If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you take the paranoid DNA of Thomas Pynchon, douse it in 100-proof cinematic adrenaline, and hand the keys to a master like Paul Thomas Anderson, you get “One Battle After Another.”
And if you’ve ever wondered what happens when you take that 161-minute epic and try to make sense of it through the bottom of a bourbon glass, you get the latest episode of the Adult Beverage Film Podcast.
The Movie: A Sprawling, Sovereign Mess (In the Best Way)
Paul Thomas Anderson has always been a director who likes his stories like we like our drinks: complex, layered, and capable of making your head spin. With One Battle After Another, he’s moved past the oil derricks of There Will Be Blood and the fashion houses of Phantom Thread to deliver something far more urgent and “American Berserk.”
The film—loosely based on Pynchon’s Vineland—is a dizzying journey through a landscape of aging revolutionaries, clandestine groups like the “French 75,” and the looming, menacing shadow of Colonel Lockjaw (played with terrifying intensity by Sean Penn). At the center of it all is Leonardo DiCaprio’s “Ghetto” Pat Calhoun—a performance that is equal parts Jeff Bridges “Dude” energy and desperate, off-the-grid survivalism.
It’s a movie about the battles we fight with the state, the battles we fight with our past, and the battles we fight with our own family. In other words: It’s a lot to process.
The Podcast: Breaking Down the “Berserk”
That’s where we come in. On the latest episode of the Adult Beverage Film Podcast, hosts Kent, Laura, and Patrick (and maybe a few “Squeekers” in the background) sat down to dissect PTA’s Oscar-winning odyssey.
What’s on the menu for this episode?
- The Pairing: You can’t watch a movie this dense with a light beer. We’re talking high-octane bourbon and savory Micheladas. We even attempt to recreate the “Fanny’s Best Picture Cocktail”—a drink that, much like the film’s plot, has a lot of ingredients and might leave you questioning your reality by the third act.
- The Debate: Is Colonel Lockjaw PTA’s greatest villain yet? Does DiCaprio’s “Bob Ferguson” deserve a spot in the stoner-cinema Hall of Fame? And just how many hidden Pynchon references did we miss because we were busy refilling our glasses?
- The Vibe: We go deep into the technical brilliance—the Dolby soundscapes, the grit of the handheld camera work, and that “convent of revolutionary nuns” (which is exactly as cool as it sounds).
Why You Should Listen (and Watch)
One Battle After Another is a film that demands a second viewing and a long conversation. It’s a “Big Ugly Now” diagnosis of America that manages to be both a heartbreaking family drama and a truly edge-of-your-seat thriller.
Whether you’re a die-hard PTA scholar or just someone who likes to hear three friends get increasingly passionate about cinematography as the bottle gets lighter, this episode is your perfect companion.
So, pour yourself a stiff one, keep your eyes on the rooftops, and join us for a deep dive into the chaotic genius of Paul Thomas Anderson.
