Licorice Pizza - SPOILERS!

Started by wilberfan, November 05, 2021, 08:30:50 PM

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Jeremy Blackman

Y'all need to take a second look at your quote tags.

wilberfan

Very spoilery discussion on "Pop Culture Happy Hour" (NPR)

Trigger-Warning:  Multiple minute conversation about Jerry Frick   :yabbse-wink:

WorldForgot

Nada to do with LP;
Something that irks me about English iz that minute (min-ut) and minute (my-noot) are spelled the same but have quite a different effect. More of an observation but like if you'd consider the phrasing above, to anyone who it's not their first language it could be either, but each means something different in terms of content. Minutes-long versus, multiple sparse instances.

wilberfan

I never made the connection that the
Spoiler: ShowHide
Skyler character in LP is Tim Matheson!
  (Paul reveals this in the Increment Vice interview.)

md

After a 2nd viewing, I found Alana's performance even more wonderful than the first time around.  Her charm is settling in nicely and has officially won me over. 

A few afterthoughts:

When Gary and Alana first meet at the 'Cock,  there is a large commotion offscreen. Does any one remember the diner scene in Hard Eight, where the couple get into an argument and camera abruptly rack focus's off of John C Reilly and PBH's convo?  For some reason, I felt like PTA was staying consistent to his own sensibilities or honing in on his 'tone' for the film.  Could be completely arbitrary, but curious if anyone else picked up on that nugget.

There was talking about character's breaking the 4th wall and looking directly into the camera - the black model at the waterbed store - but I don't think she is directly looking at the camera fwiw.  She is looking slightly towards the right of frame although I could see how people could be confused.



"look hard at what pleases you and even harder at what doesn't" ~ carolyn forche

Yes

I agree Alana's performance is swoon-worthy

I also adore that waterbed scene. It does look like Hoffman directly changes eyeline to address camera contact?

wilberfan

Gary looks directly at us and smiles before looking back.

Alethia

Momma Anita also looks directly into camera during the first Jerry Frick scene.

jzakko

Quote from: wilberfan on December 26, 2021, 10:13:03 PM
Gary looks directly at us and smiles before looking back.

I don't think that's how those eyelines were working in that scene.

Pretty much that whole portion of the scene Anderson's having them both looking into the lens, she's looking into the lens at him, he's looking into the lens at her.

He's not breaking eye contact with her to glance at us the audience, he's breaking eye contact with the waterbed he's walking towards to glance at her and give a nervous smile.

md

Quote from: jzakko on December 26, 2021, 10:49:49 PM
Quote from: wilberfan on December 26, 2021, 10:13:03 PM
Gary looks directly at us and smiles before looking back.

I don't think that's how those eyelines were working in that scene.

Pretty much that whole portion of the scene Anderson's having them both looking into the lens, she's looking into the lens at him, he's looking into the lens at her.

He's not breaking eye contact with her to glance at us the audience, he's breaking eye contact with the waterbed he's walking towards to glance at her and give a nervous smile.

That's how I interpreted the scene as well.  Its not like a 'Silence of The Lambs' Hannibal Lector or Leslie Mann type stare down, but rather a very close and intimate exchange.  The black model never looks directly into the camera lens, but just camera right at Gary.  So the reverse shot is just complimenting the same exchange.   I could be wrong though.

Also, as we are talking about cinematography -- I just saw American Underdog - the Kurt Warner football story.  Looks like it was shot on anamorphic lenses and a RED camera system making it look like a well shot Hallmark movie.  It exceeded my (very low) expectations and to be fair, I can't hate the movie for what it is and how it was made.  Dare I say it was actually pretty entertaining, albeit a bit contrite and predictable.  Anyways...going back to Licorice Pizza,  I saw the 70mm print on first viewing and just saw a DCP version at a Regal Cinema and boy do the colors pop.  The cinematography is so fucking good and emotive when compared to modern day digital movies shot with Anamorphics  The inherent property of film just feels so much more alive and real.   Even on the naturally low lit scenes where it's not pretty, particularly the shabbat dinner scene and the golf scene, where the film is underexposed and noisey/grainy, it's just breathtaking.

Lastly, how do we think this film is going to perform in the box office?  I've been telling all my friends and family about the movie, but for some reason, in contrast to the early indie theater numbers, I think this film might not resonate with a wider audience like I was hoping it would.  A few people walked out of the theater right before the Wach's sequences which surprised me.  And only about 12 people were in the theater on an 8pm Sunday night screening.  The film doesn't lack conflict or drama, but I think the lack of a driving plot really loses modern day audiences.
"look hard at what pleases you and even harder at what doesn't" ~ carolyn forche

jzakko

I'm pretty sure they both look directly into the lens, it's just that Gary only glances into the lens briefly because his eyeline is mostly on the bed the whole time - it's not that he's looking at her the whole time and then quickly breaks the 4th wall to acknowledge the audience.

md

Gary's eye line shifts but I was looking closely at the first CU shot of the black model and while she's looking towards the lens,  the camera does not represent Gary as she is looking at the right side of the camera frame (or literally the left portion of the lens itself) -- if that makes sense.

"look hard at what pleases you and even harder at what doesn't" ~ carolyn forche

wilberfan

Quote from: jzakko on December 26, 2021, 10:49:49 PM
Quote from: wilberfan on December 26, 2021, 10:13:03 PM
Gary looks directly at us and smiles before looking back.

I don't think that's how those eyelines were working in that scene.

Pretty much that whole portion of the scene Anderson's having them both looking into the lens, she's looking into the lens at him, he's looking into the lens at her.

He's not breaking eye contact with her to glance at us the audience, he's breaking eye contact with the waterbed he's walking towards to glance at her and give a nervous smile.

I'm prepared to admit that I think you're correct.   When Gary walks into the store, he's transfixed by the bed.  His turn to camera is towards her to acknowledge her flirty invitation to come in and check it out.

wilberfan

Had to share this.

Spoiler: ShowHide



(Brian is a friend of Paul's from way back.  He shows up in a lot of Paul's films.  He can be seen for a few frames playing keyboard in the Adult Awards band in Boogie, and a couple of times in Magnolia.  In fact, Brian is the guy that recorded the conversation that became the inspiration for T.J. Mackey in Magnolia...)

HACKANUT

Quote from: wilberfan on December 26, 2021, 10:13:03 PM
Gary looks directly at us and smiles before looking back.

Spoiler: ShowHide
I'm pretty convinced every instance you guys mentioned of people looking into camera is actually them looking past/through the camera. In the waterbed scene Gary is looking at the bed and then glances through camera at the sales-girl, definitely not US, the audience (IMO). in the first Frick scene, his mom looks past camera to Gary, who it cuts to. When Gary looks into camera and pulls the hose out of the bed, he's looking at Alana, who gets a brief reaction shot.