On Wednesday 17th September 2025, London Mums Magazine was invited to a special screening of One Battle After Another, the latest film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, starring none other than Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn. With two of the greatest acting powerhouses of their generation sharing the screen, expectations were naturally high – and this film certainly gave us plenty to talk about.
The story centres around Di Caprio’s character, a rebellious leader of a group of anarchists determined to challenge the layers of red tape and corruption within America’s broken systems – from immigration and banking to corporations that put profit above human decency. Opposing him is Penn in the role of the antagonist, tasked with putting a stop to these crusaders. The narrative is compelling, and the balance of tense drama and clever humour meant the audience frequently erupted into laughter at some of the razor-sharp one-liners.
Performances across the board were strong, but the standouts for us were Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro, whose characters, though serious, were delivered with an unexpected wit and charm. Their energy gave the film moments that felt reminiscent of the clever storytelling style we’d expect from Quentin Tarantino or the Coen brothers.
If there was one drawback, it would be the soundtrack. At times the score felt overly loud and prolonged, distracting from rather than enhancing the scenes. Combined with a slow start, this occasionally pulled us away from the action.
That said, the film delivered a memorable experience with excellent performances, a thought-provoking storyline, and moments of genuine comedy woven into the drama.
