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PTA is my favorite working director today, and I was lucky enough to be able to see this one early in NYC while on holiday! Before I mention the unsurprisingly gorgeous cinematography shot on 35mm, PTA first and foremost created a truly immersive and enjoyable coming of age story. Both of the leads, played by Alana Haim (fantastic) and Cooper Hoffman (fantastic), create a wholesome magnetic friendship-to-lovers arc that piqued nostalgia. The age gap (10 years) between the protagonists was startling at first, and I understand the commotion surrounding a portrayal of young love between an adult and a minor. Can I chalk this up to context and the entirely wholesome character study of both Gary and Alana? Can I chalk it up to the chaos that was the 1970s? Who's to say - my consensus is that I trust PTA as a filmmaker of the modern times to carefully navigate taboo and create a story driven by uplifting, youthful memories. Top notch combination of natural, breezy visuals with dramatic lighting as well. Licorice Pizza is an absolute joy to watch, and I easily will be back in the theaters for a second viewing! A tip: nothing really that bad happens to any of the characters, so if you are an anxious viewer like me, just let yourself relax! Good vibes 😌
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An industrious teen (Hoffman) falls in love with an older girl in arrested development (Haim) as they navigate life in 1970s San Fernando Valley.
Licorice Pizza has all the elements of a great coming of age story, elevated by the masterful direction of Paul Thomas Anderson and his visual, emotional, and cultural acuity. There are some heartbreaking and heartwarming moments and though the story seems to meander through its narrative and myriad subplots, the film maintains a laser-focus on deepening and developing its characters—main and supporting alike.
Cooper Hoffman (son of the late great Phillip Seymour Hoffman) is dynamite in his debut role, perfectly capturing Gary’s blind optimism and immature naïveté. Similarly, Alana Haim absolutely shines as Alana, a girl struggling with her lack of direction, trying to find her place within her family and in the world. As the film progresses, it is Alana, not Gary, who faces the toughest choices and biggest decisions, ultimately becoming the focus of the film. And although she is acerbic and often mean, you still can’t help but root for her to succeed, a testament to Haim’s performance and Anderson’s great writing.
Bradley Cooper leans into his unlikeable side and hilariously crushes his role as a dirtbag producer with an unhealthy affinity for women. Sean Penn also embodies the misogyny of 1970’s Hollywood celebrities and is smarmy to the max as Jack Holden. The film also features an interesting subplot about a political candidate which seems initially out of place, but ultimately brings the story crashing down in the third act, culminating in a satisfying conclusion.
There are aspects of the story that are problematic, namely a ten-year age gap in the central romance and some casual racism that serves little purpose other than a cheap laugh. And while Anderson has notably never been too concerned about boundaries, these are elements that distract. Apart from a few small gripes, the film is a chaotic, giddy and ultimately sweet period romance.
Hot take: PTA knows how to make a movie—and this one is a sweet mashup of Almost Famous and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off—but it may not be as good as his apologists may want you to believe.
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Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest picture is a stunning and hilarious coming-of age story set in 1970s LA. Focused around the relationship between Gary and Alana, two people who can’t seem to stay out of each other’s lives.
The film is moving, uplifting and at its core is just so much fun. The way PTA produces such entertaining character focused movies I think is unmatched in Hollywood today and he nailed it with Licorice Pizza 🍕
The acting was brilliant with the two leads shining in their big screen debuts and the chemistry between the pair is beautiful. We only get short introductions to the other side-characters but each actor manages to grasp you in their few moments on screen - particularly Bradley Cooper who’s portrayal of the frantic and unhinged Jon Peters was hysterical
The score was elegant and atmospheric, lending itself to the setting and the emotion so perfectly. Pacing was spot on and I left the cinema with a huge grin on my face. A beautiful feel-good movie that felt so unique and one that I’ll definitely be coming back to 🌤
JW - 9/10
By @ls6_films
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Années 1970. Gary Valentine habite le quartier d'Encino de Los Angeles. Enfant acteur profitant d'une certaine célébrité, l'adolescent de 15 ans possède du charisme à revendre. Lors d'un événement, il s'amourache d'Alana Kane, une photographe de 25 ans.
Mon Avis :
A l'occasion de la Saint Valentin, voici un incroyable film sur une histoire d'amour dans le vieux Los Angeles. L'une des plus grandes révélations de l'année. 3 nominations aux Oscars pour Anderson (meilleur film, meilleur réalisation, meilleur scénario original). L'un de mes chouchous pour la cérémonie de cette année. Une image, des couleurs et des plans magnifiques. Life On Mars de David Bowie, associé au film. D'un point de vue scénario, le découpage est bien ficelé malgré les éléments clichés des films romantiques adolescents. Néanmoins, je pense et surtout j'espère qu'il décrochera une statuette cette année.
By @famillemanalese
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The film follows Alana and her relationship with Gary in the early 1970s, she is in her late 20s and Gary is a 15-year-old High School kid.
There are a couple of controversies in this film, while there isn't really a valid excuse for the racism towards Asians, I don't believe the age gap or the relationship between the 2 lead characters. As the title suggests, I believe this is more of a tragedy of Alana's life. It shows her dealing with existentialism, she's trying to do something with her life but isn't making much progress.
When I was watching this, I had the "Aha" moment very early in the film. It's when the two of them are sitting next to each other on the airplane, and both of them flirt with other people while sitting next to watch each other. That was when I figured out what type of film and relationship this was going to be, a doomed relationship. Thematically, this is a little similar to 500 days of Summer, but it's told from the girl's perspective rather than the boy's. Gary in Licorice Pizza and Tom from 500 days of Summer are very similar, the same type of character. That's about the only thing the films have in common. Tom in his film acts like the world revolves around him, Gary outright tells Alana that the world DOES revolve around him. Gary is a selfish kid who doesn't care about anyone but himself.
Throughout the entire film, we see that these two should not be together, Alana even knows this. We're constantly seeing the contrast between her and the kids, and how odd it is. Towards the beginning of the film, she is talking to another girl in the restroom, and the girl comments about her being the new girl he's using and that she'll pass the baton to her. It is heavily implied that Gary is only using her for his own purposes and doesn't have real feelings for her. Another time, Alana is talking with her sister I believe, and she asks her "Is it weird that I hang out with Gary and his friends?" The sister answers no. Then Alana says she thinks it is weird. Then the sister says "It is whatever you think it is." Alana and Gary are constantly seeing other people, and when it doesn't work out, they go back to each other.
I say this is a tragedy for Alana because she tries so hard to do and make something of her life, but they don't work out and she keeps going back to the person who has shown interest in her and helped her move forward in the past. And that person may not actually care for her. She's an adult who has adult cares, thoughts, and problems, but is surrounded by kids who know nothing and cant do anything. I find the ending of the film heartbreaking, Gary and Alana are running and looking for each other, they find each other, and decide to stay together. They run away together, and Alana says "I love you, Gary" and the film ends there. Gary doesn't say I love you back to her. They are framed to where Gary is in front and Alana is behind him. Their relationship is still doomed.
Disclaimer, I do not share or support any of the acts or opinions the characters do or express in the film. I do hope I was able to explain my thoughts well enough for you to understand my point of view. Alana Haim's performance was wonderful and she definitely deserves the Oscar nomination
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