Licorice Pizza

I finally finished Licorice Pizza; it took me a while to warm to it. It’s fantastic, and I can feel it takes place in a neighboring headspace to Boogie Nights, definitely “of an era” in Los Angeles. 

 

The acting is stellar across the board; Cooper Hoffman really nails the awkwardness of a teen who is trying desperately to punch outside his weight class. Alana is so believable; accustomed to  The two of them in a complex relationship that isn’t really love, isn’t really friendship, and occasionally approaches romance through animosity. 

 

It’s also great to see the accuracy of the production design. This is ‘80s drab browns and avocado, desaturated ochre, and coupled with the streetlights at night, and the glaring sun of Southern California. 

It's not clear where it's going to end. Several times I thought it would draw to a close, end without a solid resolution, as there doesn't seem to be a real story arc to the movie. It's about the passing of time, about a specific era, and a whole bunch of stuff to which young people today probably can't relate.