theaters on September 26th.
What is the plot of ‘One Battle After Another’?
When their evil enemy (Sean Penn) resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue the daughter (Chace Infiniti) of one of their own (Leonardo Di Caprio).
Who is in the cast of ‘One Battle After Another’?
Leonardo DiCaprio as Bob Ferguson
Sean Penn as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw
Benicio del Toro as Sensei Sergio
Regina Hall as Deandra
Teyana Taylor as Perfidia Beverly Hills
Chase Infiniti as Willa Ferguson
Starletta DuPois as Grandma Jennie
D. W. Moffett as Bill Desmond
Paul Grimstad as Howard Sommerville
‘One Battle After Another’ opens in theaters on September 26th.
Executive producer Sean Penn talks ‘Words of War’. Photo: Decal.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with executive producer Sean Penn about his work on ‘Words of War’, how he got involved in the project, Anna Politkovskaya’s incredible story, why it was important to tell this story now, Maxine Peake and Jason Isaacs’ performances, director James Strong’s impressive work, Penn’s passion for freedom of the press, and what people can do to protect their own freedom of speech.
You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Penn, as well as Maxine Peake, Jason Isaacs, director James Strong, and producer Mark Maxey.
Executive producer Sean Penn talks ‘Words of War’.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about how you got involved with this project and what exactly was your role as executive producer?
Sean Penn: That’s easy. So, Mark Maxey, one of the producers initially had been in touch with Congressman Eric Swalwell, who I have a continuous conversation with. The film was complete by the time I got involved, totally complete. They were, I think looking for champions to help present it in a sense. So, both Congressman Swalwell and I got involved on that basis. I was asked to see the film and when I saw it, I was just knocked out. Before we might talk about any of the timely prescient or political aspects of it, Maxine Peake, Jason Isaacs and Ciarán Hinds, the entire cast are just so fantastic from an actor’s point of view. It was exciting on its own terms. The story itself, I did have some memory of Anna Politkovskaya, the real person, beautifully played by Maxine Peake, and it is that thing that makes me most emotional in film and in life, which is just to recognize deep courage. It is a story of the kind of courage that were it not so rare, the fate of Anna would not have been what it was, because too many voices have been drowned out by that monster, and she was one of very few who had that kind of courage.
MF: Why do you think now was the right time to tell Anna Politkovskaya’s story on screen?
SP: Because I think that one group of one political perspective, and I’m obviously generalizing in this country, is by and large unwilling to soberly recognize how urgent the situation is. Even people who will recognize it and talk about it at a dinner table as if in a kind of performance of hyperbole. But it’s not hyperbole. We are a lot deeper than we let ourselves see most of the time, deeper into a perilous time for the United States of America, and for the world. A substantial part of that has nothing to do with leaders. It has to do with citizens. Citizens who are either exercising profound cowardice in numbing their own imagination and taking the imagination of, in effect cult leaders who might otherwise be working three blocks off the Vegas strip selling used cars. Or on the other hand, and therefore instead of exercising laziness, exercising a kind of fervent worship of nonsense, and the kind of nonsense that is most dangerous. It wouldn’t be the first time in my lifetime that that occurred. It occurred and is occurring in Russia today, and on that level. The point is for us and others not to ever let it get to that level. First thing we could do is maybe listen to our neighbor and find ways to talk that will allow our own voices to be heard. That’s something I need to improve. This movie does that. ‘Words of War’ does that. I really think that people coming in from every point of view will see largely the same thing as each other, no matter what their point of view is. Then we’ll bump both sides again, if not have a deeper understanding of it, have a refreshed one and a sober one.
Executive producer Sean Penn talks ‘Words of War’. Photo: Decal.
MF: You are very passionate about fighting for freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Can you talk about how your own beliefs run parallel with the themes of this movie?
SP: Look, I would say yes, certainly I think that without free speech, which must include a lot of things we don’t like. I think reasonable people know what hate speech is, and we don’t need that. At least we don’t need that provided to us in commercial transfer. We don’t need young minds forming to be learning from morons, or from the Russians who take up a lot of that space, known and unknown to the readers. For me, it’s clear that without free speech and a freedom of the press, there is only fascism to be had. There is only committing oneself to a life without an imagination or a dream, which is what people suffer under authoritarianism.
MF: As an actor yourself, can you talk about Maxine Peake’s performance and the work that goes into playing a real person like Anna Politkovskaya?
SP: She captured courage. That must be something, you asked me what am I feeling in parallel with this thing? Well, what I would say is, I must assume that, in whatever way it manifests, as an actress, as a person with her friends, that the lady is a courageous lady. So, she understood the music of that courage, and it’s beautiful.
(L to R) Jason Isaacs and Maxine Peake in ‘Words of War’. Photo: Decal.
MF: The film also depicts how Politkovskaya’s work affected her personal life with her husband, played by Jason Isaacs. Can you talk about that and Jason Isaac’s performance?
SP: I’m very excited about, he’s been a very well-known and very well-respected actor for a long time, but with ‘The White Lotus’ alone, I’m just sort of tickled to see he’s getting his due, and that he did this film, and what he brought to this film. Yeah, he’s just a consummate actor, and great to watch. Ciarán Hinds is also great, and one of the great faces in film. It just resonates. He comes of times we miss. Very handsome guy, but not pretty. You know, a face that’s lived a lot of life, and you sense that part of it was with a sword.
MF: You are also a very accomplished director, so from that point of view, what is your opinion of director James Strong’s work on this film?
SP: I mean he did the thing that should be our aspiration every time we make a movie, he made me forgot I was watching a movie. I just was in it. I watch movies like a typical audience member. I don’t know if they’d even told me what it was about, because I was familiar with it to a degree with Anna. I had some memories of that case. It’s come up in conversations through the years, and then of course what happened in Moscow at the theater. He got behind the curtain on that in a beautiful way. But he’s a great storyteller and that’s directing.
Maxine Peake in ‘Words of War’. Photo: Decal.
MF: Finally, what would you say to audience members that leave the movie wanting to help protect freedom of speech and freedom of the press, and what conversations do you hope this film sparks?
SP: Well, right off the top of my head, and this is just this one tiny thing among so many options, but there are organizations like IWPR, the Institute for War and Peace. If you’ve got $6 every six months, that’s meaningful. More is more meaningful. So, that’s the easy one, things like that. To do research and find which NGOs that support journalists, and there are many of them, that’s a go-to. I think also when I use this expression, which is not mine, borrowed, that “What sits on our neck is not here just for decoration,” I am very aware that that’s particularly true in my case. At least, that it’s not there for decoration. But it is there for something, and we should use it. So, I think that doing some research and finding out in which way, from financial, to whatever kind of direct involvement, people can support legitimate journalism and legitimate journalists.
8zjAvSWbuLZ4xoDMrECjG
What is the plot of ‘Words of War’?
Anna Politkovskaya (Maxine Peake) was a journalist and human rights activist who persisted with reporting on the conflict in Chechnya despite considerable danger to herself and tried to expose corruption within Russia under the governance of Vladimir Putin. She continued in the face of poisoning, intimidation and violence before being the victim of a contract killing in the elevator of her house on October 7, 2006.
(L to R) Jason Isaacs and Maxine Peake in ‘Words of War’. Photo: Decal.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Maxine Peake and Jason Isaacs about their work on ‘Words of War’, Peake’s first reaction to the screenplay and Politkovskaya’s true story, her approach to playing the character, Anna and Alexander’s relationship, Isaacs’ experience working with Peake, and what it was like for Peake to collaborate with director James Strong on set.
You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Peake and Isaacs, as well as director James Strong, and producer Mark Maxey.
Maxine Peake in ‘Words of War’. Photo: Decal.
Moviefone: To begin with, Maxine, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and learning of Anna Politkovskaya’s true story, and how did you approach playing her in this film?
Maxine Peake: The first reaction, initially, even before the script came in, I was told the script was coming and it was about Anna Politkovskaya. That straight away felt like a no-brainer. Plus, the script is going to have to be bad for me to say no. Then I read Eric’s (Poppen) script, and I thought it was fabulous. I just loved the way it told a domestic life as well as a professional journalistic life. I thought the balance was fabulous. For me, what really struck home was what was happening at home, what was happening in her life with her husband, with her children, and that impact, because I don’t think we see that a lot. We see the intrepid journalist now but what is happening back on home soil for her? It was interesting because it’s set in Russia. We’re playing real-life people. But that for me initially was like, “How’s this going to work?” But I think it’s the right thing to do that we kept our own voices. We were playing as English. I think if we’d have done the accents, it would’ve maybe tilt it into something very different. But I think for me, that was quite an interesting dynamic of creating this character who wasn’t from where I’m from, but was in many ways who I am.
MF: Jason, can you talk about Anna and Alexander’s marriage, how he felt about her work and how that affected both of their lives?
Jason Isaacs: My version of Alexander, because he didn’t tell me these things, but there are some things that are very well-documented. Like he lost his job. He was a shining star in this political chat program, but he was also enjoying the benefits. They might’ve been violently against this newly elected president, (Vladimir) Putin, but nonetheless, he was a popular TV star, and he was not when his wife became infamous. When she really challenged the regime, that was the beginning of his career taking a real downturn. So, I played what my instincts told me must have happened. He was both loving her, respecting her, and jealous of her, and resentful of her and all those things together. It’s not that I played anything because I was opposite a magnificent actress, and I just wanted her to say or do the things I wanted her to do. Acting is never actually about the thing you are doing. It’s about what you want the other person to do. I wanted her to value me. I wanted her to stop doing it. I wanted her not to endanger the family, but maybe it was really my ego. I wanted all those things. I wanted stuff from her. I think something like this happened, but we’re not trying to recreate it as a documentary. We’re trying to tell a dramatic story. So, my version is he had a very troubled time and he had great difficulty with what happened to his wife.
Jason Isaacs in ‘Words of War’. Photo: Decal.
MF: Jason, what was your experience like working with Maxine to create that relationship on screen?
JI: She is a brilliant actress, and the fact is, you do a bunch of research, you do whatever you can. If people are alive, you talk to them. If not, you talk to people who knew them. You read it. Then you look at the script and you just follow your human instincts. Instincts that have been honed over decades and decades of creating human beings that seem in the round. Then James says, “Action.” He let us off the leash a lot to improvise, to try and create a healthy dynamic. You try and make something real, emotional, and truthful happen in the moment, and that’s what it is. He’s an award-winning director for a reason.
MF: Finally, Maxine, what was it like collaborating with director James Strong on set?
MP: It was great because he did let us off the leash, didn’t he? He let us improvise. We just had a freedom. He trusted us to, what Jason said before, do those scenes and they’ve got to feel in the moment, and you’ve got to feel real, and that people are connecting. We didn’t stray a million miles away from the script, but just being able to play that in the moment, and like Jason says, to affect each other, which is the most important thing. Not knowing what was coming next from each other. You have the skeleton of the scene, but just to have different bouncing off points. It’s like a dance. The film looks beautiful as well. You know what I mean? But yeah, it’s the trust. He had trust in us, which you don’t always get.
8zjAvSWbuLZ4xoDMrECjG
What is the plot of ‘Words of War’?
Anna Politkovskaya (Maxine Peake) was a journalist and human rights activist who persisted with reporting on the conflict in Chechnya despite considerable danger to herself and tried to expose corruption within Russia under the governance of Vladimir Putin. She continued in the face of poisoning, intimidation and violence before being the victim of a contract killing in the elevator of her house on October 7, 2006.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with producer and actor Tye Sheridan about his work on ‘Asphalt City,’ his first reaction to the screenplay, why he wanted to make the movie, his character, working with Sean Penn, and training to play a paramedic.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Sheridan, Kali Reis, and director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire.
(L to R) Sean Penn and Tye Sheridan in ‘Asphalt City.’ Photo: Vertical Entertainment.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and as an actor and producer, why did you want to make this movie?
Tye Sheridan: That’s a good question. The project’s been around for a long time. It first came to me in 2018. So, we were trying to get this movie made for many years. It was a labor of love, but it was something we all felt super passionate about. I think the single element that got us most excited was really trying to convey the lives of medics, how important they are to society, the burden that they carry, and how that burden affects them personally. We all thought that it was an exciting story to try to pursue and to keep pushing. We all really believed in the film. That’s why we spent many years trying to get it made. But the film is based on a novel by Shannon Burke, and it’s originally set in the ’90s in Harlem. So, our version of the movie is a much more contemporary telling of the story. It takes place in East New York. So, the screenplay went through an evolution, if you will, over the years. A lot of that evolution came from the stories that we would hear from the medic community, from the EMS community, talking to different medics, and having them share stories from their lives. A lot of that ended up bleeding into the film, and we started to shape the film around some of the stories that we would hear. So, that’s how it evolved over the years.
Tye Sheridan in ‘Asphalt City.’ Photo: Vertical Entertainment.
MF: It is stated in the movie that being a paramedic can be a very thankless job. Can you talk about the emotional stress the occupation puts on Ollie and how he eventually becomes numb to it?
TS: I think when he first starts, he’s the new kid on the block, so to speak. He’s a rookie medic. He’s somebody who envisions a career in the medical field and is trying to get into med school and wants to be a paramedic to get a lot of real-world experience. He does get that very quickly. I think he goes from this guy who just wants to save everyone to really understanding, “Oh, it’s much more complex than that. Some people don’t appreciate what you do and are some people worth saving?” I think that’s what the movie kind of provokes, not so much through my character, but some of the other characters in the film that are facing these kinds of moral dilemmas. But ultimately, it just goes to show how much of a burden they carry. These people they carry a lot of responsibility. They’re the person you call in your worst moments. Right? So that’s the person that’s going to show up and potentially try to save your mother’s life, or your father’s life, or your own life. These people need to be supported. They deal with a lot mentally, and we need to make sure that they have the right resources and support from the community. So, I think, if anything, I hope the film conveys that to the world and to the public, and really shows them a closer look at what their lives may be like and some of the burdens that they may be carrying.
Tye Sheridan in ‘Asphalt City.’ Photo: Vertical Entertainment.
MF: Can you talk about the paramedic training you went through for this film?
TS: It’s very technical. There are scenes that play out. The opening scene is like a 10-minute-long sequence, and we’re in the back of an ambulance, and we’ve got to set an IV and do CPR and get a BVM over the patient. All these different things, and you’re coordinating with each other, so it’s a collaborative process. We spent two months doing ride-alongs leading up to the film, so we would go out three or four times a week doing 12-hour long ride-alongs and usually the night shift. Then, we would spend five or six hours during the day in a classroom environment, learning how to work together, learning how to give people CPR and learning how to intubate, learning how to give IVs, and going through all the procedures that we were going to be experiencing in the film.
(L to R) Tye Sheridan and Sean Penn in ‘Asphalt City.’ Photo: Vertical Entertainment.
MF: Finally, can you talk about working with Sean Penn and having an opportunity to learn from his acting process?
TS: Yeah, it was great. We had a great time working together. It was very intense. It was a very challenging film to make and very challenging roles for us playing medics. Sean took it very seriously and is an intense guy in a great way. He brings a certain level of professionalism and a respect for these people and what they do. I think it was nice for us to have that in common, to really lean on each other, and for that camaraderie to be such a big part of the film. So, I was happy to have a serious partner.
YhXsnDHWbjK3mTwozlzAa7
What is the Plot of ‘Asphalt City’?
‘Asphalt City’ follows Ollie Cross (Tye Sheridan), a young paramedic assigned to the NYC night shift with an uncompromising and seasoned partner Gene Rutkovsky (Sean Penn). The dark nights reveal a city in crisis; Rutkovsky guides Cross, as each 911 call is often dangerous and uncertain, putting their lives on the line every day to help others. Cross soon discovers firsthand the chaos and awe of a job that careens from harrowing to heartfelt, testing his relationship with Rutkovsky and the ethical ambiguity that can be the difference between life and death.
Who is in the cast of ‘Asphalt City’?
Tye Sheridan as Ollie Cross
Sean Penn as Gene Rutkovsky
Kali Reis as Nia
Michael Pitt as Lafontaine
Katherine Waterston as Nancy
Mike Tyson as Chief Burroughs
(L to R) Tye Sheridan and Sean Penn in ‘Asphalt City.’ Photo: Vertical Entertainment.
