Bravado. Speed. Slapstick. The joy of making movies. Paul Thomas Anderson's most kinetic film (loosely based on Thomas Pynchon's novel from 35 years ago) reminded us why we need the big screen in an era when small screens vibrate in our pockets from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep.
The story of a slightly dusty revolutionary who has put his former zeal on the shelf and must suddenly rekindle it is an opportunity for Leonardo DiCaprio to show off his acting skills, with an incredibly strong supporting cast in the form of Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Teyana Taylor, and (with a cool name!) Chase Infinity.
We have chases, falls, farce, explosive politics, and the most tender parent-child relationship in Anderson's entire career. Cinema to savor.