In an interview, director and cast discuss the creative process, the challenges of the script and how humor and emotion intertwine in the movie
One battle after anothernew movie Paul Thomas Anderson (Black blood), arrives in Brazilian theaters as one of the main candidates for Oscar 2026. Rolling Stone Brazil participated in the press conference of the feature, which was attended by the director, and the actors Leonardo DiCaprio (The return), Benicio Del Toro (The Phoenician Scheme) and Chase Infiniti (Above any suspicion), in which they discussed about creation, characters and the combination of action, humor and emotion in a narrative that crosses generations.
When talking about the movie, Paul Thomas Anderson He explained that, for him, the characters are the starting point of the story: “The things I usually love in a movie are the characters. For this movie, the interesting thing was to dive into the story and really make an action movie. It does not have the traditional plot of action, but each action has a reaction, and everything generates dramatic tension. This contributes to that feeling of roller coaster, but with the human core I love.”
The cast highlighted the intensity of the creative process and the rookie in feature films, Chase Infinitiapproached the learning of working with veteran actors, describing his experience as a transformative: “Work with Paul [Thomas Anderson], Leo [DiCaprio], Benic [Del Toro] And all the others was a masterclass. Observe how they interacted with the cast and the team, and how Paul It allowed creative freedom, it was a gift. I grew up as an actress watching and learning every day.”
Benicio Del Toro He stressed the importance of creating a collaborative environment in the set and working with non-actors, a strategy that, he said, was fundamental to give authenticity and depth to the scenes: “Everything comes from the script. Paul brought many non-actors to act with us, which required that Leo And I were leaders. This created the chemistry between our characters and gave a more humane dimension to the story.”
Leonardo DiCaprioIn turn, it reflected on how these elements contributed to the authenticity of the film and the construction of its character. According to him, being inserted in a carefully prepared environment, where every detail of the set, narrative and interaction with real people is thought, transforms acting into something more visceral and genuine:
“The greatest gift as an actor is to enter an ecosystem on the set where there is a lot of thinking, whether in the story, in the camera, or in the details with non-actors in real locations. This allows me to focus on telling the truth of my character.”
Paul Thomas Anderson further explained that One battle after another He has a direct bond with his own experience as a father, which made the writing and direction of the film an extension of his personal experience. According to him, understanding the nuances of paternity, the emotional growth of children and the way family relationships transform over time has been essential to creating authentic and related characters:
“I have three daughters, so it was easy to connect with Bob [personagem de DiCaprio] and with Willa [vivida por Infiniti]. The script deals with paternity and family relationships, topics close to my life, and that allowed me to explore emotional transitions and the growth of the characters. ”
He also addressed the delicate balance between pain and humor in the narrative, emphasizing that the moments of comedy arise organically from the situations in which the characters meet. To Andersonit is precisely in this intertwining that the humanity of history resides: “Humor came naturally from the situations that Paul put it. Bob It is full of failures, but it is in perseverance and the small acts that it becomes heroic. Laughter and pain coexist in human experience.”
Finally, Paul Thomas Anderson He revealed his main expectation regarding the public reception, connecting the narrative of the film to the passage of generations and the optimism he wants to convey: “I hope the movie brings optimism. The ending passes the stick to the next generation, and it makes me hopeful. I want the audience to feel and then want to talk about it.”
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Benicio Del Toro
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Chase Infinity
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Leonardo DiCaprio
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Paul Thomas Anderson
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Sean Penn
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Teyana Taylor
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One battle after another
Source: Rollingstone
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
