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Dads, Daughters, and the Revolution: "One Battle After Another" (2025) with Brendan McDonald
Manage episode 519098456 series 3530684
Julian, Madeline, and Emilio are rejoined by Brendan McDonald, former producer of the iconic podcast WTF with Marc Maron, for a bonus episode about Paul Thomas Anderson's latest masterpiece, One Battle After Another. Kicking off with a check-in on Brendan's life following WTF's end this past October, the group roll through the many hills of PTA's new film, including its roots in Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland, numerous thematic and aesthetic connections to his greater filmography, and its balancing of political commentary and the personal struggles that coincide. Much time is also spent praising of the film's phenomenal cast, be it Leonardo DiCaprio delivering comic and dramatic beats with equal prowess, Chase Infiniti commanding the screen with her evocative breakout performance, or Teyana Taylor using limited screentime to maximal effect, among other examples. Keeping track of the time and remembering the password, with or without format punch-cards, the group draw from their many combined viewings to highlight a film that truly shines like a beacon with its expansive worldview, sincerity, and attention to detail in the uncertainty-laden present of 2025.
Listen to the WTF archives and look back on the podcast's legacy at wtfpod.com.
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Chapters
1. Dads, Daughters, and the Revolution: "One Battle After Another" (2025) with Brendan McDonald (00:00:00)
2. Checking In with Brendan + Reflecting on WTF (00:01:47)
3. Not to be Confused with... (00:14:14)
4. Plot Summary (00:19:13)
5. Initial Thoughts on the Movie (00:21:47)
6. DiCaprio Talk (00:40:43)
7. Ambiguity of Time in OBAA (00:45:41)
8. Revolutions and Passage of Time (01:00:42)
9. Cast Highlights (01:14:49)
10. Comparison Corner (01:25:03)
11. The Chase Scene, the Christmas Adventurers, and Col. Lockjaw (01:40:08)
12. More PTA Comparisons + Western Tropes (01:55:07)
13. Little Details We Enjoy (02:06:14)
14. Unlikely Shared Universe (02:13:07)
15. Closing Remarks (02:25:57)
75 episodes
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