Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another has just set a new record, becoming the film with the most nominations on a BAFTA longlist.
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti, the dark comedy is a loose adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's 1990 novel Vineland.
The movie received critical acclaim and has quickly become a favourite of the awards season, now bagging 16 nominations on a BAFTA longlist, including Best Film, Director and Leading Actor. The final nominations will be announced on 27 January before the ceremony takes place on 22 February.
Written by Anderson, who also received a Best Adapted Screenplay nod, One Battle After Another stars DiCaprio as ex-revolutionary Pat Calhoun, who comes out of witness protection when he and his daughter Charlene/Willa (Infiniti) are pursued by corrupt military officer.
Released last September, Anderson's latest also stars Taylor as Charlene's mum and revolutionary Perfidia Beverly Hills, as well as Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Alana Haim, Wood Harris, Paul Grimstad, Tony Goldwyn and Jena Malone.
The film is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a near-perfect rating of 94% out of more than 400 reviews by approved film critics. Hailed as a "blisteringly hilarious dad-core masterpiece" by IndieWire, Anderson's movie also earned eight nominations at the Golden Globes, as winners will be announced in tomorrow's (11 January) ceremony.
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At the Globes, One Battle After Another is up for awards including Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy, Best Director, Best Screenplay and acting nominations for DiCaprio, Infiniti, Taylor, del Toro and Penn.
In an interview to promote the movie last October, Anderson revealed they changed the ending last minute in a decision that led the film to have a "much stronger" conclusion.
"I think what we got is much stronger," Anderson said after thinking there was "more" to the planned ending of Pat and Willa hugging (via Rolling Stone).
"Coming up with the situation for Willa, where she is finally able to take agency over a situation - to turn the tables, be the aggressor, take the high ground - this became very exciting to us," he said.
"Then the next part is simply: Who kills who, and how? Somebody's gotta shoot somebody else, and somebody's gotta get outta there!"
One Battle After Another is available to buy and rent at home.
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
