EXCLUSIVE: Benicio Del Toro reveals Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another puts humanity at the centre of the action

Paul Thomas Anderson may be best known for his richly drawn dramas like There Will Be Blood and Phantom Thread, but with One Battle After Another, the acclaimed filmmaker steps into large-scale action territory. Still, according to Benicio Del Toro, the movie’s heart beats with the same humanity that has defined Anderson’s work for decades. “I think Paul has shown that he can surf and turf, you know? He can do an independent movie and make it look classy, expensive. And he can do a big movie and make it bang-o, you know?” Del Toro said with a smile. “What I think this movie has, and big movies sometimes may lack, is a lot of humanity, a sense of humour, the failures of the characters, all of them—no one is one-dimensional in this film.”

 

EXCLUSIVE: Benicio Del Toro reveals Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another puts humanity at the centre of the action

 

The actor, who plays Sensei Sergio St. Carlos opposite Leonardo DiCaprio’s Bob, says One Battle After Another delivers nonstop thrills—explosions, stunts, high-octane chases—but always through the lens of human imperfection. “It’s an action movie, there’s tons of action from the beginning to the end,” Del Toro explained. “But you’re seeing these human beings make mistakes. You’re seeing the cracks, all those things. Even though it’s big and full of action, it’s Paul exploring the human condition. From both extremes, the will of Willa to survive and the unconditional and selfless love of a father for his daughter. I think that’s what makes it a little bit different than just an action movie.”

 

That complexity extends to the characters themselves. Del Toro points to Sean, who plays the villain Lockjaw, as proof that in Anderson’s world, even the darkest figures are layered.

 

“The bad guys aren’t totally bad, and the good guys are tainted as well,” Del Toro said. “With Lockjaw, here’s a character that will do anything, it doesn’t matter how extreme, to get what he wants. We hate him. And still, he can make us laugh, make us think, and in the end even though he’s the bad guy, we feel sad for him. Sean is one of those actors who can bring out these contradicting feelings and make it all work.”

 

Ultimately, Del Toro believes the true stakes of the story go beyond spectacle. “I think what’s at stake is fatherhood,” he reflected. “That relationship between Leo’s character and Chase’s character, it’s the heart of the film. That’s what moves the emotional aspect of the film through all kinds of mistakes and bumps and explosions along the road, so we can see if the daughter will grow up and take hold of her own destiny.”

 

In the end, One Battle After Another might just prove that Paul Thomas Anderson can deliver a blockbuster without sacrificing the soul that makes his work unforgettable.

 

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Benicio Del Toro on why he said “Yes” to Paul Thomas Anderson without reading the script of One Battle After Another

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