Licorice Pizza - Speculation & General Reactions

[Alethia]

I was definitely ible to access it.

[Drenk]

Well, I don't have access to it right now...

[wilberfan]

'Licorice Pizza' Review: Paul Thomas Anderson's Welcome Return To The Valley Hits A Comic Peak For The Filmmaker

One of the few American auteurs who can do just about anything he chooses and get studios to climb on board, Paul Thomas Anderson again takes us in new directions with Licorice Pizza, perhaps his lightest, most engaging and — dare we say it? — accessible movie to date.

[Yes]

wrongright digging for the negative reviews like a needle in the haystack

[wilberfan]

All the performances are incredible, but watch for the lone scene with Harriet Sansom Harris (as the Talent Agency Owner). It's spectacular.

Oh, my Gawd.  One of my two fav cameos in this thing.   I sat bolt upright in THREAD when she did her thing there, thinking, "Who IS this?!"  Last night it was, "You magnificent wench, you've done it again..."

From one of today's reviews:

But if there is one certified scene-stealer it most definitely is Harriet Sansom Harris, who plays actual child agent Mary Grady in a sequence where Gary brings Alana to launch an acting career, and Grady gives her the facts of life of show business. It is hysterical. If you can win an Oscar for one scene, Harris gets my vote right now for Best Supporting Actress.

Told ya. 

[wrongright]

wrongright digging for the negative reviews like a needle in the haystack

It's not a negative review. It's just continued mixed messages about how audience friendly (there, I can put it another way) it is.

[wilberfan]

Some alternate takes (from the Deadline review comments).  In case some of us need a boost:   

Saw it at the DGA Screening last weekend. I was disappointed with the lack of actual structure to the film. It meandered, and ended with so many characters or items just disappearing with no reason.  It's a mess/miss for me.

I found it boring and too long. If you don't worship at the Church of PTA, skip it.

It was mediocre. Main issues are that Alana is not a very gifted actress, and at over 2 hours the 2nd half drags a bit.

I don't know The Guardian or it's audience, but it's comment thread has already descended into (yet another) shitstorm about the Age Difference.

[wrongright]

Some alternate takes (from the Deadline review comments).  In case some of us need a boost:   

Saw it at the DGA Screening last weekend. I was disappointed with the lack of actual structure to the film. It meandered, and ended with so many characters or items just disappearing with no reason.  It's a mess/miss for me.

I found it boring and too long. If you don't worship at the Church of PTA, skip it.

It was mediocre. Main issues are that Alana is not a very gifted actress, and at over 2 hours the 2nd half drags a bit.

These are likely industry people a.k.a. Oscar voters. They're always going to prefer something like Being The Ricardos or Tik Tik Boom, both of which have gotten great reactions so far. Not to mention Belfast. We should put the breaks on a little bit regarding Oscar hopes.

[wilberfan]

Not necessarily representative of anything, but my "civilian" friend found it,  "...entertaining, but nothing spectacular.  I smiled a couple of times, but didn't find it that funny...   Three-stars (out of five)."  [This is the friend that absolutely loved PHANTOM THREAD.]

I'll be curious to hear the reactions from your civilian friends/family.

[Yes]

Some alternate takes (from the Deadline review comments).  In case some of us need a boost:   

Saw it at the DGA Screening last weekend. I was disappointed with the lack of actual structure to the film. It meandered, and ended with so many characters or items just disappearing with no reason.  It's a mess/miss for me.

I found it boring and too long. If you don't worship at the Church of PTA, skip it.

It was mediocre. Main issues are that Alana is not a very gifted actress, and at over 2 hours the 2nd half drags a bit.

These are likely industry people a.k.a. Oscar voters. They're always going to prefer something like Being The Ricardos or Tik Tik Boom, both of which have gotten great reactions so far. Not to mention Belfast. We should put the breaks on a little bit regarding Oscar hopes.

Why do you hate the idea of PTA winning an Oscar for this?

You've never fully explained other than believing it's too "inaccessible". What's the deal?

[wrongright]

Some alternate takes (from the Deadline review comments).  In case some of us need a boost:   

Saw it at the DGA Screening last weekend. I was disappointed with the lack of actual structure to the film. It meandered, and ended with so many characters or items just disappearing with no reason.  It's a mess/miss for me.

I found it boring and too long. If you don't worship at the Church of PTA, skip it.

It was mediocre. Main issues are that Alana is not a very gifted actress, and at over 2 hours the 2nd half drags a bit.

These are likely industry people a.k.a. Oscar voters. They're always going to prefer something like Being The Ricardos or Tik Tik Boom, both of which have gotten great reactions so far. Not to mention Belfast. We should put the breaks on a little bit regarding Oscar hopes.

Why do you hate the idea of PTA winning an Oscar for this?

You've never fully explained other than believing it's too "inaccessible". What's the deal?

I don't. Again, I'm just trying to see the full picture. Looks like there's a chance it may get nominated. But these mixed messages are confusing, and that doesn't feel like the recipe for a win. Plus, there's still 3 huge movies yet to premiere (Don't Look Up, Nightmare Alley, and West Side Story).

[Jeremy Blackman]

Maybe we should split this off into a separate "Licorice Pizza Awards Strategy" thread. Niche, perhaps, but extremely important.

[wrongright]

Maybe we should split this off into a separate "Licorice Pizza Awards Strategy" thread. Niche, perhaps, but extremely important.

I'm seeing there was a Phantom Thread awards thread.

[pynchonikon]

https://www.twitter.com/akstanwyck/status/1460488627931127815

[RudyBlatnoyd]

Good lord, the comments section on that Guardian review reinforces my opinion that many regular Guardian readers are among the world's most miserable people.