“Licorice Pizza” - My Thoughts 💭
Film review, 2022
“Licorice Pizza” - Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson
A new film from one of my favourite filmmakers with “There Will Be Blood” being an absolute modern classic and “Magnolia” coming in close second in my books - I was curious what to expect from Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest “Licorice Pizza” which comes approximately five years after his last feature “Phantom Thread” in 2017.
The experience is not really a narrative-based film so much as nostalgic reflections of growing up in the early 70s in the San Fernando Valley, with Hollywood just next door. Nostalgic and semi-autobiographical tales by big name directors seem to be the movies of the moment: such as Branagh’s “Belfast” as well as Steven Spielberg’s upcoming film, due late this year, entitled “The Fabelmans” based on his time growing up in Arizona. It’s as if when Covid first hit and directors had to prioritise their schedules that if indeed the world was really going to end, what would their last, most personal directorial pieces be? In some ways “Licorice Pizza” is another “hang movie” designed for viewers to feel and enjoy its vibes, and while I was not big on Tarantino’s similarly structured tone in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, “Licorice Pizza” made me fall under its spell early on. The film is a romance of sorts, yet it’s also about a lot more too. Pivotal themes are explored such as friendship, following your hopes and dreams, innocence and nostalgia. The romance in the film is non-traditional as the burgeoning friendship between 15 year old Gary and Alana (who is a decade older) with his perceived romantic fantasy with her - although it’s all treated pretty innocently. Some may be turned off by this, yet the fact is Alana and Gary need each other in this time in their lives to learn and grow. She has evident conflict about Gary’s frequent professions of his admiration for her and that they be in a relationship together. These ‘untrained’ leads hold the film together perfectly and make it come alive. Alana Haim (as Alana) and Cooper Hoffman (as Gary) provide nuanced and charming performances with their amiable interactions with each other that are regularly compelling. There’s absolutely no artifice from these performers and what a wonderful experience they make the film.
The film feels autobiographical and is inspired by different people, stars and producers in Hollywood. Gary is based on Gary Goetzman (a child star) who later went on to become a film producer. The film also showcases bit parts (with mixed results) from the likes of Sean Penn playing actor/producer Jack Holden - a fictionalised version of the the actor William Holden, as well as Bradley Cooper as film producer Jon Peters and Harriet Samson Harris as a talent agent who interviews Alana in one quirky and memorable scene to look out for.
The setting of the San Fernando Valley is where the director grew up and spends most of his life and, of course, has set most of his films there in various time periods. The audience gets the impression that there is a continuity in these films not thematically as such, but in terms of the similar directorial style and the capturing of time and a particular place that’s consistent with his other films set there.The second hour has a few scenes that tend to drag, and could have easily been shortened losing approximately ten minutes to make the film a little tighter.
What is the deal with the title? Good question. I was at a loss as I’m sure many were (I’m an 80s baby), yet it’s a rife expression in the time period and something that the director thought the two words best captured his experience of growing up. Licorice Pizza was a particular name of a chain of record stores, of course no longer operating, as well as the slang term for a vinyl record that’s black and in the shape of a pizza (mind blown). For shame, like many, I was expecting there to be some edible licorice pizza in this film but alas there’s not, yet there is a killer 70s soundtrack to accompany this coming-of-age odyssey of sorts that makes the title apt.
I am not sure how I did not know that the lead is Philip Seymour Hoffman’s son until I researched the film after my screening. The knowledge of this makes the film (in retrospect) particularly poignant, as director Paul Thomas Anderson and the great Philip Seymour Hoffman (now deceased) collaborated on a total of five films together. Therefore, providing the young man Cooper Hoffman this opportunity in a Paul Thomas Anderson film, given their evident family history, is a gift to the young lad as well as the audience.
I’m giving “Licorice Pizza” ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ out of five
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You can also check out my recent film review of “Belfast” here:
About the Creator
Grz Colm
Film and TV reviews, 🎞 as well as short stories and free verse poems.
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Comments (6)
Wow wonderful
For several reasons Paul Thomas Anderson just doesn't connect with me. For instance, though I'm from the same time period I've never heard the phrase "Licorice Pizza" and it is an immediate turn off for some reason. (Which is even more ironic as aniseed is wonderful in pizza crust!) I think his work is just too insular and narcissistic for me, but I don't really know... I will give the movie a try if it shows up under my nose on Crave or Netflix or the like. An excellent review all the same Grz!
We liked your review, and we'll definitely watch it. Probably never would have without your thorough capturing of the essence of it. Thanks 💙 Anneliese
I still haven't watched this film. Read your piece tentatively in case of spoilers 😁 Definitely going to watch it this weekend now! Looking forward to it.
Wow wonderful
I am mostly a Sherlock/mystery/ghost kind of geek. But I thoroughly enjoyed your wonderful and very interesting review here. Well written and explained. Now I wanna start watching out of the box stuff.