One Battle After Another – Budget of $130 – 175 million – 2 hours and 42 minutes
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Rocketman joins other members of the French 75 outside of an immigration center. Perfidia sees him and asks what’s in his wagon. He explains that it’s explosive, and she’s intrigued. He wants to know more about the mission. However, everyone knows their part but not the whole plan. As Rocketman sets the explosives, other members gather the immigrants and detain the soldiers. Perfidia distracts Captain Lockjaw. Her take-charge attitude arouses him as she steals his hat and gun. She, the team, and the immigrants exit the center, using Rocketman’s explosions as a distraction.
The French 45 set up political attacks everywhere, but don’t know that Lockjaw has fixated on Perfidia. His obsession grows to anger when he sees Rocketman kiss and fondle her. He follows them on their next mission and corners her in a bathroom. He offers to let her go if she meets him at a hotel with his gun and hat. If not, he will expose her crew. She slithers away and completes the mission. Then, she joins Lockjaw in a hotel room and leaves sans hat and gun.
Eight months later, Perfidia is pregnant, and Rocketman worries that she is ignoring it. She looks forward to continuing the revolution, firing guns, and running from the police. After their daughter’s birth, Perfidia becomes jealous of the time Rocketman spends with their little girl, Charlene. She believes Charlene is slowing down her mission and continues to fight while Rocketman cares for the child. During a grocery run, Lockjaw stands behind Rocketman and asks about the baby. He states it’s a girl and biracial. Lockjaw makes strange observations before leaving.
Perfidia gathers a team to rob a bank to fund the French 75. During the robbery, Perfidia shoots and kills a security officer. The police catch and detain her. Lockjaw gives her an option: give up the crew or die in jail. Perfidia turns state’s evidence and enters the witness protection program. The French 75 hears about Perfidia’s capture and runs to protect Rocketman and Charlene. They give him a trust device, new identities as Bob and Willa, and a nearby sanctuary city. Bob and Willa go into hiding as Lockjaw murders members of the French 75. Lockjaw returns to Perfidia after the roundup, but she’s fled to Mexico.
Sixteen years later, a man approaches Colonel Lockjaw with an invitation to an exclusive club, the Christmas Adventurers. They are a group that believes in strong borders, family values, and purity. They ask about Lockjaw’s loyalty to his country and his debts. Then, they inquire about interracial relationships. Lockjaw says he has only slept with women of his race. They inform him that they will conduct a double Yankee background check into his past. If they find anything, he can’t be a member. Lockjaw leaves with his head full of pride, but he has one problem: Charlene. She could be evidence of his night with Perfidia. He sends the army to locate her and bring her to him.
Willa attends high school and isn’t allowed to have a phone. Bob hasn’t disclosed much about his past, but tells Willa her mom was a hero who fought for everyone’s freedom. He drinks and smokes to forget the past, but cares deeply for his daughter. As she leaves, Bob demands that she take the trust device and stay safe. Willa attends a school dance and goes to the bathroom. Her trust device starts to make noise, and Deandra gives Willa the passphrase. Willa hasn’t met Deandra but trusts Deandra with her life. Under Deandra’s instructions, Willa leaves the party with her. Bob receives a phone call that the army captured a former member looking for Willa. They already extracted Willa, but need him to follow the procedure. Bob, in a stupor, enters a tunnel, grabs his gear, and runs to locate Willa. He must keep her safe from Lockjaw before Lockjaw exposes the truth about him, her mother, and Bob. Can Bob save Willa?
Inspired by Viceland by Thomas Pynchon, this film begins as a revolutionary heist film and changes to a game of chess (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The director didn’t concentrate on title cards or clothing to give the film’s period. It’s left up to the viewer to decide. The writers centered on the mission while illuminating issues such as immigration, the undocumented workforce, history, and lineage. Nevertheless, the writers didn’t preach about the topics. It mentions them while focusing on saving Willa. The natural lighting and close-up allowed the cinematography to maintain its gritty edge. The script is sharp-witted, charming, and edgy. Bob navigates fatherhood with the edge of a revolutionary. However, viewers must observe his hypocrisy. He challenges her history teacher to expose the dark side of history, while veiling Willa from her past. The strong imagery of Perfidia firing a gun while pregnant, compared to Willa doing it in a tutu. Both display their femininity and strength as the walls close in on them. This film makes you laugh and flinch. However, the writers don’t want to change ideals or force policy. They focus on telling a compelling story that captivates from start to finish.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
They got a plan for us – Perfidia
I’ll be seeing you very soon – Lockjaw
You’re not breathing – Sergio
It’s like she doesn’t realize she’s pregnant – Bob
I won’t – Willa
She thinks her mother was a hero – Deandra
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