The Big Picture ‘One Battle After Another’: A Second Opinion With Van Lathan
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Oct 5, 2025 
Van Lathan, a cultural commentator and media personality, shares his insights on the box office implications and representation in 'One Battle After Another'. He discusses the importance of supporting smaller creators and critiques the film's portrayal of Black women, raising concerns about harmful depictions. The conversation dives into how patronage influences filmmakers, addressing the double standards that affect marginalized voices. Lathan also emphasizes the film's potential to spark discussions about representation while balancing entertainment value.
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Equal Scrutiny For All Filmmakers
- Van Lathan urges equal scrutiny of creative and financial responsibility across filmmakers regardless of fame.
- He argues fiscal accountability matters because resources shape who gets to tell large-scale stories.
Community Overrules Box-Office Logic
- Van recounts the Sinners opening and how communities rallied despite corporate bean-counting concerns.
- He saw repeated viewings driven by cultural pride rather than profitability calculations.
Budget Inequality Mirrors Racial Lines
- Van highlights racial disparities in who receives big studio budgets despite similar artistic merit.
- He warns that historic Black filmmakers never got the same financial opportunities as celebrated white auteurs.