Will 'One Battle After One other' experience the anti-ICE protest wave to the Oscars?

[ad_1] 'One Battle After Another' trailer The trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson's motion thriller "One Battle After One other" starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn and Teyana Taylor. Launched by Warner Bros. Photos.

NEW Now you can take heed to Fox Information articles!

The movie that is been praised by critics for its timeliness could also be benefiting from the information cycle on the proper time.

"One Battle After One other," Paul Thomas Anderson's politically-charged thriller, has maintained its frontrunner standing for Greatest Image at this yr's Oscars because the fall. When you read my review , then you definately'd know I beneficial it for individuals who are capable of compartmentalize their private politics as a result of it is very left-wing.

It is a couple of group of self-described revolutionaries on the run from a cabal of white nationalist authoritarians. The opening scene actually depicts them liberating unlawful migrants from a detention middle — to not point out that in addition they bomb courthouses and places of work of anti-abortion lawmakers. One man's revolutionary is one other man's home terrorist.

‘SEND HELP’ REVIEW: RACHEL MCADAMS, DYLAN O'BRIEN LEAD COMICALLY VIOLENT DESERT ISLAND THRILLER

Leonardo DiCaprio as Bob Ferguson in "One Battle After One other." A Warner Bros. Photos Launch. (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Photos)

Placing that apart, "OBAA" is a well-made movie. Regardless of its almost 3-hour operating time, it by no means lags. The performances from the forged led by Leonardo DiCaprio, the rating, the modifying have been top-notch. Would I give it Greatest Image? No. 2025 was a weaker yr for movies general — I would vote for "Hamnet" if I used to be a member of the Academy — nonetheless, a Greatest Image win was all the time possible.

Now, with all of the turmoil that is unfolded in Minnesota, a Greatest Image win might already be locked up.

‘MERCY’ REVIEW: CHRIS PRATT MUST PROVE HIS INNOCENCE TO AI JUDGE IN FORGETTABLE CYBER THRILLER

" OBAA" won the Golden Globe for Greatest Comedy or Musical (it is neither a comedy nor a musical. Do not even get me began on how movies and TV reveals are categorised on the Golden Globes). It has since obtained 13 Oscar nominations, greater than another movie apart from Ryan Coogler's vampire thriller "Sinners," shattering data with its 16 nominations.

(L-R) Benicio del Toro, Teyana Taylor, Sara Murphy, Chase Infiniti, Leonardo DiCaprio, Paul Thomas Anderson and Sean Penn settle for the Greatest Movement Image – Musical or Comedy Award for "One Battle After One other" onstage throughout the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 11, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California.

However the present political local weather will possible propel "OBAA" within the Greatest Image race. Liberal Hollywood is not shy about making a press release. Simply take a look at all of the "Be Good" pins worn on the Golden Globes honoring Renee Good and the marathon ICE bashing on the Grammys final week. They will use "OBAA" as an enormous "F you" to Donald Trump and his administration regardless of the irony that "OBAA" would've been launched no matter whether or not Trump or Kamala Harris received the 2024 election.

‘28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE’ REVIEW: RALPH FIENNES BRINGS LEVITY TO EXPERIMENTAL ZOMBIE SAGA

On prime of that, many within the Academy in all probability really feel that Paul Thomas Anderson is lastly owed an Oscar. Anderson is now a 14-time nominee and was beforehand snubbed for movies like "Boogie Nights," "Magnolia" and "There Will Be Blood." In different phrases, he'll get the identical remedy as Christopher Nolan did two years in the past along with his Greatest Image winner "Oppenheimer" after going many years with no win.

Between nationwide politics and Academy politics, the wind is definitely hitting the again of "OBAA."

The unrest in Minneapolis has been prime of thoughts in Hollywood between the "Be Good" pins worn on the Golden Globes and the anti-ICE rhetoric on the Grammys. (Getty Photographs)

Are there possibilities for there to be an upset? After all, "Sinners" — surpassing earlier report holders "Titanic," "La La Land" and "All About Eve" in complete nominations — is clearly adored by the Academy and can possible nab a number of trophies within the craft classes. However as we have seen earlier than like final yr with "Emilia Pérez," having essentially the most nominations does not all the time translate to a Greatest Image win. And the Academy might imagine that since 39-year-old Coogler will possible have an extended profession forward of him as a author and director, voters will wait earlier than giving him an Oscar and hand it to 55-year-old Anderson as a substitute.

'PRIMATE' REVIEW: PARAMOUNT COMES OUT SWINGING IN 2026 WITH WILD HORROR FLICK ABOUT A NIGHTMARE PET CHIMP

"Hamnet" often is the darkest of darkish horses on this race. It did pull an upset over "Sinners" in successful Greatest Drama on the Golden Globes, although notably has a completely totally different physique of voters (largely overseas press). Nevertheless, the Academy has more and more welcomed an increasing number of overseas filmmakers and actors in recent times, which is why we have seen an increasing number of overseas movies being nominated for Greatest Image. They might rally behind the Shakespeare household drama over the very America-centric "OBAA" and "Sinners." Nevertheless, maybe working towards "Hamnet" is the truth that its author/director Chloé Zhao simply received two Oscars for her work on the 2021 Greatest Image winner "Nomadland."

Paul Thomas Anderson, the director of "One Battle After One other," is a 14-time Oscar nominee spanning many years, however with zero wins, maybe encouraging Academy voters to lastly give him a trophy. (John Shearer/WireImage)

The one true indicators that can affirm the frontrunner standing of "OBAA" between now and the Oscars are how the assorted guild awards play out within the coming weeks, primarily the Producers Guild Awards, the Administrators Guild Awards, the Writers Guild Awards and the Display screen Actors Guild Awards (now known as the Actor Awards) since many guild voters are additionally Academy voters. If "OBAA" sweeps these, it is going to be extremely possible a Greatest Image win will observe. If different movies like "Sinners" and "Hamnet" emerge as massive winners, that would boost the race.

With all of that in thoughts, "OBAA" nonetheless has the sting. And because the firestorm over ICE is not prone to soften away anytime quickly, "OBAA" will nearly definitely be our subsequent Greatest Image winner.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Joseph A. Wulfsohn is a media reporter for Fox Information Digital. Story ideas will be despatched to joseph.wulfsohn@fox.com and on Twitter: @JosephWulfsohn.