Three Oscar nominations – in the prestigious categories ‘Best Film’, ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Original Screenplay’. Excellent 4.5 stars in the FILMSTARTS review. But also a disappointing worldwide box office result of $32.3 million on a budget of $40 million and a controversy that the director had to respond to: ‘Licorice Pizza’ is a film of contrasts. That was probably to be expected, since the title already brings together terms like “licorice” and “pizza.”
Since only a few movie fans have seen “Licorice Pizza,” which was criminally neglected in theaters, take every opportunity to catch up on the climax. Ultimately, more film buffs should get the chance to get a taste of ‘There Will Be Blood’ director Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest work. And this is now also possible with a streaming subscription: “Licorice Pizza” is now available to watch on Amazon Prime Video for Prime customers at no additional cost:
Of course there is also the atmospheric, special journey through time to California in the 1970s on DVD and Blu-ray* available. Your companions on the journey through the decade of waterbeds and bell-bottoms include Sean Penn, Bradley Cooper and the rock stars Alana Haim and Tom Waits, who are best known for their music.
This is “Licorice Pizza”
California, 1973: 15-year-old student Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) falls in love with assistant Alana Kane (Haim) during a photo shoot. He doesn’t care that she’s ten years older. Instead, she warns: a relationship between them would be disgusting – and illegal! Yet she lets the child actor and aspiring entrepreneur invite her to dinner. A strange friendship develops in the turbulent San Fernado Valley, which includes embarrassing celebrity encounters and the oil crisis…
The title ‘Licorice Pizza’ not only describes two mismatched treats, but is also (more or less forgotten) slang for vinyl records. ‘Licorice Pizza’ was also the name of a small chain of music stores, but that is now a thing of the past. However, music plays only a minor role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s foray into the 1970s “Licorice Pizza” lives and breathes the attitude and language of California in the 1970s – and postponed business ideas also play a relevant role.
Director and author Paul Thomas Anderson sometimes revives local and contemporary color with passion, sometimes he sketches it with great annoyance. However, in the eyes of some viewers, not enough distance was taken from the absurd 70s aspects: both the large age difference between the main characters and a racist side character caused dissatisfaction. Reactions to which Anderson himself was quite surprised, without turning his nose up.
Much more than the controversial debates, praise for ‘Licorice Pizza’ resounds. Whether it’s Bradley Cooper’s supporting role as an incredibly funny scene-stealer. Or about all the little ‘stories full of warmth and humor’ that appear in the film, as FILMSTARTS author Björn Becher says in the review. And over Alana Haim, who exhibits “an incredibly natural screen presence” in her first major film role.