Licorice Pizza [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray/DVD]

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Paul Thomas Anderson

Overview

In California's San Fernando Valley, the early 1970s witnessed the birth of the noteworthy record store chain, Licorice Pizza. As the business continues to gain traction across the state, teen actor Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) navigates the successes and pitfalls of burgeoning fame while traversing the tricky terrain of first love with the charming Alana (Alana Haim). Bradley Cooper, Christine Ebersole, Sean Penn, Maya Rudolph, and Tom Waits co-star in this nostalgic coming-of-age drama written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/17/2022
UPC:	0191329214244
Original Release:	2021
Source:	Mgm (Video & Dvd)
Language:	English
Sales rank:	8,653

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Alana Haim	Alana Kane,Este,Danielle
Cooper Hoffman	Gary Valentine
Sean Penn	Jack Holden
Tom Waits	Rex Blau
Bradley Cooper	Jon Peters
Benny Safdie	Joel Wachs
Maya Rudolph	Skyler Gisondo,Customr Number 6
Skyler Gisondo	Lance
Emma Dumont	Brenda
John C. Reilly	Fred Gwynne
John Michael Higgins	Jerry Frick
Mary Elizabeth Ellis	Benny Safdie
Christine Ebersole	Lucille Doolittle
Nate Mann	Brian
Harriet Sansom Harris	Mary Grady
Joseph Cross	Matthew
Sasha Spielberg	Cindy
Moti Haim	Moti
Donna Haim	Donna
Emily Althaus	Kiki Page
George DiCaprio	Mr. Jack
Destry Allyn Spielberg	Frisbee Kahill
Ryan Heffington	Steve
Yumi Mizui	Mioko
Megumi Anjo	Kimiko
Isabelle Kusman	Sue Pomerantz
Griff Giacchino	Mark
Ray Chase	B. Mitch Reed
Will Angarola	Kirk
Tim Conway Jr.	Vic
Milo Herschlag	Greg Valentine
James Kelley	Tim
Anthony Molinari	Cop 2
Fatimah Hassan	Driver
Craig Stark	Long Hair Freak
Iyana Halley	Mr. Jack Wig Shop Assistant
Joann Coleman	Alejandra
Deana Molle	Driver
Jeff Willy	Fair Volunteer
Rogelio Camarillo	Armand
Bottara Angele	Fair Goer #1
Charlotte Townsend	Fairgoer #3
Grace Kennedy-Piehl	Flower Child
Zoe McLane	Pinball Teen
Devon Knopp	Pinball Teen
Natalia Becerril	Latin Lady
Patrick Salway	Pinball Kid
Tess Rianne Sullivan	Wachs Campaign Staffer
Nathan M. Hadden	Valet
Mary Eileen O'Donnell	Reporter
Louis Delavenne	French Waiter
Lakin Valdez	Cop
Patrick Hoelck	Photographer
Zachary Chicos	Upscale Restaurant Patron
Elton McCrudden	the Rival Kid
Joe Don Harris	Cop #5
Eloy Perez	Guillermo
Collin Sutton	Photographer
Mark Kirksey	Cop #5
Joshua Carl Allen	Photographer
Jonny Greenwood	Composer

Technical Credits

Paul Thomas Anderson

Paul Thomas Anderson	Screenwriter,Director,Producer
Aaron L. Gilbert	Executive Producer
Daniel Lupi	Executive Producer
Susan McNamara	Executive Producer
Joanne Sellar	Executive Producer
Sara Murphy	Producer
Adam Somner	Producer
Jason Cloth	Executive Producer

Editorial Reviews

Licorice Pizza seems like a time capsule of sorts, leaving the viewer in 1970s Encino, California. The film is oozing with style and craftsmanship from auteur director Paul Thomas Anderson and will have viewers leaving the cinema with starry eyes. Using the relationship between the two main characters as the plot and seeing how they handle multiple situations is a welcome deviation from the normal three act structure. The film follows Alana Kane (Alana Haim) and Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman), beginning where they first meet; Gary is getting ready for his school photo while Alana works as a photographer's assistant. Gary takes an instant liking to Alana and strikes up a conversation that ultimately leads to a date at Gary's favorite restaurant. Though Alana is 25 years old and trying to get her life together and figure out what she wants to do, Gary is just a 15-year-old opportunist who tries to take advantage of moments that pop up in his life. They then go through situations like Gary getting wrongfully arrested for murder, Alana trying to become an actress, Alana getting involved with John Holden (Sean Penn) and Rex Blau (Tom Waits), and Gary and Alana selling a waterbed to Jon Peters (Bradley Cooper). Through all these situations the audience sees the complexities of their relationship as it goes through ebbs and flows of love and hate. Paul Thomas Anderson toes a dangerous line with the film causing controversy due the lead characters' age difference. While the outrage is understood and it would have been better to have Gary's character a few years older, it doesn't completely detract from the film. It shows two characters who are at different points in their lives and are trying to make it in their own ways, and they need each other to achieve these goals. Gary starts a waterbed business and then takes advantage of the legalization of pinball, while Alana's relationship with Gary seems to broaden her horizons and get her away from being a photographer's assistant, encouraging her attempt at acting and then volunteering on a political campaign. Aside from the debate about the age of the characters, Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman deliver performances that one cannot look past. For both actors, this is their first lead in a feature film, and while watching Licorice Pizza, they look to be seasoned veterans. They deliver nuanced performances that at points rely more on facial expressions than vocalization. Another actor who shines is Tom Waits. While his performance is short, his scenes are among the film's best. His raspy voice demands attention, and his mannerisms are grandiose, fitting his character of a 1970s movie director perfectly. Finally, another staple of a Paul Thomas Anderson film is the cinematography complete with lens flares. There are awe-inspiring scenes that leave viewers with the joyous thought, "Now this is what cinema is all about." There are also scenes where he and co-director of photography Michael Bauman capture characters' faces and emotions and in the same scene switch to shaky camera to capture a hectic moment in the film as if they were captured on a home video camera. This happens a few times and is reminiscent of a John Cassavetes movie. Licorice Pizza is a film that is comfortable, because once you get in it, its hard for you to leave it. Paul Thomas Anderson makes another movie that seems to be a masterclass in film, and while it has sparked some controversy, it still makes for a well-made, thought-provoking movie. .