Grabbing a slice of Licorice Pizza.

I leave for work in the darkness of the winter morning when a blockbuster like Spider-Man drops. You’ve got to get in early to make sure everything is perfect. It’s quite thrilling, standing behind the till watching people young and old clamouring to get inside like a zombie hoard. Like we are the last people on earth. Like this is black Friday and we are selling the elixir of life. The insanity has died down a little bit after a few weeks (after crossing a billion dollars at the box office) it’s quiet now. We can stock correctly and take a break. I’ve got a papercut from opening so many packages from the distributers. Cinema is back, baby.

One person who doesn’t think the Spider-Man hype isn’t all that bad is one, Paul Thomas Anderson. Speaking with The New Yorker he states: ‘It seems to be something that’s popular these days to sort of wonder if they’ve ruined movies and all this kind of stuff. I just don’t feel that way. I mean, look, we’re all nervous about people getting back to the theatre, but you know what’s going to get them back in movie theatres? “Spider-Man.” So, let’s be happy about that.’ He’s right you know.

Licorice Pizza was supposed to be my movie of 2021, but unfortunately it got bumped up to January for the UK. I’ve been stoked for this film for months. Before the trailer dropped, before principal photography had even started, way back when it was called ‘Soggy Bottom’. Whilst I think the auteur theory is BS, unfortunately most of my favourite directors fall into that very category. Singular visionaries with an incomparable sense of style, painful in their perfection. PTA is no exception. I don’t have to know what the genre is, who it stars or who is producing. All I need is a director and I’ll be first in line, Popcorn in hand.

Since then, casting announcements and set photos have done nothing but boost my excitement. I love Haim and have a soft spot for family bands. Little Cooper Hoffman with his sweet babyface. Ever since he was casted, I’ve done nothing but root for him. Bradley Cooper as Jon Peters? Hello! That’s fun! Casting and idol worshipping aside I do indeed have a soft spot for any film set in the late 60s early 70s. It’s true I am one late-stage Beatle loving, Joan Didion reading, Paisley wearing, over-romanticise groupie culture loving bitch and I won’t apologise for it. Spiritually I am in California, Physically I am in South London. Plus, PTA doing late 60s early 70s is my jam. Boogie Night and Inherent Vice are in my top 5 so I could hardly wait to add this and get a triple feature underway.

Oh man, you guys. I think it’s going to take some time for me to properly articulate how I feel. But let me say this. Tom Waits? You’ve gotta be joking me! Bradley Cooper? Get outta here! Benny Safdie? Oh my gosh! The audience was totally digging the film. At one point where the characters suddenly find themselves in a sticky situation one member of the audience, mouth full of ice cream excited: ‘Oh Shit!’. A lot of (white) people laughed at the racist jokes which left me quite cold and honestly a little jilted. I know there are a couple scenes in this movie that might be uncomfortable to watch but I think it could start some important conversations about historical context and what we choose to portray on screen. Who is the joke for? Who is the joke at? Anyways…

If Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a Sunny Thursday afternoon, Then Licorice Pizza is a Friday Night. I can’t describe it any better than that. Those two films are totally cousins if you ask me. Liquorice Pizza is like taking a bath at golden hour before hitting the town with your friends. It feels like seeing a great movie with some great pals and then gabbing about it on your walk home as the sun sets. Like Smiling for the first time after a toothache or taking a nap on holiday. Most importantly this film feels lived in and accurate. Just kids hanging out having fun! Just recalling the scenes in my head, I find a smile forming across my face. Catch this movie (on film if you can) watch all of PTA’s filmography and then get back to me.