Licorice Pizza... Better with a rewatch

I saw "Licorice Pizza" a couple of years ago, as an introduction to the filmography of Paul Thomas Anderson (who has been on everyone's lips these days thanks to the release of "One Battle After Another"), and I found it to be a visually interesting film, but honestly, not much happened. It was packed with good performances and brilliantly crafted dialogue, but it got a bit boring, save for a couple of quality moments.

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However, seeing that it was at the top of the list for the filmmaker's fans, I thought it was the perfect time to give it another chance... Where, obviously, I was pleasantly surprised.

And although "Licorice Pizza" is seemingly about nothing, and at times feels like a period piece with snippets of real life (no pun intended), it is one of the most brilliant explorations of platonic young love I've seen, deeply rooted in its setting (1970s California), yet with elements that practically anyone can relate to.

Starring two relatively unknown actors (Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman), accompanied by cameos from Hollywood legends like Sean Pennk and Bradley Cooper, the film possesses an indescribable honesty that permeates every moment. Despite its visual refinement, it doesn't feel like it was directed by one of the greatest directors of the 21st century (in a good way).

Licorice Pizza has a slow pace, but it's chaotic and keeps you hooked.

Thematically, it's quite dense and perfectly contrasts the mindsets of its protagonists: Alana, a girl in her 30s who feels she's wasted her life, while 15-year-old Gary feels he has an eternity ahead of him to do whatever he wants, something that instills confidence and drives him to get involved in all kinds of crazy things.

Even if you can't connect with its loose plot, Licorice Pizza is visually appealing (and nostalgic) enough to warrant a visit, while also being packed with brilliant musical tracks from artists like David Bowie and Paul McCartney, which certainly help make the whole experience more immersive.

This score was taken from my Letterboxd account.