PTA’s Euphoric yet Nostalgic Fantasy from the Past

While PTA is famously known for his haunting yet stunning films (ex: There Will Be Blood, Phantom Thread), Licorice Pizza sticks out from his filmography like a sore thumb. It's a lighthearted romantic dramedy about 25-year-old Alana Kane and 15-year-old Gary Valentine growing up and discovering themselves in the hills of the San Fernando Valley. While Licorice Pizza looks like an average love story on the surface, this couldn't be further from the truth.

Upon first glance, Licorice Pizza is not particularly flashy or inventive stylistically. It’s shot pretty averagely and doesn’t leave the greatest impact. However, while the film itself isn’t exactly bold, its unconventionality is what makes it work so well. There is nothing truly ordinary about this film. Despite the screenplay being atypical and the fact that these characters shouldn't work on paper, within the fantasy of Licorice Pizza these elements work together perfectly in creating a captivating world. Alana Haim and Copper Hoffman astonish in their breakout performances as Alana Kane and Gary Valentine respectively. PTA’s direction elevates these performances further, creating an unlikely yet whimsical pairing.

While Licorice Pizza is marketed as a love story, I believe it’s more of a love letter from PTA himself to California. My favorite part about this film just might be its worldbuilding. When I think of Licorice Pizza, I don’t think of the characters or the events that take place in the film. Rather, I think of the world in which Licorice Pizza exists. Every piece of the production is meticulously and intentionally used to replicate not only the look of California in the 1970s but also the overall vibe of Anderson’s childhood. From the locations to the costumes, PTA masterfully creates a euphoric yet nostalgic taste of the 70’s. While Fat Bernie’s Pinball Palace is a rhapsodic blast from the past, the sweeping shots of California’s rolling hills leave you homesick for the fantasy of Licorice Pizza.

Despite the controversy, Licorice Pizza stands tall as a genre of its own. It creates a world where the audience can escape for two hours and thirteen minutes yet can still be left living in for weeks after. While I don’t believe this is Anderson’s best work, I believe it remains lovable and necessary in PTA’s discography. Although Licorice Pizza may not be for everyone, I don’t believe that is its purpose. Licorice Pizza is a slice of 1970s California with a taste of Paul Thomas Anderson’s masterwork of whimsy and leaves you hungry for more.

Score: 9.5/10