Movie Review Licorice Pizza

Licorice Pizza

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

Written by Paul Thomas Anderson

Starring Cooper Hoffman, Alana Haim, Maya Rudolph, John C. Reilly

Release Date December 25th, 2021 

Licorice Pizza stars Cooper Hoffman as Gary Valentine, an enterprising 16 year old with a restless mind. Gary is on angle in every moment of his life having broken into Hollywood as a child actor and parlayed that into other enterprises. As Licorice Pizza plays out we watch Gary find opportunities at every turn due to his immense charisma and curiosity. It’s Gary’s fearless, self promoting confidence, that catches the attention of Alana while she’s working as an assistant to a photographer for Gary’s school pictures. 

The fact that Alana is clearly an adult and Gary is not does not slow Gary down for a moment. What some people see as an obstacle, Gary sees as an opportunity others aren’t taking advantage of. That’s not to say that Gary is intending to take advantage of Alana, with her worldly qualities and her own strong sense of self, Alana is not one who could be taken advantage of. No, rather, Gary and Alana’s mutual admiration for each other seems to stem from game recognizing game. Certainly, for Alana, there is great entertainment in watching Gary work his game so hard.

Find my full length review at Geeks.Media, linked here. 

Movie Review Phantom Thread

Phantom Thread (2017) 

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson 

Written by Paul Thomas Anderson

Starring Daniel Day Lewis, Lesley Manville, Vicky Krieps 

Release Date December 25th, 2017 

Phantom Thread is incredible. I’m not surprised by this; P.T Anderson has proven to be one of the most remarkable and consistently inventive directors of his era. Nothing surprises me about P.T Anderson crafting an incredible film. What did catch me off guard was the strange and fascinating way in which Phantom Thread is incredible. There is no predicting where this study of obsession and genius is headed.

Reynolds Woodcock, a name that could only belong to a character played by Daniel Day Lewis, is a famed London designer. Woodcock has dressed queens, princesses, movie stars, and many of the world’s moneyed elite. His attention to detail and peculiar sense of style is unmatched by designers of his day. This peculiar and obsessive manner, however, comes at the price of his relationships.

Woodcock can’t stand to be around anyone other than his sister, Cyril (Leslie Manville), who manages the House of Woodcock. Cyril’s duties include managing Reynolds’ business affairs and his personal affairs, such as when Reynolds tires of a female companion and cannot be bothered to be rid of them himself. Any early scene has Cyril sending a soon-to-be-former companion on her way barely batting an eye.

So averse to conflict or disruption is Reynolds that he takes off for his country home while Cyril clears out this latest affair. It’s not long, however, before Reynolds’ well trained eye has fallen on a new subject. While having breakfast at a country inn, Reynolds is smitten with Alma (Vicky Crieps). At first he is charmed by her awkward beauty but soon we find that he wishes to dress her, seeing her frame as perfect for his work.

Find my full length review in the Geeks Community on Vocal.Find my full length review in the Geeks Community on Vocal.