One Battle After Another

I have to say that I didn’t really like this. The first part seemed a bit unfocused without a primary protagonist and no characters I could feel any sympathy with. The second half was better being focused on Wila and her father but it is yet another film that beats you about the head rather than letting you understand things on your own terms. Instead of letting us realise that a scene is very tense by us interpreting the skills of the actors and the choices of the director and editor, that tension is forced on us by over loud discordant piano “music”. There is no subtlety allowed, even for a moment.

I realise that this was intended to be dark but much of the comedy seemed unintentional to me. In particular the over-extended car chase was straight out of “wacky races”, complete with Penelope Pitstop, Dick Dastardly and one of the Boulder brothers. And all of us watching laughed out loud when each car came staggering along the desert road.

I do admit that it was convincingly acted (especially Wila) but none of the characters had much actual depth and the direction was pretty stylish but overall this was just passable and too much in your face to be an enjoyable (or even interesting) experience.