Paul Thomas Anderson is back again with another slice of life straight out of the ’70s. Set in the San Fernando Valley, LA, Licorice Pizza is a coming-of-age comedy-drama that tells the story of Alana Kane and Gary Valentine living life in the Valley. Based on a loose interpretation of real-life events and notable figures, Universal has a timely classic on its hands that will be remembered for some time to come.

Starring two big-screen debutants, Alana Haim as Alana Kane and Cooper Hoffman as Gary Valentine, the pair capture the audience early as they embrace their awkward beginnings. There is an unfortunate side effect of an actor or actress that has already been “type casted” for lack of a better term from previous roles. Given this is a debut for both, I was able to completely fall into their immersive performances and bonded with each of them in different ways throughout the film.

Gary, a 15-year-old young man who is bursting with ambition and always shooting for the stars is captivated early on by the poised yet unsure Alana. The linchpin of the narrative however is that Miss Kane is 25 and is hesitant to dismiss her chemistry with the charismatic Gary. An extended opening of banter between the two was charming as Gary tries to big-note his acting prowess, with Alana able to disarm him continuously in a playful yet quick-witted manner.

The ebb and flow between the two came in spades and often left a smirk or smile on my face as I tried to second guess where each interaction would lead. A forbidden connection would illicit mixed emotions between the audience and the on-screen counterparts. At times, it was tough to rally for the idea that they could actually make this work as both parties came in and out of favour with one another. At any given moment, one would be the chaser while the other was running away so to speak, desperately trying to break the connection that was first established either through other love interests or throwing themselves into their work.

Flirting with her family’s Jewish values, Alana tries to establish a distinct divide that she can be more than the innocent little girl her Father tries to paint her as. A side note, Alana’s entire real-life family play her on-screen family as well with hilarious results and made those portions of the film so much more endearing. Her character latched onto the entrepreneurial mindset of Gary as he jumped from one idea to the next, ranging from unofficially managing Alana as she auditioned for acting roles or helping him manage his many business adventures.

While the overall flow of the movie felt disjointed at times, I have come to the conclusion that living in the moment ideals of the story was what made the moment-to-moment segments that much more enjoyable. An entire string of cameo performances gave the film a glimpse of slices of life, passing by only to be experienced as a fleeting memory. Hands down, Bradley Cooper stole the show in his limited appearance as a narcissistic film producer. His borderline psychotic episode left me reeling with laughter, spine-tingling chills, and exhilarating feelings as it also set up one of the most impressive set pieces of the entire film by Alana Kane.

All of this was framed by some truly wonderful and strategic cinematography that let you drink in the atmosphere, time and time again. The lighting was just that little bit too saturated with a hint of sepia undertone that gave the film a grainy effect. It aged the set design to give a truly authentic 70’s vibe and the selection of era-defining music even matched the moments with their lyrics in time with certain events. Paul Thomas Anderson has put on a clinic with his decision making and the scenes that have extended takes without any background music or sounds were equally, if not more impactful.

Walking away from the film left me mulling over so many details for hours as I tried to process exactly how I feel. I can’t say this will be a film for everyone, but it is a film that everyone could take something away from. Gary was a well realised young man that could easily make you forget he was only 15 but always managed to remind you in one way or another of his actual age. Alana’s break-out performance throughout was emotional, hilarious and profound at times and I am excited for her and Cooper to thrive in their future endeavours.

Licorice Pizza will leave a lasting taste in your mouth and I am already looking forward to my next re-watch to see what new revelation I can take away from this instant classic.

Written by: Shane Fletcher