How Star Wars Is It? - Not Really a Star Wars Podcast

Ep 350: One Battle After Another (2025) with Michael DeLaney

·58 min·5 clips

Josiah and Mike reveal this is the last episode of How Star Wars Is It.

Josiah and Mike open the episode by announcing it is the final installment of the How Star Wars Is It podcast. They introduce guest Michael DeLaney, and the trio explains they are discussing the Paul Thomas Anderson film 'One Battle After Another' because they all recently saw it in theaters. The hosts critique the film's title and its nonchalant reveal. They briefly digress into a discussion about Paul Thomas Anderson's filmography, confusing him with director Paul W.S. Anderson and listing films like 'Alien vs. Predator' and 'Resident Evil'. The conversation returns to 'One Battle After Another', with the hosts noting its long runtime but generally positive reception. Josiah expresses surprise that a Warner Brothers film features a resistance movement and portrays the U.S. military as the unequivocal bad guy. They discuss the film's vague political messaging, focusing more on family relationships than explicit ideology. Leonardo DiCaprio is quoted saying he modeled his character's look on Boba Fett, drawing a direct Star Wars connection. The hosts analyze DiCaprio's performance as a fragile, bumbling character compared to his earlier heartthrob roles. Benicio Del Toro's charismatic supporting role is praised. The group delves into the film's racial dynamics, arguing it intentionally shows a flailing white protagonist reliant on competent Black and Latino characters. Sean Penn's villainous performance as a white supremacist is discussed, including his character's membership in the 'Christmas Adventurers Club'. The hosts play a game where they guess which actors were inspired by specific figures for their roles, citing examples like Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow based on Keith Richards. They also guess the top four IMDb projects for Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn. The episode concludes with the hosts rating the film using their unique units of measure, giving it scores like 'five lives' and 'six lives'.

As heard by us

A funny, wandering PTA discussion where political ambiguity meets chili, Banksy, and a QR-code cinema prank.

Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another sets off a loose, funny discussion of rebellion, political specificity, and the father-daughter relationship.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get Paul Thomas Anderson talk interrupted by chili season and a wonderfully impractical movie-theater prank.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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