When you see a new film from Paul Thomas Anderson, it’s fair to get excited. He’s delivered some iconic stories that have resonated with audiences the past three decades. His latest film, One Battle After Another, is no different. It’s not only one of the best films of the year, but it might also be one of his best films.

The film is based on the Thomas Pynchon novel Vineland, but it has Anderson’s unique spin. It’s got an all-star cast, taking place over a period of years. It not only has some of the funniest sequences of the year, but it also has some of the most poignant.

We begin by meeting Pat (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Perfidia (Teyana Taylor). They’re both members of the French 75, a group of domestic terrorists that are out to change the world. They are on the cusp of a big job that is meant to declare war and launch a revolution. During that job, Perfidia crosses paths with Steve Lockjaw (Sean Penn), the commander of the camp they raid. Some interesting sparks fly, even though they are on opposite sides.

Meanwhile, Pat, Perfidia, and the rest make an escape. Pat and Perfidia explore a romance intermixed with the danger and adrenaline of their war on society. They keep pulling jobs, with Perfidia the brash performer and Pat the more reserved bomb maker that seems along for the ride. On one job, Perfidia crosses paths with Lockjaw yet again. They have a secret rendezvous.

Later, Perfidia is pregnant and gives birth to a daughter. Pat wants them to be a family, but she needs the hunt. She goes on a job, and it goes bad. She’s caught, and soon cuts a deal with Lockjaw to sell out her friends. He begins hunting them down. She goes into witness protection and, eventually, flees.

Pat goes on the run, taking the baby with him. While many in their group are caught and/or killed, he manages to escape. Sixteen years later Pat—now going by Bob—is a well-meaning stoner raising his teenage daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti). They live a quiet life in a quiet town. Lockjaw—meanwhile—has parlayed things into a promotion to the rank of Colonel. He’s on the cusp of joining a secret, far right-wing society. But first he has to quelch the demons in his closet—meaning a renewed hunt for the bomber and the young girl that got away.

There’s a lot of plot here which is why the film stretches to more than two and a half hours. But it flies by because of the quality and the fun of the story. We get a long opening chunk that establishes these people and this world, but much of the story really kicks into high gear when we jump into the future.

Anderson is a wonderful storyteller. This film touches on a lot of contemporary issues and feels very timely. But it’s also a story about these characters, deeply felt emotions, and the nature of being a parent. That’s a tricky balance, but this film pulls it off beautifully. That’s a credit to the director, who also wrote the script. He has a wonderful feel for these characters, the world, and the type of story he wants to tell.

This is also a wonderful cast. DiCaprio does a nice job pulling it all together in the lead. He has some fun sequences throughout. I particularly enjoy his back-and-forth with Benicio Del Toro, who plays a Karate teacher and freedom fighter that helps Bob out when things go downhill. Their back-and-forth is hilarious from beginning to end and adds a lot to the comedic sections. In fact, Bob is the lynchpin for most of the comedy sequences that bring some levity to an otherwise heavy story.

But two of the best performances come from Penn—who is great as the villain—and Infinit, who is the heart of the film. The back section soars when we see these two at odds and especially in the climatic sequences. It’s ultimately quite satisfying to see how Willa plays things out in the climax and to see the journey for Lockjaw.

The final sequence is thrilling. The visuals and pacing work as we come to some big concluding set pieces that deliver on the action, tension, and possibility of the story. It’s a great ride from beginning to end, and one that works beautifully on the big screen.

I loved One Battle After Another. It’s one of the highlights of the year and one of my favorite films from Anderson. It’s worth making a point to check it out.

One Battle After Another is now playing nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.