Synopsis
The story of Gary Valentine and Alana Kane growing up, running around and going through the treacherous navigation of first love in the San Fernando Valley, 1973.
Director
Cast
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Benny Safdie
Joel Wachs
Anthony Molinari
Cop 2
Tom Waits
Rex Blau
John C. Reilly
Herman Munster
Skyler Gisondo
Lance Brannigan
Emily Althaus
Kiki Page
Este Haim
Este Kane
Harriet Sansom Harris
Mary Grady
Cooper Hoffman
Gary Valentine
Danielle Haim
Danielle Kane
Other Reviews
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I might need to sleep a bit on it before naming this the best film of the year, but all doubts on PTA's latest being the most entertaining piece of cinema that came out of 2021 is put to rest when Bradley Cooper goes on a full-rampage mood around the middle of the film. 'Licorice Pizza' is Paul's most lighthearted film to date. The film doesn't have the seriousness of 'There Will Be Blood' nor the philosophical dynamics of 'The Master' nor the highly visceral sentiments of 'Phantom Thread,' but what it has is Paul's introspective, profoundly realized approach to a particular time and place.
To me, when we're talking PTA, we're talking the pinnacle of contemporary cinema. I was chatting to some kids a few days ago, excited film nerds, we were talking PTA, and I said, "oh, he's the best," and I shared my ranked list of PTA's work. One of the kids noticed that I hadn't given a ten out of ten to any of his films, and he was like, "how come he's your favorite filmmaker when you haven't given him not even a single ten?" And my answer to that was Paul's progressive consistency film after film. I don't think Paul has ever made a bad film. His debut film, or even 'Magnolia,' which, IMO, is the most overrated film on Paul's entire filmography, is still a very respectful piece of cinema. And what I love the most about PTA is his urge to get out of his comfort zone and challenge himself. Paying close attention to his work, you'd notice that he's a very versatile filmmaker. I see a lot of new filmmakers coming into the spotlight with a banger film, and seeing the success they got from that, they seem to try to be as similar as possible to that in their next project (Jordan Peel, Ari Aster, Adam McKay, to mention a few). But that's not the case with Anderson. He doesn't seem to care much about what the audience wants to see him doing next. He is always coming up with unconnected projects, implying an admiring self-confidence with anything he brings, and I think that that's what elevates him, head and shoulders above everyone else.
I had to take a paragraph establishing why I think PTA is the best, but back to the movie now. So, 'Licorice Pizza' was a highly anticipated film for me. If it hadn't been for 'Dune,' this would've probably been my number one most anticipated film of the past year. And Paul didn't let me down. As I said, I'm too lukewarm to judge it correctly right now as for where does this rank in my "Top 10 Film of 2021" list, but this is an assured work. And like almost all of Paul's work, I think this is a film that can benefit a lot in a second or even a third viewing, as Anderson's contemplative, layered, and fast-delivered writing leaves enough meat to offer a more rewarding experience on multiple viewings.
I loved the transition from one scene to another. 'Licorice Pizza' feels like it's tacitly divided into these short episodes. The film shows these kids deal with many different characters and circumstances. And in each new situation that they get in, new characters are introduced, played by stars like Bradley and Penn who feel like they're guest-starring in a television episode for some big series. But it's the shifting from one of these unspoken episodes to the other I liked because that, I thought, was done in such a way that challenges the viewer to keep up with it. See, these episodes don't have an elaborated, spoken closure. PTA, as always, doesn't want to get behind the viewer. He expects the reverse.
Young Hoffman seems to have inherited a great deal from his father's talent. He's charming throughout, delivering an applaudable performance, but the star here is undoubtedly Alana Haim. Her performance seems to come very naturally - you can see she's wholly underneath the skin of her character, and she's on fire - a joy to watch. I mentioned Bradley at the start of this review. He gets to play a hysteric character here, which I loved, but I read an article saying that he was snubbed big time by the Oscars this year for his performance here - I don't think so. If any actor here got robbed here, she's Alana Haim.
I loved the movie! PTA directs with commendable grace and manages to, yet again, deliver, at its worse, a subtle cinematic piece. Furthermore, Paul played one of my favorite songs, "Slip Away," not in the best moment possible - I would have played that in the end when they run toward each other, but still, it's in the movie, so that's a bonus.
RyGuy80
P T Anderson does it again with this love letter to 70s San Fernando Valley. A lighter more sentimental film by this master filmmaker. Amazing Performances by Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim, both making their acting debuts. Just a fun time at the movies also with a fantastic soundtrack! 5 stars!!
105030636570798383074
roland_bekk
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shaban
I might need to sleep a bit on it before naming this the best film of the year, but all doubts on PTA's latest being the most entertaining piece of cinema that came out of 2021 is put to rest when Bradley Cooper goes on a full-rampage mood around the middle of the film. 'Licorice Pizza' is Paul's most lighthearted film to date. The film doesn't have the seriousness of 'There Will Be Blood' nor the philosophical dynamics of 'The Master' nor the highly visceral sentiments of 'Phantom Thread,' but what it has is Paul's introspective, profoundly realized approach to a particular time and place.
To me, when we're talking PTA, we're talking the pinnacle of contemporary cinema. I was chatting to some kids a few days ago, excited film nerds, we were talking PTA, and I said, "oh, he's the best," and I shared my ranked list of PTA's work. One of the kids noticed that I hadn't given a ten out of ten to any of his films, and he was like, "how come he's your favorite filmmaker when you haven't given him not even a single ten?" And my answer to that was Paul's progressive consistency film after film. I don't think Paul has ever made a bad film. His debut film, or even 'Magnolia,' which, IMO, is the most overrated film on Paul's entire filmography, is still a very respectful piece of cinema. And what I love the most about PTA is his urge to get out of his comfort zone and challenge himself. Paying close attention to his work, you'd notice that he's a very versatile filmmaker. I see a lot of new filmmakers coming into the spotlight with a banger film, and seeing the success they got from that, they seem to try to be as similar as possible to that in their next project (Jordan Peel, Ari Aster, Adam McKay, to mention a few). But that's not the case with Anderson. He doesn't seem to care much about what the audience wants to see him doing next. He is always coming up with unconnected projects, implying an admiring self-confidence with anything he brings, and I think that that's what elevates him, head and shoulders above everyone else.
I had to take a paragraph establishing why I think PTA is the best, but back to the movie now. So, 'Licorice Pizza' was a highly anticipated film for me. If it hadn't been for 'Dune,' this would've probably been my number one most anticipated film of the past year. And Paul didn't let me down. As I said, I'm too lukewarm to judge it correctly right now as for where does this rank in my "Top 10 Film of 2021" list, but this is an assured work. And like almost all of Paul's work, I think this is a film that can benefit a lot in a second or even a third viewing, as Anderson's contemplative, layered, and fast-delivered writing leaves enough meat to offer a more rewarding experience on multiple viewings.
I loved the transition from one scene to another. 'Licorice Pizza' feels like it's tacitly divided into these short episodes. The film shows these kids deal with many different characters and circumstances. And in each new situation that they get in, new characters are introduced, played by stars like Bradley and Penn who feel like they're guest-starring in a television episode for some big series. But it's the shifting from one of these unspoken episodes to the other I liked because that, I thought, was done in such a way that challenges the viewer to keep up with it. See, these episodes don't have an elaborated, spoken closure. PTA, as always, doesn't want to get behind the viewer. He expects the reverse.
Young Hoffman seems to have inherited a great deal from his father's talent. He's charming throughout, delivering an applaudable performance, but the star here is undoubtedly Alana Haim. Her performance seems to come very naturally - you can see she's wholly underneath the skin of her character, and she's on fire - a joy to watch. I mentioned Bradley at the start of this review. He gets to play a hysteric character here, which I loved, but I read an article saying that he was snubbed big time by the Oscars this year for his performance here - I don't think so. If any actor here got robbed here, she's Alana Haim.
I loved the movie! PTA directs with commendable grace and manages to, yet again, deliver, at its worse, a subtle cinematic piece. Furthermore, Paul played one of my favorite songs, "Slip Away," not in the best moment possible - I would have played that in the end when they run toward each other, but still, it's in the movie, so that's a bonus.
RyGuy80
P T Anderson does it again with this love letter to 70s San Fernando Valley. A lighter more sentimental film by this master filmmaker. Amazing Performances by Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim, both making their acting debuts. Just a fun time at the movies also with a fantastic soundtrack! 5 stars!!
105030636570798383074
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