Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.5

Licorice Pizza Blu-ray Movie Review

A masterpiece by writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson (Punch-Drunk Love, Inherent Vice).

Licorice Pizza is an entertaining and must-see masterpiece from writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson (Punch-Drunk Love, Phantom Thread). The film stars Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn, Bradley Cooper, and Tom Waits. A gem that captures the essence of life itself, Licorice Pizza mesmerizes from the first to last frame.

This is a tale of unexpected romance and adventure. Licorice Pizza is set against the backdrop of San Fernando Valley in 1973. Alana (Alana Haim) and Gary (Cooper Hoffman) are an unlikely match at first glance – she's 25 and he's 15 – yet the two have more in common than one might expect.

As Alana and Gary spend time together in San Fernando while selling Soggy Bottom water beds, the duo go on a series of strange and beautiful misadventures in the valley. Licorice Pizza is a tale of the spellbinding power of love – including the unexpected journey love takes us on. A slice-of-life tale brimming with originality.

The performances in Licorice Pizza are a knock-out success. There is a sense of vitality and energy throughout. Alana Haim is perfection in her leading role: the performance was unfairly overlooked at the Oscars and should have earned her a Best Actress nomination. A strong performance which promises the potential for more award-worthy roles from Alana Haim down the road.

Haim imbues the performance with her radiant personality and charm while creating a uniquely compelling character. Haim provides one of the most nuanced performances of the year. The role was made for her and she was the perfect casting choice: Licorice Pizza wouldn't have been as memorable without her star performance.

Cooper Hoffman delivers a surprisingly strong performance as well. Hoffman follows in the footsteps of his father, Philip Seymour Hoffman. For a debut performance, the role was perfect for Hoffman. Gary Valentine is a fun character to spend time with, too. The actor delivers on the promise of the remarkable role.

The best movie of the year.

The supporting cast shines in Licorice Pizza. Bradley Cooper delivers one of his best supporting performances to date as Jon Peters. The role is a lively and frenetic one: the performance provides Licorice Pizza with a raw energy which is undeniably fun. Sean Penn also impresses as Jack Holden. There's also a fantastic turn by Tom Waits as director Rex Blau. There is an undeniable “cool” factor with all of these scenes. Fans of the rock group Haim will also be overjoyed to find cameos from both of Alana's sisters: Danielle and Este. Alana, Danielle, and Este comprise the band.

Licorice Pizza has an impressive production design by Florencia Martin (Haim: Man from the Magazine, Haim: Now I'm in It). The beautiful production design fits the time period perfectly. The art direction by Samantha Englender (Nope, Our Friend) similarly impresses and helps the filmmaking excel.

The score composed by Jonny Greenwood (Inherent Vice, There Will Be Blood) is one of the best elements of the film. The score is a small part of the big picture (after all, Licorice Pizza is a film with lots of classic songs) but the music composed by Greenwood mesmerizes. One of Greenwood's best film scores. (The song selection in Licorice Pizza is dynamite as well: the best of the entire year.)

Andy Jurgensen (Haim: Summer Girl, Radiohead: The Numbers) transitions from editing for music videos to the role of feature-film editor. The ongoing collaboration between Jurgensen and Paul Thomas Anderson proved worthwhile. Licorice Pizza is perfectly edited from scene-to-scene.

Paul Thomas Anderson delivers his best film to date. Anderson is one of the best filmmakers in the motion-picture industry. Paul Thomas Anderson's work is always evocative, original, and creative. Licorice Pizza is a personal favorite and the filmmaking feels refreshing. The lens is never tired: Licorice Pizza feels joyous in every frame of the film. The energy and enthusiasm for filmmaking radiates off the screen. Beautifully lensed by Paul Thomas Anderson and Michael Bauman, Licorice Pizza is an instant classic and a film destined to be considered a masterpiece.

Licorice Pizza Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Universal, Licorice Pizza is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.39:1 widescreen. The presentation of the film is absolutely lovely and the naturally filmic appearance makes the viewing experience all the more enjoyable. The presentation is well-encoded and the video quality capably handles the beautiful cinematography. Color reproduction is excellent as well. There are a few scenes with some slight digital noise but nothing too distracting from the viewing experience: a near-perfect transfer and one that would only be bested by arriving on 4K UHD.

Licorice Pizza Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray release is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound. Dialogue remains crisp and clear throughout the presentation. The soundtrack for Licorice Pizza features excellent songs and original score selections. The lossless audio presentation capably handles the sound design and preserves it well. A strong effort by Universal.

Licorice Pizza Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release is a Blu-ray + DVD + Digtal Copy combo pack edition.

The release includes a limited edition poster inside of the package. The art work is the same as the front-cover image. The first-print includes a limited o-card slipcover.

Camera Tests (HD, 4:14) plays like a series of deleted outtakes from during the production of the feature-film.

The Handman Scene (HD, 2:19) is a deleted sequence from the final cut of the feature-film.

Fat Bernie's Commercial (HD, 00:58) is a faux-commercial directed by Gary Valentine.

Behind the Scenes (HD, 10:37) including photos by Paul Thomas Anderson, Bauman, and Melinda Sue. The behind-the-scenes footage is interesting to watch and provides some background footage which enhances the supplemental package. At the same time, the featurette lacks interviews and it seems as though Licorice Pizza deserves a more in-depth package down the road (perhaps in the Criterion Collection).

Licorice Pizza Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Licorice Pizza is a masterpiece. An instant-classic, Licorice Pizza is one of the most free-spirited films writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia) has ever made. The screenplay is poetic and the performances by Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman are remarkable.

The film is named after a 1970's record store from Southern California: "Licorice Pizza" is slang for a vinyl record (as the shape resembles that of a pizza – and the aesthetic of licorice). Given the rise of the vinyl resurgence, Anderson couldn't have picked a better title. The title evokes both the beauty of music and the theme of the film.

Having seen Licorice Pizza in Austin, TX on 70mm at an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, the Blu-ray release is a wonderful representation of the aesthetic of the film. The cinematography is stunning. (Note: I tried the "Licorice Pizza" limited-menu item and I regret to inform you it was the only menu item I've ever ordered from Alamo Drafthouse that didn't taste good.)

The Blu-ray release from Universal features a strong video-audio presentation. The release has a small but interesting selection of supplements. I hope to one day see a re-release in the Criterion Collection (alongside a slew of new extras – including the Haim music video which was attached to the film during some theatrical screenings). Fans of Licorice Pizza are strongly encouraged to purchase this release in the meantime. Highly recommended.