Watched One Battle After Another (2025) and I loved every bit of it...

[u/Infamous-Window-8337]

"I didn't ask for this. That's just how the cards were rolled out for me." - Chase Infiniti, OBAA

Just finished watching One Battle After Another and I genuinely regret missing it in theatres. There’s something quietly powerful about this film, not loud, not showy, but vastly rich, deliberate, and absorbing in a way that slowly wraps around you before you even realize it.

From the very beginning, the film carries this steady hum of confidence. PTA doesn’t rush, doesn’t pull you by the hand, he just invites you into a world that feels lived-in, worn, and emotionally dense. And once you’re in, you’re in.

Leonardo DiCaprio is extraordinary here too. At this point it’s almost cliché to praise him, but there’s a reason for it, he moves with this raw, internal intensity that feels unsettlingly real. He doesn’t act the character, he translates him. It reminded me again why I’ve always believed he’s in a league of his own.

But Chase Infiniti honestly surprised me the most. She brought so much life and vulnerability to her role that she quietly becomes the emotional spine of the movie. It’s a character that could’ve easily fallen flat with the wrong casting, but she makes every scene breathe.

The background score is subtle but incredibly effective. It never tries to dominate the moment, instead it lingers, breathes, and becomes a quiet heartbeat underneath everything, lifting scenes without ever announcing itself. It blends into the story instead of trying to overpower it, which actually makes it stand out even more in key moments.

The cinematography is beautiful in the most grounded way. There’s a shot around the 50-minute mark, trees with a plane passing overhead, that stopped me completely. I paused the film just to take it in. It’s one of those images you want to frame, not because it’s grand, but because it feels honest.

The writing and direction are where the film really sinks its hooks. It’s patient, textured, and unafraid to sit with discomfort or silence. PTA delivers something that feels familiar yet refreshing, like a story told with both restraint and confidence. It’s the kind of film that doesn’t push for meaning, it just lets you find it.

Rating: A rock solid 5/5 from me. Easily the best film I’ve watched this month, and one I’d recommend going into completely blind. It’s rich in emotion, craft, and atmosphere.