Leonardo DiCaprio reacted with pride and glee after “One Battle After Another” received 13 Academy Award nominations. The film, which pulled in over $200 million worldwide, was written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, who loosely based the movie on “Vineland,” a 1990 novel written by Thomas Pynchon. In an interview with Deadline, DiCaprio shared his excitement about the film and his fellow stars.
DiCaprio Says ‘One Battle After Another’ is ‘Original Filmmaking’
DiCaprio praised Anderson for his directorial vision and ability to craft such an excellent film, noting “the incredible amount of thought that Paul put into this story.” The “Phantom Thread” director had been wanting to make the film since the early 2000s. DiCaprio continued, saying that the story’s characters and setting feel well-rounded and real.
“To me, it really is original filmmaking and a really multifaceted world, about a subject that is so pertinent to the world we’re living in,” said DiCaprio, “Paul made one of those films that I’m going to be so proud to look back.”
Of “One Battle After Another”’s relevance to the current day, DiCaprio believes that Anderson “put his thumb on the pulse of America right now.” He continued to shower the director in compliments, adding that “it’s all a testament to Paul’s writing.”
The multi-genre film follows an ex-revolutionary (DiCaprio) on a tumultuous journey to get his teen daughter (Chase Infiniti) back after she is kidnapped by his former enemy (Sean Penn).
‘One Battle After Another’ Receives 13 Oscar Nominations
Alongside the coveted nod for Best Picture, “One Battle After Another” received nominations in three of four major acting categories. The film also picked up several “below the line” technical awards. DiCaprio was nominated for Best Actor and both Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro received Best Supporting Actor nominations. Teyana Taylor was nominated for her role as Best Supporting Actress. Anderson earned a Best Director nod for himself.
“One Battle After Another” was also nominated for: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Casting, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing.
DiCaprio’s History with the Oscars
DiCaprio’s nod for playing Bob in “One Battle After Another” marks his eighth Oscar nomination. His first nomination came in 1994 in the Best Supporting Actor category for “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.” He won his first and only Academy Award in 2016 for his powerful lead performance in “The Revenant.”
“One Battle After Another” is available for streaming on HBO Max and will return to theaters for a limited run on January 23.
