Movie Review - One Battle After Another

It's a challenge for me to review a movie like this because I didn't want to see it, and then as I watched it, I wanted to see it even less. That's due to the subject matter. There are a lot of things in movies like this that trigger me. I have a hard enough time keeping any faith that there's any humanity left in the world. I don't need to be reminded of it in entertainment.

Acting

This is certainly the strongest aspect of the movie. The acting is great across the board, not just Leonardo DiCaprio. I have to give a big shoutout to Sean Penn. Not just for his acting, but for accepting the role that he portrayed. Sean is known for his humanitarian efforts and criticism of the current administration. I've always admired actors who take on roles that are the antithesis of their personality and beliefs.

7:42●●● 95%

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Chase Infiniti was great, especially at expressing her raw emotions. Her character and acting were, for me, the most enjoyable aspects of the movie.

Story

This is where I have some issues. I felt like more often than not the story kept me at a distance from the characters. It was more like watching a documentary/reenactment than a deeply emotional movie. Basically, I didn't feel what the characters felt or feel invested in them. The caveat is that I'm also working as I watch the movie to find Peetimes. That by itself is a huge distraction. I'd be interested to hear from others what they think.

My theory is that the story jumps into the action right away and never steps back to examine the motivations of anyone. What I think could have made this a deeply compelling story is, for example, we got to see Col. Lockjaw's motivation for his beliefs. What events in his past shaped him? Basically, make him a sympathetic villain, because he is the villain of the story, or at least he's the instrument of the villains. If his character is developed in such a way as to make me think, "Yeah, maybe if I went through that situation I could see why he might form these beliefs."

And then see the other side of the coin: what events shaped the protagonists into the people they are?

When you see that, and understand the motivations of the characters, whether it's something you condone or not, that makes for a richer story.

Grade: C

Plot
When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue one of their own's daughter.