One of the most anticipated films of 2025 has lived up to the hype, thanks in large part to a star-studded cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, Teyana Taylor, and Fordham’s own Regina Hall ’92.
One Battle After Another—the 10th feature film from director Paul Thomas Anderson—is among the favorites in a crowded Academy Awards race, landing 13 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Critics hailed the film as “one for the ages, wild and thrilling,” and so far it has collected $206 million at the worldwide box office.
The story, loosely adapted from Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland, follows a washed-up former revolutionary (DiCaprio) who is pulled back into his violent past when an old nemesis resurfaces and kidnaps his child. Hall plays Deandra, a trusted member of the revolutionary group.
A Versatile Performer
The understated, stoic character continues a trend for Hall. She’s been taking on more dramatic work despite being best known for her big personality and comedic chops in films like Girls Trip (2017) and the Scary Movie franchise. The role highlights her versatility, and critics have taken notice, with one praising the way her “layered, restrained performance … complements the film’s chaos.”
“I just love being able to go back and forth,” Hall said of working in both drama and comedy in an interview with Rotten Tomatoes. “Why just do one? I think it’s just about trying to do stuff you find interesting with people who you think are interesting.”
A Commitment to Compassion
Hall returned to Fordham last May as the 2025 commencement speaker. The former English major received an honorary doctorate in fine arts from the University and, in her speech to the graduating class, emphasized compassion and a strong commitment to changing the world by serving others.
Those ideals are tested in One Battle After Another, with its focus on collective resistance to authoritarianism and the potentially redemptive power of love.
“What I enjoy about a film like [One Battle After Another] is that people might walk away and talk about it,” Hall told The New York Times. “I think anything that could provoke discussion and self-reflection is great.”
The 98th Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 15, and broadcast and streamed live on ABC from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
