For Leonardo DiCaprio, explaining the synopsis for his new action thriller One Battle After Another is no easy feat.
"I think it's probably because it's a complex thing to articulate, but at the heart of it, I think the movie's a lot to do with humanity. It's a lot to do with polarisation in the world that we live in, extremism on both ends," the Titanic actor said.
The film follows Bob Ferguson, played by DiCaprio, and his wife, Perfidia Beverly Hills, played by the singer Teyana Taylor.
They are a loving but strained couple that embark on daring humanitarian missions in modern-day America.
"It's not a film where people are imposing any political beliefs on anyone else," DiCaprio said.
"It's satire on both ends. It's a great film to have coming out in today's world. I think it's important."
In the film, Perfidia suddenly disappears soon after giving birth. Bob changes his identity and goes off the grid to raise their child as a single parent.
When an enemy resurfaces after 16 years for revenge, Bob must work to rescue his kidnapped daughter.
Writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson is known for his distinctive style in films like Licorice Pizza, There Will Be Blood, and Boogie Nights.
According to DiCaprio, Anderson has "incredible flexibility" and can change whole sequences based on an actor's suggestion.
"Not to say that he takes all your ideas, because he certainly doesn't," DiCaprio said.
"He's got a great BS detector. But when you say that one good idea, I mean, the entire course of the movie may change."
One Battle After Another arrives in cinemas on Friday.
Source: Reuters
