REVIEW: LICORICE PIZZA

4/5

Punch-Drunk Pizza.

134 Mins. Starring: Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Benny Safdie, Danielle Haim, Este Haim, George DiCaprio, Maya Rudolph & Bradley Cooper. Director: Paul Thomas Anderson. 

There will be pepperoni...or at least, I hope. I should be packing for London right now. Or at least thinking about it. But corona, crippling flight prices and all that. Wishing I was getting ready to see Haim's long-delayed 'Women In Music Pt. III' album world tour with my best like Este. Pushed back due to COVID-19 more times than hair from sunglasses on that 2019 Summer's day when the sisterhood made their iconic Lou Reed wild side walk, 'Summer Girl' classic video. One of many filmed with cult legendary director Paul Thomas Anderson ('Now I'm In It', 'Hallelujah', 'Man From The Magazine') for the best album of our worst year of 2020 (thank the heavens for HAIM and the home made 'I Know Alone' video and dance tutorial). A family friend who first got together with the Haim's for a 'Valentine' ode like no other and recently even offered more of his one-of-a-kind, incredible and inspired visuals to a 'Lost Track'. The director who gave us 'Magnolia', 'Boogie Nights'. The early dramatic Hollywood hustle of Adam Sandler and his 'Punch-Drunk Love'. 'The Master' and 'Inherent Vice' with Joaquin Phoenix. Aaaaand 'Phantom Thread' and 'There Will Be Blood' with Daniel Day-Lewis. Now how's that for some reach for your milkshake? Not to mention Radiohead's amazing 'Anima' movie and all those other Haim's. PSA, PTA is one of the best and most versatile directors working today with verve. And The Academy and a 'Licorice' all-sorts assortment of Oscar nominations can serve that up to you by the slice. 

Summer girl finally meets boy, but why the delay? Here in Japan it has taken more than six months to make it over here. All for the first of the very month I should be flying home to see them in the Big Smoke for a Haim Birthday. Well, once upon a time in Hollywood maybe an ill-advised Japanese accent with no push-back, akin to Quentin Tarantino's treatment of Bruce Lee in his movie can be blamed for any boycott or pushed back date. Yet, despite these screens that you really shouldn't laugh at, even if you bite your tongue, 'Licorice Pizza' really is one of the best pictures of the (last) year and Anderson at his most amazingly acclaimed. A love story with comedy (but no rom-com). Mesmerizing as it moves through the days of Californian malaise. Where everything and nothing happens at the same time. As irreverent as it is relevant. There's an age gap as big as the one between teeth (forget May to December, this is 'The Graduate' to last semester), but this young love is still a dream in the land of silver screen ones. This is a gem. Just like the introduction of two of the hottest new stars in Hollywood(land) that like the 1973 San Fernando Valley setting of this movie feel like a throwback. Well, anyone that knows the best band in the world right now, knows Alana Haim. The owner of many an iconic look served in Anderson's cinematic Haim videos and now this extended one. We already knew she had the comedy chops with the various Instagram sister skits like the 'One More Haim' green suit, what the fudge. When she was first announced for this movie starring some of the biggest names in the industry, we knew she would be good. But we didn't realize back then that she was going to be the star of the show. But boy is she. Second to none. Except maybe the equal-billing of our leading man. A born actor like the high-school kid he plays with more credits to his name. Why does he look so familiar? That's what they asked. But we know why now. Not only is he Cooper Hoffman. Son to the late, great Phillip Seymour. But in his DNA (no nepotism) he's just someone who seems like he's always been here. The very first moment you see him on screen. Just like when he with 100% assurity in his belief, tells his friend he's just met the woman he's going to marry. Without a hint of romantic Hollywood cliché. 

'Life On Mars' ain't just a song as Lana Del Rey said. It's the stellar soundtrack that scores the terrific trailer of what you just knew was going to be another classic like 'Days Are Gone'. No matter how long you had to wait. Or the gassed up oil crisis, end of the world, monumental moment in this movie of sprinting in the California sun for these maverick like Dallas top guns who run here more than Tom Cruise. All the way into an epic embrace that feels like 'La LA Land', but dances to a completely different tune. In its own steps. Cooper Hoffman is a young, Kingpin suited entrepreneur, from pinballs to the water beds that will float with you on a dream away to nostalgia. Whilst Alana is Alana. In all her amazing agency and defiance to a world that back then was in some ways as ass slap backwards as it still is now, today. But you have to love the hallmark moments to the anti-Hollywood side of Cali that is searching for love and freedom, in equal, but their own measures. Just like you have to love the Haim response to one of her sisters advising that she shouldn't pick fights with everyone all the time. Because yes that's the perfect for the parts, Danielle and Este, or as matter of fact, the whole Haim family doing their friend a solid. In a movie chock full of classic cameos (is that Herman Munst', or Jerry Buss), even Maya Rudolph shows up with nary a word, but what a presence. Big names like Sean Penn and Tom Waits come in to play local legends as big as the acting and music ones they actually are with revved up and introduced golf course gusto. Whilst one half of the brotherhood of best directors working at the moment Benny Safdie (recently a Jedi in Disney +'s 'Obi-Wan Kenobi') campaigns as a charming political figure (real life city councilman Joel Wachs) with something to hide...even though he shouldn't. Even Leo's dad George DiCaprio shows up on this film lovingly dedicated to the gentleman Robert Downey Sr. But it's Bradley Cooper who steals the show once again, despite a recent Chris Pratt like backlash (why to both actors?), even after the Hollywood heartthrob wrote, directed, played and made his own original and outstanding songs to 'A Star Is Born' with a new Hollywood one in pop Queen Lady Gaga. This town is unforgiving, but Cooper is undeniable as Jon Peters. Filmmaker and former hairdresser and boyfriend of Barbara Streisand. Here looking like the Barry Gibb he's been meant to play (must be the coiffure and facial fuzz that make him the bee's knees like the Bee Gees). Cooper on Copper, a moment with Hoffman, trying to teach him how to pronounce his girlfriends name has the same funny feeling like that line flub in the Cohen Brothers' 'Hail Caesar'. But even better than that or a Channing Tatum tap-dance is how Alana (no dame...or damsel in distress) maneuvers a big-wheel out of gas down the Hollywood hills off its own momentum and her moxie. That's her and this movies moment right there. Complete with one perfect shot staring through the rear view.  When it goes from meandering to meaningful in that many left turns. The heartburn of young love in 'Licorice Pizza' stretches the cheese for as long as it will string you along. And goes down just as sweet. Order up! TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Magnolia', 'Boogie Nights', 'Haim-Valentine'.