Anderson’s “One Battle”: A Golden Globes Comedy Contender

Paul Thomas Anderson, a director celebrated for his intense and intricate cinematic narratives, is navigating an intriguing path this awards season with his latest feature, ‘One Battle After Another.’ Breaking from conventional expectations, the acclaimed action thriller has been strategically submitted in the comedy categories for the upcoming Golden Globe Awards. This unconventional move positions the film not only for potential critical recognition in a new light but also to join the ranks of cinematic giants like Robert Altman’s ‘Nashville’ and Jacques Audiard’s ‘Emilia Pérez’ in the Golden Globes’ record books for the most nominations received by a single film.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’: A Tonal Balancing Act

Loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s novel ‘Vineland,’ ‘One Battle After Another’ tells the story of former revolutionaries who reunite to rescue a comrade’s daughter when a long-dormant enemy reemerges. The film boasts an ensemble cast featuring notable actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti. While its plot suggests an action thriller, the movie’s distinct tonal blend of absurdist humor with Anderson’s characteristic intensity prompted the filmmakers and studio awards strategists to classify it within the comedy and musical categories for the Golden Globes. This decision sets it up to compete against other highly anticipated films in the genre, including A24’s ‘Marty Supreme,’ Focus Features’ ‘Bugonia,’ and Universal Pictures’ ‘Wicked: For Good’.

Critically, the film has been met with widespread acclaim, achieving an impressive 95% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 95 rating on Metacritic, solidifying its standing as one of the year’s most celebrated releases.

Poised for Golden Globe History

The strategic submission of ‘One Battle After Another’ in the comedy categories opens the door for it to achieve a historic number of Golden Globe nominations. Currently, Robert Altman’s 1975 classic ‘Nashville’ holds the record for the most nominations for a single film with 11. Following closely is Jacques Audiard’s 2024 Spanish-language musical ‘Emilia Pérez,’ which secured 10 nominations. Predictions suggest that Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest work is on track to receive around 10 nominations, which would tie it with ‘Emilia Pérez’ as the second-most nominated film in Golden Globe history.

Beyond its potential to match existing records, there’s a possibility for ‘One Battle After Another’ to even surpass these figures. Should the film qualify for the Globes’ ‘Cinematic and Box Office Achievement’ category, it could potentially secure an eleventh nomination, placing it alongside ‘Nashville’. Qualification for this particular category requires a film to earn $150 million worldwide and at least $100 million domestically, or equivalent digital streaming metrics. While ‘One Battle After Another’ has already grossed over $165 million globally, it remains shy of the domestic threshold at $65 million. Reaching this domestic benchmark would be the final piece for securing that additional nomination.

Oscar Prospects and Ensemble Recognition

The film’s awards season journey extends beyond the Golden Globes, with significant buzz surrounding its potential impact on the Academy Awards. Industry predictions list ‘One Battle After Another’ as a major Oscar contender, with the potential to garner up to 14 nominations. This would place it in an exclusive club, tying the record held by cinematic epics such as ‘All About Eve’ (1950), ‘Titanic’ (1997), and ‘La La Land’ (2016). Furthermore, the introduction of a new casting category this year could even enable the film to break this long-standing record.

The cast is receiving considerable attention for their performances. Leonardo DiCaprio and Chase Infiniti are slated to compete in the lead acting categories across all awards groups, while Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall, and Teyana Taylor are seeking consideration in supporting roles. Paul Thomas Anderson himself is expected to be a strong contender for directing and screenplay nominations, and Jonny Greenwood’s score for the film is also highly anticipated to receive recognition.

Conclusion

Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ represents a fascinating case study in awards season strategy and genre fluidity. By embracing its inherent blend of drama and comedy, the film has charted a distinctive course at the Golden Globes, positioning itself for historic nomination tallies. As the nominations are revealed on December 8, all eyes will be on Anderson’s latest, a film that deftly defies easy categorization and promises to be a dominant force throughout the awards season.