In a Career of Fantastic Needledrops, This ’One Battle After Another’ One Could be Paul Thomas Anderson’s Best

Editor's note: The following contains spoilers for 'One Battle After Another'Although there are many reasons that Paul Thomas Andersonis cited as one of the greatest directors working today, it’s easy to call attention to the many great needle drops that are sprinkled throughout his films. Between “God Only Knows” in Boogie Nights, “Wise Up” in Magnolia, “Life on Mars” in Licorice Pizza, or “Journey Through the Past” in Inherent Vice, Anderson knows how to choose specific songs that speak to the themes and narrative of his films. One Battle After Anotheris one of the most musically dynamic films of Anderson’s entire career, as the excellent score by his frequent collaborator Jonny Greenwood is intermixed with a multitude of classic songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Listening to the One Battle After Another soundtrack on its own was a delight, but Anderson really knocked it out of the park when it came to the use of "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)," a classic R&B song covered by The Jackson 5.