One Battle After Another - The scoop and digest

The latest written, produced and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson is inspired by Thomas Pynchon's 1990 novel Vineland.

As a reminder, geezer previously adapted author's Inherent Vice (without changing title). 

Leonardo DiCaprio - Bob Ferguson/Ghetto Pat

Sean Penn - Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw

Benicio del Toro - Sergio St. Carlos

Teyana Taylor - Perfidia Beverly Hills

Chase Infiniti - Willa Ferguson/Baby Charlene

Paul Grimstad - Howard Sommerville/Gringo Coyote

Summary

Members of far-left revolutionary group the French 75, Pat and his partner Perfidia (meaning betrayal), break out illegals from the Otay Mesa Immigration Detention Centre in California.

What they believe is clear:

"Free borders, free bodies, free choices and free from fucking fear!"

I wouldn't be at all surprised if this becomes an actual thing.

After foiling Perfidia planting a bomb, Captain Steven Lockjaw lets her go in exchange for ooh la la at a motel.

The result is Charlene, but Pat fails to persuade Perfidia to embrace family life, so abandons them.

During a botched bank job, Lockjaw captures Perfidia and she avoids doing bird by giving up the French 75 and enters witness protection.

On the run, Pat and Charlene go under the assumed names of Bob and Willa Ferguson respectively.

16 years later, the relationship between an alcohol and drug-dependent Bob and Willa is strained, mainly due to his over-protective nature.

For anti-illegal alien efforts, Lockjaw is promoted to Colonel and joins powerful white supremacist group the Christmas Adventurers, to hunt and take down Bob and Willa.

Snap, crackle, pop

Knockabout political satire is loaded with action, chaos and twists, and a strong candidate for film of the year.

At over 2h 30, running time was initially concerning, but shit simply flew by.

Ever present but never intrusive, Jonny Greenwood's suspenseful score of strings and piano deserves an Oscar.

Chase Infiniti is a revelation, and for those not aware, she's named after Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman in Batman Forever) and Buzz Lightyear's catchphrase "To infinity and beyond!" from Toy Story.

You can understand the decision to 'misspell' surname.

Ironic humour is served in spades, particularly Jordan Belfort's hilarious temper tantrum at not being able to remember the answer to code speak "What time is it?"

Sporting a spectacularly ridiculous blonde quiff, Penn is also excellent, with sexually charged lunatic eventually gassed and incinerated.

Oh, Sisters of the Brave Beaver is the greatest name for a rendezvous point... EVER.