By Gilberto Campa
Paul Thomas Anderson is often regarded as one of the most unique, insightful, and overall great filmmakers and Auteurs of his generation. Every time he releases a film there is always a buzz about them, and rightfully so as much of his movies are some of the most revered of all time. In his latest film Licorice Pizza(he came up with the title as two things that he loved when he was growing up in the Valley as a kid) PTA goes back to his childhood roots in San Fernando Valley and presents a unique love story, with his signature trademarks.
Set in 1973 during the middle of the Oil Crisis, fifteen-year-old child actor Gary Valentine (played by Cooper Hoffman, son of the great Phillip Seymour Hoffman) meets mid-twenties Alana Kane (played by Alaina Haim, who is making her film debut). Gary is a constant hustler and is always looking to make the next big move or capitalize on a business opportunity (whether it’s selling water beds or Pinball machines), only when he isn’t auditioning for a movie or making a television appearance, or even going to High School. Alana on the other hand is a young woman who is at a bit of a standstill in her life as she doesn’t know what the rest of her life will look like (despite being talented and very beautiful).
In an interview with Variety, PTA mentioned that Alana Haim embodied everything that a girl from the Valley embodies which is why he cast her and when you watch the movie you see that right from the beginning. She seems mature because of her age, but as the story goes on Alana doesn’t really have a grasp on things like she should have and is struggling as to why she even gives Gary the time of day in the first place. Speaking of Gary, he is very charming and confident for his young age but that’s what makes him so engaging. He isn’t as tortured as some of the other protagonists in past PTA movies, but even though Gary talks a big game, deep down he isn’t as confident as he seems, especially with Alana and her interactions with other men. The situations that both go through as the movie goes along are meant to create tension between them, but ultimately its that’s the tension that brings out the love they have for each other.
The reason that Paul Thomas Anderson usually sets his films in the same area is that it gives him a sense of familiarity, comfort, and happiness which is what makes this a very important movie for him. It begins in a very organic and natural way that doesn’t waste any time in seeing why these two people end up connected to each other, and why they also constantly can’t stand each other (like in most relationships). The story also serves as a love letter to the film industry and California at the time, as there are some incredible appearances from Bradley Cooper as Jon Peters and Sean Penn as Jack Holden (one of the best actors of all time). Even Benny Safdie (one-half of the Safdie Brothers) also shows up in this as Joel Wachs who was running for Mayor at the time.
Overall like most PTA movies, it can swing both ways in terms of audience reaction, but the 70’s aesthetic, wonderful musical choices, and overall charismatic cast make Licorice Pizza a very nice change of pace to a lot of films that have come out this year. It’s probably the funniest movie that Paul Thomas Anderson has crafted which also made it even more enjoyable (especially Bradley Cooper’s role). I think this is worth checking out as there are parts that everyone can enjoy.