The Big Picture

One Mailbag After Another, and the Updated PTA Movie Rankings

September 29, 2025

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  • The box office performance of Paul Thomas Anderson's *One Battle After Another* is less relevant than its existence, which was secured through long-standing studio relationships and corporate synergy involving figures like Mike DeLuca and David Zaslav. 
  • Amanda Dobbins' updated ranking of PTA films places *There Will Be Blood* at #1 and *One Battle After Another* at #3, suggesting a strong, though perhaps premature, critical assessment of the new film. 
  • While *Eddington* captures modern anxiety through phone usage and cynicism, *One Battle After Another* serves as a counterpoint by focusing on being present in the world and offering a forward-thinking, hopeful perspective on activism. 
  • Paul Thomas Anderson's films, including the new release *One Battle After Another*, are characterized by an unashamed, sometimes juvenile, sensibility regarding sexuality and humor. 
  • The discussion heavily focused on the extensive cinematic syllabus influencing *One Battle After Another*, citing influences from *Star Wars* (as noted by Leonardo DiCaprio) to Jonathan Demme's work, particularly *The Silence of the Lambs* and *Something Wild*. 
  • Benicio Del Toro's performance as Sensei is highlighted as MVP-level, showcasing tender, multitasking care for the revolutionary families, which contrasts sharply with the film's action sequences and the auteur's typical focus on female absence. 
  • The emotional takeaway from Paul Thomas Anderson's new film, 'One Battle After Another,' centers on the theme of time, with the protagonist Bob ultimately understanding its importance in contrast to another character's view. 
  • Andy Greenwald shared a highly personal and intense anecdote about seeing 'The Master' in 2012, experiencing simultaneous news of imminent fatherhood and a death, all while being introduced to Harvey Weinstein. 
  • The discussion highlighted the unique directorial ability of Paul Thomas Anderson to blend grand artistic statements with deeply human moments, such as the 'girl dad' sentiment expressed in the final lines of 'One Battle After Another.' 

Segments

Box Office and Shareholder Disease
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(00:00:57)
  • Key Takeaway: The box office performance of One Battle After Another is a barometer for future film production, but excessive shareholder hand-wringing over its immediate profitability is misplaced.
  • Summary: The film opened with $22.4 million domestically and $48.5 million globally, already surpassing PTA’s previous highest grosser, There Will Be Blood. Hosts argue that the film’s existence is anomalous, secured by executive relationships (Mike DeLuca) and corporate maneuvering (TCM/Zaslav), making immediate profit metrics less critical than for typical blockbusters. Listeners are advised to ‘chill out’ regarding the budget concerns, as the film’s funding was a result of synergistic relationship building.
Value of Forever Movies
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(00:06:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Movies that become ‘forever movies,’ like The Ten Commandments, generate long-term revenue through licensing and reformatting, contrasting with ‘dead stock’ event movies like Aquaman that quickly become obscure.
  • Summary: The hosts contrast the long-term value of enduring art with the short-term profitability of moment-specific franchise films. Aquaman (2019) made a billion dollars but is expected to generate less revenue over time due to ongoing franchise reboots. A film like One Battle After Another, if it achieves classic status, will accrue value over decades, unlike content designed only to satisfy for six months.
Favorite Funny Moments
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(00:14:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Specific comedic highlights in One Battle After Another include Bob Ferguson’s ‘Life, man’ reflection, Benicio Del Toro’s dance, and Leo screaming at Comrade Josh.
  • Summary: Listeners submitted their favorite LOL moments from the film, with hosts citing several specific lines and sequences. The ‘Life, man’ line delivered by Bob Ferguson was a standout for Sean. Amanda highlighted the humor in Leo’s tunnel sequence and Benicio Del Toro’s final dance.
Best PTA Halloween Costumes
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(00:16:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Bob Ferguson’s bathrobe and blue-blocker glasses are predicted to be a highly popular and easy-to-replicate Halloween costume for 2024.
  • Summary: The immediate popularity of Bob Ferguson’s look was evidenced by three people wearing the costume on opening morning at the Vista theater. Costume designer Colleen Atwood confirmed the specific bathrobe material was custom-made, making an exact replica difficult. Other viable costumes include Dirk Digler, Roller Girl, or pairing up for Lancaster Dodd/Willa or Daniel/HW Plainview.
Worst Power Outage Scene
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(00:20:19)
  • Key Takeaway: The worst moments for a power outage during One Battle After Another would be during the high-energy prologue chase or immediately before the reveal of Heim’s wig flying off.
  • Summary: The most obvious worst time for a power outage is during the climactic show chase sequence near the end of the film. Other high-tension moments where a cut would be devastating include Willa’s apprehension by authorities and the intense bank robbery/convenience store sequence in the prologue.
Preferred Viewing Format
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(00:22:07)
  • Key Takeaway: The VistaVision format, which only four screens worldwide can project, provided an unparalleled depth and beauty superior to the DCP version, despite the film breaking 40 minutes into Amanda’s screening.
  • Summary: Amanda experienced the film in six different formats, including 70mm IMAX and standard 70mm, but found the first 40 minutes in VistaVision to be the best version. The Vista theater experienced a film break, forcing a switch to DCP, which was a significant downgrade in visual quality. The recommendation is to see the film in the largest format available at a preferred theater, acknowledging that format preference is subjective.
Updated PTA Film Rankings
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(00:27:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Amanda Dobbins’ current PTA ranking places There Will Be Blood at #1 and The Master at #2, with One Battle After Another currently slotted at #3, though she admits the placement is too soon.
  • Summary: Amanda’s list places Inherent Vice at #10 and Heart of the Country (Heart 8) at #9, while Boogie Nights drops to #6, its lowest ranking ever for her. Phantom Thread surprisingly lands at #1, displacing There Will Be Blood and The Master from their long-held top two spots, reflecting recent re-evaluations.
Significance of One Battle After Another
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(00:34:04)
  • Key Takeaway: For younger viewers who came of age during COVID, One Battle After Another feels like the first truly monumental, historically significant film event comparable to Titanic or Pulp Fiction for previous generations.
  • Summary: The film generates a feeling of witnessing a cinematic landmark, a sentiment previously associated with massive cultural events like Titanic or Barbenheimer. Unlike IP-driven blockbusters, this film’s significance is rooted in its perceived quality and the director reaching a creative peak, similar to how The Dark Knight or The Matrix felt immediately important.
Comparison to Eddington
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(00:44:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Both Eddington and One Battle After Another address impotent men failing in modern times, but Eddington is defined by phone-induced paranoia and cynicism, whereas PTA’s film champions action and hope by sending Willa out into the world.
  • Summary: The films are linked by their focus on flawed protagonists in failing times, but One Battle After Another offers a forward-thinking resolution by emphasizing physical action over online panic. The contrast lies in Eddington’s ‘we’re all fucked’ conclusion versus PTA’s acknowledgment that the next generation might succeed where the current one cannot.
PTA’s Humor and Sexuality
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(00:53:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Paul Thomas Anderson’s humor is characterized by unashamed sexuality, often including juvenile sex jokes, reflecting a ‘horn-dog pervert’ sensibility integrated into his singular artistic vision.
  • Summary: The speaker notes that PTA has a sensibility about sexuality that is unashamed, often featuring five sex jokes per film, which can be seen as either juvenile or natural. This sensibility is linked to his artistic singularity, evidenced by unique jokes like calling a nunnery ’the sisters of the brave beaver.’ Despite this, the speaker personally likes PTA and views these elements as part of his humanity.
Film Syllabus and Influences
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(00:56:53)
  • Key Takeaway: The syllabus for One Battle After Another includes cited works like Star Wars, Dog Day Afternoon, The Lion in Winter, and official influences such as Battle of Algiers and Midnight Run.
  • Summary: The hosts detail the extensive film syllabus connected to One Battle After Another, noting that Leonardo DiCaprio cited Star Wars and Dog Day Afternoon (for phone acting). Paul Thomas Anderson recommended The Lion in Winter for its acting, while the official syllabus included Searchers, Running on Empty, and French Connection for car chases. Specific callbacks in the film include Set It Off and Terminator 2 Judgment Day.
Double Feature Contextual Pairings
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(01:00:17)
  • Key Takeaway: The film’s context can be deepened by pairing it with Putney Swope and The Three Day Pass, or Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Up in Smoke.
  • Summary: The speaker offers curated double features to deepen the context of One Battle After Another. One pairing is Robert Downey Sr.’s satire Putney Swope with Melvin Van Peebles’ The Three Day Pass. Another pairing links Fast Times at Ridgemont High (due to Sean Penn) with Cheech and Chong’s Up in Smoke, noting an undeniable homage to The Big Lebowski in the new film.
Small Moments and Character Depth
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(01:03:40)
  • Key Takeaway: A key visual moment signaling narrative shift is the cut from a hawk to a Blackhawk helicopter, while Benicio Del Toro’s tender, non-subtitled scenes with families are emotionally resonant character moments.
  • Summary: Listeners are pointed toward specific memorable shots, such as the hawk/Blackhawk cutaway signaling the film going ‘sideways’ due to impending military action. The speaker found the scenes of Del Toro’s character, Sensei, interacting with families in the tunnel, often without subtitles, to be deeply moving. Another cherished moment is the Steely Dan needle drop accompanying Willa’s karate performance, followed by Del Toro’s observation, ‘You’re not breathing.’
Listener Mailbag and Live Show
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(01:10:34)
  • Key Takeaway: A listener seeking a date for the upcoming NYC live show provided strong compatibility markers, including The Social Network and Phantom Thread as favorite films.
  • Summary: The show paused PTA analysis to address a listener, Sharon, who needed to sell a second ticket to the New York City live show after a breakup. Sharon’s preferred movies included The Social Network, Phantom Thread, and Marriage Story, and she listens to the podcast during morning runs. The hosts provided the mailbag email for interested NYC-based listeners to contact her.
Adam Nayman on Critical Consensus
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(01:14:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The near-unanimous critical acclaim for One Battle After Another may stem from a cultural desire to rally around a major cinematic event, but Nayman suggests a film must withstand challenges to be truly great.
  • Summary: Adam Nayman suggests that the current critical consensus reflects a desire in film culture to find something significant to champion, perhaps echoing a ‘we’re so back’ mentality. He notes that critics, often a predominantly white, male demographic, are excited to proselytize for this art. However, he posits that if a movie cannot stand up to later, deeper challenges to its consensus, it might not be very good.
Autobiographical Strains and Gender Politics
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(01:21:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The film leaves PTA open to scrutiny regarding his authorship, particularly concerning the character of Perfidia Beverly Hills and the recurring PTA theme of absent or objectified women.
  • Summary: Nayman points out that PTA’s authorship invites readings of autobiography, especially concerning Bob’s role as a showman/distraction creator and his shift from making films about absent fathers to being one. The character Perfidia Beverly Hills, a powerful Black female leader who disappears, is seen as highly loaded given PTA’s history of focusing on female absence or desire objects. The complexity of her characterization, including postpartum struggles, is present but hangs over the film as a prologue rather than its central focus.
Del Toro’s MVP Performance
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(01:34:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Benicio Del Toro’s performance as Sensei is described as sublime, embodying calm, parental care while multitasking, and channeling the spirit of a Jonathan Demme film.
  • Summary: Del Toro’s performance is lauded for its calm amidst life-or-death situations, exemplified by the line ‘play defense,’ which connects to Willa’s training. The editing choice to cut back to Sensei’s actions during Bob’s phone call highlights a balance between characters, something PTA reportedly worked out spontaneously with Del Toro on set. Nayman felt Del Toro wandered in from a Jonathan Demme movie, which he considers a high compliment for PTA.
DiCaprio’s Star Power and Performance
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(01:47:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Leonardo DiCaprio’s commitment to the role, evidenced by extensive press, bridges the gap between niche auteur cinema and mainstream box office success, delivering a deeply felt, transformative performance.
  • Summary: DiCaprio’s involvement is credited with giving One Battle After Another a $23 million North American opening, bridging the gap between niche critical acclaim and wider awareness. He is engaging in press levels not seen since the 2000s, signaling his investment in the project. His performance as a ‘girl dad’ is considered legitimate and transformative, making it rare for the most capable lead actor to also be the biggest star.
Emotional Takeaways and Time Theme
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(01:51:40)
  • Key Takeaway: The core emotional takeaway from Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film is its exploration of time, exemplified by the protagonist Bob understanding its reality while another character denies it.
  • Summary: The film’s emotional core revolves around the concept of time, which the character Bob ultimately grasps, contrasting with another character’s assertion that time does not exist. This understanding informs the coda, which is seen as earned optimism rather than unearned hope, drawing a parallel to the ambiguous ending of ‘The Searchers.’ The detail of Bob mentioning the three-and-a-half-hour drive is highlighted as a beautiful, paternal detail.
The Master Viewing Anecdote
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(01:55:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Andy Greenwald experienced the New York premiere of ‘The Master’ in 2012 while simultaneously receiving texts confirming both a pregnancy and the death of a great aunt, creating an intense emotional confluence.
  • Summary: Andy Greenwald attended the New York premiere of ‘The Master’ in September 2012 at age 28, accompanied by friends including Chuck Klosterman. During the pre-screening introductions, he received texts confirming his wife’s positive pregnancy test and the death of her great aunt within 90 seconds. This overwhelming sequence of birth, death, and the introduction by Harvey Weinstein immediately preceded the film’s opening, leading to a disorienting viewing experience.
PTA Filmography Rankings and Style
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(02:01:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Amanda places ‘One Battle After Another’ in her top three PTA films, favoring his later works where the heart opens and female characters feature more prominently, while Andy still ranks ‘The Master’ as his number one.
  • Summary: Amanda ranks ‘One Battle After Another’ in her top three PTA films, preferring his later work that shows more heart and features women more significantly, finding this new film a summation of his previous styles. Andy maintains ‘The Master’ as his favorite due to its oblique, conceptual filmmaking, though he acknowledges the new film is more pleasing and earned its emotional payoff. Both acknowledge PTA’s ability to blend revolutionary themes with intimate, human moments, like the ‘girl dad’ focus.
Casting and Director’s Vision
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(02:05:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Paul Thomas Anderson excels at eliciting peak performances from both established stars (like Leonardo DiCaprio and Benicio Del Toro) and complete newcomers, ensuring all actors operate on the same naturalistic field.
  • Summary: The film features performances deemed top-tier, including a potential top-two Leo performance and a perfect Benicio Del Toro role, alongside a shocking and awesome performance from Teyana Taylor. PTA’s skill lies in his ability to direct actors, making them feel alive while guiding them toward the cut film he envisions, rather than treating them as mere chess pieces. This results in a cohesive cast featuring Oscar winners alongside first-time film actors, all achieving naturalistic performances.
Box Office and Theatrical Run
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(02:18:28)
  • Key Takeaway: The opening weekend performance for ‘One Battle After Another’ is viewed positively as an encouraging start for original film, and the studio is expected to give it a long theatrical window, prioritizing the event experience over a quick VOD release.
  • Summary: The opening box office numbers are seen as encouraging for an original film, contrasting with past industry practices where studios might leak negative background information. Warner Brothers is expected to keep ‘One Battle After Another’ in theaters for an extended period, perhaps five months, due to its status as an occasion film. The hosts agree that even if the film does not immediately recoup its budget, its potential to become a legendary movie justifies the long run.