Tiempos News posted a brief review of Benicio del Toro’s role as Sergio St. Carlos in One Battle After Another (2025): “Boricua legend Benicio del Toro returns to the big screen in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, embodying a complex character who feels equal parts warrior and healer. As Sergio St. Carlos, a karate sensei and community protector, del Toro commands the screen with quiet strength—becoming both a mentor and moral compass in a chaotic world.”
The Story: Sergio is the martial-arts instructor of Willa, the daughter of Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio). When Willa is kidnapped and Bob embarks on a desperate rescue mission, it’s Sergio who guides him through a clandestine network of safe houses—a modern-day underground railroad he calls a “Latino Harriet Tubman situation.”
A Layered Character: Sergio is no saint—he’s a man of contradictions. A nurturing father figure to the lost and displaced, yet with a reckless streak that leads him to drink and defy authority. Anderson uses him as the film’s soulful counterweight: where other characters fight with guns, Sergio fights with wisdom and dignity.
The Performance: Critics are already calling del Toro’s performance one of his finest. His portrayal radiates compassion without sentimentality, power without aggression. There’s growing Oscar buzz around his work—proof once again that Puerto Rico’s finest continues to redefine cinematic excellence.
Why It Matters: For Puerto Ricans and Latinos watching around the world, del Toro’s Sergio is more than a movie character—he’s a mirror of resilience. A symbol of those who lead quietly, protect fiercely, and live by their own moral code in the face of injustice.
Benicio del Toro reminds us that true strength isn’t loud — it’s disciplined, patient, and rooted in community.
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Also read https://theconversation.com/one-battle-after-another-sean-penn-leonardo-dicaprio-and-benicio-del-toro-explore-three-visions-of-fatherhood-266858