Licorice Pizza
Paul Thomas Anderson’s film is utterly delightful, with a mood and flavour for its narrative. This coming-of-age tale has nostalgia written all over it, particularly in the smaller details. It did remind of ‘once upon of time in Hollywood’ in some respects. Licorice Pizza is really an odd romantic comedy, with two outsider leads. Gary (Cooper Hoffman) and Alana (Alana Haim) are a fun to watch. Gary has the confidence of a middle-aged businessman, but Alana is the grown-up in this relationship.
The real world helps to shape this world they occupy. San Fernando Valley has such a sense of place and time, it’s steep suburban hills become plot-points in several sequences. With all this set against the backdrop of the 1970s oil crisis.
Throughout this journey, eccentrics come and go . . . Sean Penn, Tom Waits and Bradley Cooper to name a few – who make the whole experience very entertaining. Bradley Cooper has one of the best lines . . . “How big is your penis?” which injects the film with some wild crazy energy . . .
Very few filmmakers are in such complete control of their work. Looser and funnier than Paul Thomas Anderson’s recent efforts, but sharper and ultimately more rewarding. Highly recommended.
The film was released on 1st January is currently doing the rounds in arthouse cinemas and a few multiplexes.
