Licorice Pizza (2021)
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In 1973 San Fernando Valley, a teenage actor and a photographer's assistant navigate a complicated romance amidst the backdrop of the oil crisis.
The story
Set in 1973 San Fernando Valley, the film follows the evolving relationship between 15-year-old actor Gary Valentine and 25-year-old Alana Kane, a photographer's assistant. They meet on a school picture day, and despite Alana's initial hesitation, she joins him on a press tour in New York City. As they navigate the complexities of their age gap and the cultural landscape of the early 1970s, they become involved in a burgeoning waterbed business. The narrative captures their growing connection and the friction caused by their differing perspectives and the external pressures of the era.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1973 San Fernando Valley, 15-year-old Gary Valentine meets 25-year-old Alana Kane. They travel to New York for a press tour where Gary becomes jealous of Alana's co-star, but they eventually reconcile. They later partner in a waterbed business, facing the challenges of the 1973 oil crisis. After a series of personal conflicts and a tense encounter with a wealthy man named Jon Peters, the pair faces a rift due to their age difference and different life paths. Alana briefly works for a local politician while Gary prepares to open a pinball arcade. Ultimately, they find each other at the arcade, where Gary declares his love for her, and they run into the night together.
- First release year
- 2021
- Runtime (minutes)
- 133
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Paul Thomas Anderson
- Writers
- Paul Thomas Anderson · writer
- Cast and characters
- Alana Haim · Alana Kane; Cooper Hoffman · Gary Valentine; Sean Penn; Tom Waits; Bradley Cooper; Benny Safdie
- Genres
- comedy-drama; coming-of-age
- Themes
- coming-of-age; age-gap romance; 1970s culture
- Tone and mood
- nostalgic; naturalistic
- Setting
- San Fernando Valley, 1973
- Premise and plot tags
- period piece; romance
- Reception
- The film was acclaimed by critics and received several awards and nominations, including three Academy Award nominations.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 90 · scale: 100 · review count: 55; PostTrak · score: 87%
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Picture · 94th · nomination; Academy Award · Best Director · 94th · nomination; Academy Award · Best Original Screenplay · 94th · nomination; National Board of Review · Best Film · win; BAFTA Award · Best Original Screenplay · win
- Production trivia
- The film's title was inspired by a former chain of record shops in southern California.; The film was shot on 35 mm film using older lenses to create a 1970s texture.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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