There are prestige gigs in the acting game, and being part of a Paul Thomas Anderson film must rate high on that list. His filmography is impressive, as is the list of amazing actors who have worked with him. His newest film, One Battle After Another, illustrates that he has lost none of his considerable powers and that he continues to set his sights on having a relevance to the world at large. 

The story that underlies One Battle After Another is the extreme actions that governments (and the clandestine groups behind them) will resort to to ensure that their vision for the world is the dominant one. The overview is of the firebrands that fuelled opposition to the status quo and were unafraid to use any means necessary to restore their version of a fair and equal society.

There are a few things to consider with the amazing performances by lead actors Sean Penn and Leonardo DiCaprio. You have to admire the moment when Penn read the script for his absolutely repugnant character, Col. Steven J. Lockjaw and thought, yeah, I’m in. DiCaprio as well for taking the risk with his lost stoner father figure, who eventually rises to the occasion. Their faith in PTA being absolute.

This perfectly paced thrill ride of a movie utilises two of the current best, DiCaprio and Penn, at a zenith moment of their careers. Paul Thomas Anderson has never been better, and his choice of subject matter has never been more relevant and needed as well. This is a work that comfortably resides amongst his other stand out works, yes, it’s that good.
Rob Hudson
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Oscar and BAFTA winners Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn also star alongside Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti, as well as Wood Harris and Alana Haim.

Anderson directs from his own screenplay, and produces alongside Oscar and BAFTA nominees Adam Somner and Sara Murphy, with Will Weiske executive producing.

The creative team behind the camera includes several frequent collaborators, among them directors of photography Michael Bauman and Anderson; Oscar-nominated, BAFTA-winning production designer Florencia Martin; BAFTA-nominated editor Andy Jurgensen; Oscar and BAFTA-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood; casting director Cassandra Kulukundis; and with music by Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated composer Jonny Greenwood.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents A Ghoulardi Film Company Production, A Paul Thomas Anderson Film, “One Battle After Another.” Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, the film will be in cinemas nationwide on September 25, 2025.
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Oscar and BAFTA winners Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn also star alongside Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti, as well as Wood Harris and Alana Haim.

Anderson directs from his own screenplay, and produces alongside Oscar and BAFTA nominees Adam Somner and Sara Murphy, with Will Weiske executive producing.

The creative team behind the camera includes several frequent collaborators, among them directors of photography Michael Bauman and Anderson; Oscar-nominated, BAFTA-winning production designer Florencia Martin; BAFTA-nominated editor Andy Jurgensen; Oscar and BAFTA-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood; casting director Cassandra Kulukundis; and with music by Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated composer Jonny Greenwood.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents A Ghoulardi Film Company Production, A Paul Thomas Anderson Film, “One Battle After Another.” Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, the film will be in cinemas nationwide on September 25, 2025.
www.facebook.com/WarnerBrosAU/

The set-up is basic as we catch a preoccupied-looking Johnson exiting the airport and grabbing a cab from the rank to transport her back into Manhattan. Behind the wheel is Clark (Penn) a twenty-plus-year veteran of driving people where they want to go. He is a keen observer of the human condition and those decades have not been wasted.

They soon strike up a conversation that will slowly reveal hidden secrets and expose the depths of their internal conflicts. It is fascinating watching, or rather hearing Penn slice through Johnson’s defences with his observations on why people do the things they do. He gets her to reveal herself to him in a way she has never done before.

The strength of the film resides in the words spoken by the actors with such consummate skill. The script is so full of wonderful nuance and drive, it doesn’t waste a single word. By the film’s end, you will feel like you got to know these two people intimately and your world will become better for it. If you love film, you will love this.
Rob Hudson

The Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) is a celebration of cinema as art, entertainment and industry, for everyone seeking bold and unforgettable experiences.

An annual event, held over 11 days from Thursday 24th October to Sunday 3rd November 2024 and spread across several wonderful locations in Brisbane.

This years festival will showcase over 40 feature films and 40 short films from home and abroad, filmmaker Q&As, industry and student events.
www.biff.com.au/

Experiencing life in Southern California in the seventies and actually visiting many Licorice Pizza record stores and also owning a waterbed, this film and Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood have been an interesting experience in nostalgia. While Q.T.’s take was more visual and grand, Anderson’s focus is more character-driven and less extravagant.

The inhabitants of this world are not superheroes (well maybe Bradley Cooper’s take on Jon Peters might qualify) but normal folk just trying to find their way in an ever-changing landscape. It’s particularly emotional watching Cooper Hoffman act as his father feels very present in almost all his actions. Alana Haim is also very effective as the gawky coming of age Alana.

Licorice Pizza feels like a very personal statement from Paul Thomas Anderson and as such fits nicely in the film universe he has created thus far with films like Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood. His art and action seem on the subtle side this time but the underlining truth feels universal. Ultimately it should become a valued addition to his oeuvre.
Rob Hudson
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Written and Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film tracks the treacherous navigation of first love.

Licorice Pizza will be released in Australian Cinemas this Boxing Day!
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Standing in for Neeson this time out is the now craggy faced Sean Penn, who looks like he spent considerable time in the gym while preparing for this role. He plays Jim Terrier, an overseas mercenary with a dark secret and a love interest in Annie played by Italian actress Jasmine Trinca. Through circumstance they become separated but the tie of love warrants a future reconnection.

There are more notable moments of interest amongst the cast members like Javier Bardem sporting normal look hair or Idris Elba getting to test run the initials J.B. than there is in what is a very predictable script. The lack of discovery in the storyline is unsuccessfully remedied by a ramp up of excessive and graphic violence.

The Gunman does however have it moments. Little expense is spared with its overseas location shots so it looks great and the action scenes, while predictable are never less than exciting. When you add up all the pieces, you get a modern revenge scenario that will only become an institution with public support and this time out that seems a stretch.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/STUDIOCANAL.AUS

The compilation of the Oxford English Dictionary began in 1857 and was one of the most ambitious, and revolutionary projects ever undertaken. Professor James Murray (Mel Gibson) took on the challenge of creating the most comprehensive dictionary ever compiled, but knew that it would take him and his team over a century to compile all known definitions. However, by “crowd sourcing” the work, that is, by enlisting definitions from people all over the world, the dictionary could be compiled in mere decades.

As definitions were collected, the overseeing committee, led by Professor Murray, discovered that one man, Dr. W.C. Minor (Sean Penn), had submitted more than ten thousand words. When the committee insisted on honoring him, a shocking truth came to light: Dr. Minor, an American Civil War veteran, was a convicted murderer and being held at an asylum for the criminally insane.

The Professor and the Madman will be released in Australian cinemas February 20, 2020!
www.transmissionfilms.com.au

Standing in for Neeson this time out is the now craggy faced Sean Penn, who looks like he spent considerable time in the gym while preparing for this role. He plays Jim Terrier, an overseas mercenary with a dark secret and a love interest in Annie played by Italian actress Jasmine Trinca. Through circumstance they become separated but the tie of love warrants a future reconnection.

There are more notable moments of interest amongst the cast members like Javier Bardem sporting normal look hair or Idris Elba getting to test run the initials J.B. than there is in what is a very predictable script. The lack of discovery in the storyline is unsuccessfully remedied by a ramp up of excessive and graphic violence.

The Gunman does however have it moments. Little expense is spared with its overseas location shots so it looks great and the action scenes, while predictable are never less than exciting. When you add up all the pieces, you get a modern revenge scenario that will only become an institution with public support and this time out that seems a stretch.

Rob Hudson
www.thegunmanthefilm.com

The story line mainly focuses on real-life gangster Mickey Cohen and the extremes the authorities back in the day used to bring him down. Cohen’s real life story makes for fascinating reading but the movie only taps into a fraction of that but the parts they do use succeed in making Penn as Cohen one of the most over the top villains in screen history. He chews up and spits out so many gangster clichés, it become quite hilarious.

The original cut of the film was modified after the Dark Knight Rises shooting in Aurora, Colorado (it having featured a scene of a shooting in the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles) but the film is still exceedingly violent. Its straightforward plot and pace doesn’t tax the gray matter much but rewards fans of the action genre with plenty to experience.

Summertime here in Australia is the perfect time to get lost in the air-conditioned dark with an epic adventure and an epic amount of popcorn. Gangster Squad makes perfect fodder for that kind of endeavor. It’s pure entertainment and provides the kind of visceral thrill that only a ten-metre wide screen and huge sound system can provide.
Rob Hudson