It's hard to imagine, but yes, it's a fact: pinball machines were once illegal in the US. In California, they were legalized in 1974. This is one of the historic events featured in 'Licorice Pizza'. The oil crisis, the introduction of the waterbed and Jon Peters dating Barbra Streisand are other events giving this movie its typical seventies feel. And, of course the clothes, the hairdos, and the cars.
This is a period picture, but there's more to it than that. It's also a romantic, funny and sometimes weird film. You have to get used to the strange mix of elements and the lack of a real plot. At first, it's not quite clear what the movie is about or what it's trying to say. But halfway, it becomes clear that it's just about things happening to the two protagonists. During the whole film, they are hesitating to be a couple. One is Gary, a big talking, pimpled teenage actor who tries his luck in public relations, selling waterbeds, promoting a local politician and running a pinball saloon. This unusual character starts trying to date Alana, an ordinary young woman, ten years his senior but lacking his self-consciousness.
Together, they start a waterbed selling company, leading to some hilarious situations, and highlighting life in star-filled Los Angeles. But apart from the period factor and the unusual story, it's really the cinematography that stands out in this film. Paul Thomas Anderson amazes with his beautiful shots, often from unusual angles, through windows or mirrors, lighting out objects or persons. Just notice the way the light glides over Alana during a split second when she enters the bar for a first date with Gary. Anderson often films things from a distance, also showing elements in the foreground and background.
After seeing this film, I still don't know what a licorice pizza is. But that's all right. Lots of things in this film are unusual in a pleasant way, and this is one of them. And if you wonder, after having seen the film, if Intercourse really is a village in Pennsylvania: yes, it is.
This is a period picture, but there's more to it than that. It's also a romantic, funny and sometimes weird film. You have to get used to the strange mix of elements and the lack of a real plot. At first, it's not quite clear what the movie is about or what it's trying to say. But halfway, it becomes clear that it's just about things happening to the two protagonists. During the whole film, they are hesitating to be a couple. One is Gary, a big talking, pimpled teenage actor who tries his luck in public relations, selling waterbeds, promoting a local politician and running a pinball saloon. This unusual character starts trying to date Alana, an ordinary young woman, ten years his senior but lacking his self-consciousness.
Together, they start a waterbed selling company, leading to some hilarious situations, and highlighting life in star-filled Los Angeles. But apart from the period factor and the unusual story, it's really the cinematography that stands out in this film. Paul Thomas Anderson amazes with his beautiful shots, often from unusual angles, through windows or mirrors, lighting out objects or persons. Just notice the way the light glides over Alana during a split second when she enters the bar for a first date with Gary. Anderson often films things from a distance, also showing elements in the foreground and background.
After seeing this film, I still don't know what a licorice pizza is. But that's all right. Lots of things in this film are unusual in a pleasant way, and this is one of them. And if you wonder, after having seen the film, if Intercourse really is a village in Pennsylvania: yes, it is.