Paul Thomas Anderson's next film has been under lock and key for a while, especially since he is a director who is notorious for his versatility when it comes to experimenting with different genres. The official first trailer for his upcoming MGM film, Licorice Pizza, has finally arrived, but it still does not reveal too much.
The MGM trailer for Licorice Pizza hints toward politics, child-acting, and of course, the name drop of Barbara Streisand. A lot of divergent themes are being thrown into the mix throughout the trailer, yet Anderson still manages to bring a sense of harmony, like perfecting the culmination of different toppings for a pizza.
The title too even seems a bit random and confusing from just watching the trailer. Licorice Pizza is actually a reference to the 1970s as an era but also takes inspiration from Anderson’s childhood. Not many films have taken on the ’70s in quite some time, as there has been a surplus of movies typically capturing the '90s or '80s. Unless it’s Woodstock, the ’70s aren’t usually explored as much as other eras. Anderson, inherently being an artist who pushes himself out of his comfort zone, subsequently ended up making Licorice Pizza a coming-of-age story without any of the usual teen tropes.
The young puppy love is present in the air, yet something about this particular portrayal evokes genuineness and truth in depicting connections and relationships of the time. The way Anderson decides to show the experience of first love throughout the Licorice Pizza trailer has a sense of reality and humanity to it, something that has been missing in other depictions of teenage love today. Anderson allows the audience to feel as though they are witnessing a conversation between strangers on the street, not watching a movie. The film is set in San Fernando Valley and is a nod to a chain of record stores in the ’70s that carried an impressive collection, while also giving out free licorice to whoever stopped by in the shop.
Although the Licorice Pizza trailer doesn’t exactly show the symbolism or role that free licorice and record stores play in the film, the nostalgia of a simple, more innocent childhood is heart-touching. The trailer does share the impressive lineup of stars that Anderson has meticulously arranged. The late Philip Seymour Hoffman’s son, Cooper Hoffman, will be making his acting debut as the lead in the film. Bradley Cooper is seen in the trailer trying to correct Hoffman’s character on how to pronounce his love interest’s name, Streisand.
Cooper will be starring as a big-time film producer, who also seems to serve the role of mentor to Hoffman’s character, who is trying to get into acting. Anderson has thrown together quite the mixed bag of genres while balancing so many contrasting storylines for each character. Anderson has chosen a fresh actor for the lead, while also choosing an Oscar-nominated actor in Cooper. Through this trailer alone, Licorice Pizza seems to set itself apart from any other film, making it feel secluded yet daring.
Licorice Pizza has a limited release date of November 26th and will be available in theaters nationwide on December 25th, 2021.
Source: MGM/Twitter