One Mailbag After Another, and the Updated PTA Movie Rankings

Key Takeaways

Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" secured a strong opening, grossing $22.4 million domestically and $48.5 million globally.
The film received significant critical acclaim, reflected in high Metacritic and Letterboxd scores.
Guest Adam Nayman highlighted Benicio Del Toro's MVP performance and Paul Thomas Anderson's nuanced character portrayals, particularly of Perfidia.
Discussions covered the film's status as a generational "event movie" and its thematic connections to activism and other PTA works.
Guest Andy Greenwald shared a profoundly personal anecdote from the 2012 premiere of Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master."

Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" achieved his biggest opening with $22.4 million domestically and $48.5 million globally.
Its production was influenced by Anderson's relationship with Warner Bros. co-chair Mike DeLuca and CEO David Zaslav, fostered through TCM preservation efforts.
The film's success demonstrates that investing large sums in quality cinema can yield results and generate long-term cultural and financial value.

The hosts discussed various viewing formats for "One Battle After Another," including VistaVision, 70mm, and IMAX 70mm.
One host recounted a screening where a VistaVision projector failed 40 minutes into the film, highlighting the significant difference when switching to DCP.
They emphasized theatrical releases and large formats as the ideal way to experience films, comparing it to viewing an original painting versus a print.

The hosts revealed the top two Paul Thomas Anderson films as 'The Master' at number two and 'There Will Be Blood' at number one, positions consistent for years.
One host expressed dissatisfaction with the overall film ranking, particularly 'Inherent Vice,' which they found difficult to connect with.
They discussed potential future shifts in rankings for 'One Battle After Another,' 'Magnolia,' and 'Boogie Nights.'

For Gen Z, "One Battle After Another" is considered their first "event movie" as adults, similar to "Parasite" for an older demographic, distinct from "Oppenheimer" which had more detractors.
The film achieved billion-dollar box office success and Oscar recognition, resonating uniquely with a younger generation.
Thematically, it connects to "Eddington" through flawed characters and contrasts online activism with real-world engagement, exploring themes of engagement versus passive observation.

A "PTA movie" is defined by recurring themes such as socially obtuse protagonists with creative yet unconventional approaches, frankness about sexuality, and a distinct sense of humor including sex jokes and unique character naming.
The hosts compared "One Battle After Another" to "Magnolia" for its exploration of social connection struggles and Anderson's unashamed approach to sexuality and humor.

Memorable visual sequences include a hawk and a Blackhawk helicopter signaling impending conflict, and Benicio Del Toro's character comforting families in Spanish.
A Steely Dan song during a karate scene and Willa's karate payoff are highlighted.
The ending focuses on Perfidia reading a letter, a flashback with Bob and their baby, and interpretations of her departure related to identity and postpartum struggles.

Guest Adam Nayman discusses the critical acclaim for "One Battle After Another," suggesting its reception is influenced by a desire for movies that evoke past feelings and serve as cultural touchstones.
He notes the film's initial success with a predominantly white, male critical audience, while considering its potential to withstand longer-term critical scrutiny.
Nayman also observes perceived autobiographical elements, particularly concerning the character of Bob as a showman within a revolutionary group.

Adam Nayman highlights the contrast between Willa's hopeful future and the lingering wreckage of the past, linking it to self-criticism among older men.
The discussion delves into Perfidia's complex role as a political leader facing fetishization, betrayal, and disappearance, also connected to postpartum depression.
Nayman emphasizes Paul Thomas Anderson's recurring theme of absent or disappearing women in his films, positioning Perfidia's narrative as a deliberate exploration of these themes.

Guest Andy Greenwald recounts his experience at the 2012 New York premiere of Paul Thomas Anderson's 'The Master' with Amanda Dobbins, Zach Galifianakis, and Chuck Klosterman.
During the introduction by Harvey Weinstein, Greenwald received two profound text messages: one confirming his wife's pregnancy and another reporting his great aunt's death.
He described the initial viewing as an "intense emotional experience," akin to a "bad acid trip."