Licorice Pizza
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Review by Paul Marino
Licorice Pizza, Paul Thomas Anderson’s ninth film continues his recent string of period pieces. Those of us that never lived on the West Coast before 1987 probably won’t know why the film is so titled, since neither the phrase nor either word is ever spoken in it; nor are licorice or pizza seen anywhere in the movie. He chose the name because the setting is the San Fernando Valley in 1973, and Licorice Pizza was a chain of record stores in Southern CA at the time. The film, one of the year’s best, doesn’t shy away from controversy, as Anderson forces the viewer to confront the stark differences in the country today and during the OPEC oil embargo of ’73, which lasted exactly 5 months. Although fights over gasoline were hinted at (specifically, in the film, perpetrated by Bradley Cooper’s character Jon Peters, Barbara Streisand’s real-life partner from ’73 – ’82, Anderson shows the geo-political problem as not much more than an annoyance to the citizens of the Valley. By contrast, it’s a more peaceful, fun world, than the polarized US of A in 2021.
The most important difference between today & yesteryear is embodied in the two main characters: Gary Valentine, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman’s son Cooper, a young, less handsome Danny Bonoducci-ish in the later The Partridge Family actor, whose main skill isn’t his thespianism, but how enterprising he is; and Alana Kane, portrayed by Alana Haim in her film debut, who when we first meet her is unambitious by any standards, let alone compared to Gary. Gary falls for her immediately. He brings out the best in her, leading by example, employing her in key positions in all of his many business ventures…Oh yeah, I was talking about controversy. Minutes into the film, we find out that Gary is 15; Alana, 25. It works for the audience for the most part, although segments of the Twitter-sphere threw a fit. We’re forced to confront the innocence of the relationship and ask ourselves if the reaction we have today to this sort of reverse gender, younger version of a December/May romance makes any sense. Anderson was also accused of racism & antisemitism in the film. Japanese restauranteur Jerry Frick (John Michael Higgins’ character) always uses a cartoonish Japanese accent when speaking to his wives about the menu, etc. And agent Mary Grady (played by Harriet Sansom Harris) refers to Alana’s Jewish nose several times.
Licorice Pizza is a romantic comedy – a weird, disquieting romantic comedy, definitely not a romcom as we think about them today, or in 1973 for that matter. Anderson is telling us that, as Steve Martin said in his 1973 live album recorded at the Boarding House, S.F., Comedy Is Not Pretty! We quickly understand that Anderson is an artist, concerned neither with political correctness nor if the viewer likes the film. He’s making it for him, not you, as evidenced by its $40 million budget and, to date, $19.5 million box office for a film only released in the theaters on November 26, 2021, timed to coincide with the studios’ current award-worthy release strategy. The cast includes a number of stars in small, fun & entertaining roles or cameos, and all of the characters are based on real people. Sean Penn plays Jack Holden, based on William Holden. He re-enacts a scene from a film that Tom Waits’ character, director Rex Blau, based on either Mark Robson. Two-time Tony-winner Christine Ebersole plays Lucille Doolittle (i.e., Ball); John C. Reilly is Fred Gwynne. And Leo DiCaprio’s father George plays waterbed salesman Mr. Jack.
Among Licorice Pizza’s many accolades are four Golden Globe nominations: Best Musical or Comedy Motion Picture; Paul Thomas Anderson’s Screenplay; and Best Actor and Actress in Musical or Comedy Motion Picture for Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim. It’s expected to garner a number of Oscar nominations when they are announced on February 8.
Paul Marino hosts The Hub on Canal’s Art in the Form of Film, and Broadway at the Hub series. The Hub on Canal is a non-profit art gallery/collective on Canal Street, NSB. His next film there is Jon Favreau’s Chef on February 18.
