Licorice Pizza, Paul Thomas Annotated: In the Margins

Licorice Pizza

Perhaps PTA’s most charming film, Licorice Pizza (2021) found the director returning to his roots—the 1970s San Fernando Valley—for a romp with a precocious actor-turned-impresario, Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman), and a young woman struggling to launch, Alana Kane (Alana Haim). The plot spins around their curious relationship even as it catches different grooves and subplots involving local politics, the effects of the oil embargo of 1973, and larger-than-life characters based on Hollywood personalities William Holden and Jon Peters.

Similar to Inherent Vice, Licorice Pizza’s “hangout film” facade and perfectly calibrated needle drops belie its interests in the tense political, sexual, and social dynamics of the era. Likewise, Gary and Alana’s enigmatic partnership—a whirlwind that finds them struggling to match each other’s rhythm until the film’s brilliantly edited finale—finds them moving from one scheme to another, as the unusual pair comes to embody another version of one of PTA’s archetypical characters: the lonely outsider seeking validation in financial success.

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A line of boys check their hair in a school bathroom mirror.

Water shoots up from a leak in a bathroom stall.

A woman walks down an outdoor corridor of a school carrying a handheld mirror and a comb.

A boy peeks his head out from a line of waiting kids.

A woman walks down an outdoor corridor of a school as sprinklers spray water in the background.

A boy bumps into the shoulder of a woman as he walks past.

A woman stares in anger at another person offscreen.

A boy looks interestedly at a woman offscreen.

A woman holds up a handheld mirror for a boy combing his hair.

A boy and a woman walk with a line of people through a set of double doors.

A boy leans over to talk to a woman as another woman sits on the table. A line of people stand behind them.

A boy talks to a woman as he approaches a backdrop to get his picture taken.

A boy sits on a stool ready to have his school picture taken while talking to a woman.

A boy looks at a camera to take his school picture.

A boy and a woman walk out towards a gymnasium's exit.

A woman walks away from a boy with a smile on her face.

A hot dog stand and a few tables backlit by a sunset

Boy looks serious while overexposed woman stands behind hm

Boy looks toward woman sitting next to him

Boy and woman speak to each other while walking

Woman walks into house, three women sit on the couch in front of her

Women on the couch look toward woman off screen

Woman lays on bed with head in her hands

Man and woman sit at desk opposite woman, boy sits behind them

Woman sits on one side of desk, man and woman on the other

Woman looks fake pleased, man next to her is smiling

Man and woman sit at desk, boy behind them is listening

Man and woman at desk look at each other

Woman looks at man and woman across desk nervously

Man and woman at desk, man is smiling, woman is stoic

Boy and woman sit in plane seats looking down

Flight attendant looks down at boy and woman

Other boy approaches boy and woman's seats

One boy applies makeup to his face as another boy leans over to speak to him, putting a pajama shirt on.

A woman checks on a group of kids in a green room, holding a cigarette.

A woman speaks to a boy who shoots her a peace symbol.

A woman stares at a boy as he walks past her in a hallway.

A boy speaks to a woman as he walks into a room.

A woman runs down a hallway into a doorway.

A man and a woman sit on a stage as tv cameras are placed around them. A blue curtain hangs in the background.

A group of kids dressed in pajamas dance on a stage.

A group of kids have a pillow fight, smiling and laughing.

A woman turns to speak to a man sitting next to her.

A woman with her arms outstretched is hit in the head with a pillow from a boy behind her.

A group of kids pose on a stage at the end of their performance.

A group of kids stand on a stage as a boy speaks to a tv host through his microphone.

A boy smiles and speaks into a tv host's microphone.

A woman looks stunned at a stage offscreen.

A woman slaps the head of a boy in a crowded hallway.

An angry woman is dragged away from a group of people.

A boy speaks to a woman in a crowded hallway.

A woman watches as a boy unbuttons his shirt as they sit on an airplane.

An older boy sits amongst a group of younger boys in a waiting room.

A woman stands concernedly by an open door as a man walks through a doorway.

A boy in a suit stands in front of a green screen.

A boy moves to the side of a room to take off a suit jacket.

A boy in a vest stands in front of a green screen.

A boy moves to the side of a room to take off a vest.

A boy nervously fiddles with his vest buttons as he reads a script.

A woman gives another woman a knowing look.

A boy enters a car holding takeout from a place called

A boy takes a bite of a burger while sitting in a car.

Two people walk toward a burger joint hand-in-hand.

A boy looks out a car's front window longingly.

Two people talk outside of a burger joint.

A boy talks to his mom as they sit in their car eating.

Two boys sit in their living room watching tv.

A boy looks over at his brother while on the phone.

A boy holds his hand to his face in distress.

A boy stares blankly as he hangs up the phone.

A boy stares scared at a ringing telephone.

A boy looks down while his brother speaks to him.

Scared looking boy holds phone to his ear

Pensive looking woman holds phone to her ear

Woman's eyes look up toward someone off screen

Boy holds phone to ear and holds hand to mouth in shushing motion

Family sits around the table singing a prayer

Woman and boy walk out of house, boy is holding woman's waist

Woman enters house, her hands on the door

Man scolds woman, his finger is pointed at her face

Woman looks annoyed, two women are behind her. One washes dishes while the other looks to annoyed woman

Woman smokes cigarette, other woman looks upset

Woman sitting on sidewalk smokes a cigarette

A boy looks through the window of a wig shop.

A woman stares seductively at the camera.

A boy stares up at a woman leaning over him.

A group of people ride in a convertible car.

A group of people unload signs from a car.

Two boys talk to each other in a bustling expo.

A boy directs a model to pose on a waterbed.

A boy stares happily as a woman approaches him.

A boy is arrested by two police officers.

A woman yells as two police officers roughly lead a boy out of a building.

Woman presses hands to police car window, boy in police car looks at her

Boy opens mouth in shock in back of police car

Boy is handcuffed by three police officers

Boy looks at police officers as they walk away

Boy looks at two police officers grabbing a half-naked man

Police officer removes handcuffs from boy

Boy and woman look at each other through glass

A woman and a group of kids laugh in the car

Boy and woman look watch radio host through glass

Boy and woman look at radio host through glass

Woman answers phone while boy looks nervously

Woman pushes cart with boxes of waterbeds, boy walks in front of her

Families sit in restaurant booths, one group sits in the middle

Boy leans in to shake woman's hand, man and woman watch

Woman shakes man's hand, boy and woman watch

Woman exits bathroom stall and sees woman applying makeup in bathroom mirror

Two women talk in front of bathroom mirror

Boy on the phone looks at woman across from him

Boy on the phone looks at woman's feet on desk

Boy looks at woman, woman behind boy turns around in shock

A boy speaks to a woman as they drive in a car.

A woman and a boy approach another woman's office.

A woman smiles and smokes a cigarette as two people sit on the other side of her desk.

Two people listen as a woman speaks to them.

A woman answers her phone while smoking a cigarette.

A boy closes his eyes and shakes his head at the woman sitting next to him.

An annoyed woman drives as a boy yells at her.

A boy sits on the grass with his lunchbox and school papers.

A car pulls up to pick up a little boy from school.

A woman throws car keys over her shoulder as two boys climb out of the car.

A woman unzips her dress as a boy stares at her.

Two sisters sit in a baseball dugout smoking a cigarette.

The front doors of a store opened to two people standing inside.

A boy circles around a woman staring at her as she shows off her bikini.

Two boys try to market a waterbed to a mom and her two daughters.

Two boys try to market a waterbed to a mom.

A boy tries to market a waterbed to an older man as a bunch of kids jump on it.

A boy points out the different types of beds he sells to a girl.

A woman greets customers entering a bed store.

A woman interrupts a boy and girl talking to each other.

A boy and girl stare uncomfortably as a woman speaks to them.

A boy and girl talk to each other in a busy bed store.

A group of boys play instruments in a dimly-lit bed store.

A woman comes up behind a boy to give him a hug.

A woman looks sadly after a boy who walks away from her.

A woman dances freely as a spotlight shines through a store window.

A pair of legs are extended in the air as feet grab a floating balloon string.

A boy and girl lay on a bed facing each other with their heads propped up by their hands.

A woman lays on a bed staring drunkenly at a boy and girl offscreen.

A boy and girl sneak off into a store's backroom.

A woman walks to the backdoor of a store, looking out into an alley.

A woman exits an alley toward a sidewalk, knocking over a bike.

A woman makes out with a random stranger on the sidewalk.

A woman runs down a sidewalk illuminated by a large spotlight. The remnants of a party are evidently scattered on the ground.

A father and daughter sit in the living room watching tv as another daughter enters the home.

A shot of a woman laying on her bed fades into a shot of a man sitting in a chair.

Man continues to walk while smoking his cigar

Boy and his entourage walk into restaurant, Maitre'd greets him

Boy looks at woman while he is shown to his seat

Woman notices boy, looks at him across restaurant

Woman looks at boy, man sitting next to her points his finger

Two men clink their forks, woman sits between them

Woman moves close to man as she stares at boy offscreen

Woman sticks tongue out at boy offscreen

Man and woman prepare for motorcycle ride

Man smokes cigarette and watches motorcycle offscreen

Woman grips on to man on motorcycle, man smiles maniacally

Woman flat on her back with her hands up

Boy stares off screen, the group behind him watches in awe

Man and group look at something offscreen

Man stands in front of large group of onlookers

Boy and woman walk while looking at each other

Boy and woman look at each other while laying on waterbed

The gap between a woman's jeans and her stomach

Boy places hand directly above woman's breast

Woman and boy lay with their eyes closed

A woman and a boy sit in a diner booth reading newspapers.

A boy smiles at a woman while looking up from his newspaper.

A woman smiles at a boy while looking up at a boy sitting across from her.

An old tv on an upper shelf displays Richard Nixon's face.

A tv showing a protest with a person carrying a sign that reads

A woman gives a look of disbelief to a boy sitting across from her.

A boy rides a bike over a bridge as another boy runs down the street.

A boy runs down a street with his arms outstretched. Cars form a single file line in the furthest right lane.

A boy stands in an empty room while a woman and another boy walk toward him from opposite directions.

A woman enters the driver's side of a truck.

A woman and a boy inspect a stalled truck.

A truck door opens to two people outside the truck and two people inside.

A man in all white waves to a truck as a man trails him, carrying shears.

A man looks down intensely at a boy as another man stands in the background.

A woman eyes two people standing offscreen.

A man places a hand on a boy's shoulder.

A red convertible drives out of a driveway as people move furniture around it.

A man talks on an old rotary phone as people bring furniture upstairs.

A man and a boy sit in dining chairs casually.

A boy fills up a waterbed with a hose as a woman kneels next to him.

A woman stares blankly as she kneels next to a boy.

A boy stands on the outside of a window looking up.

A hose fills up a waterbed from a business called

Water spills from a hose as it's pulled out of a waterbed.

Two people sprint out of a bedroom as a hose spills water on a carpeted floor.

A group of people walk briskly away from a man behind them.

A boy talks to a woman as she drives a truck.

A boy and a woman stare shocked out of the front window of a truck.

A man in white storms up a road toward a big truck.

A woman frantically starts up a truck as a boy covers his mouth with his hand a man sits next to him.

A man swipes items off a garage shelf as a man stands to the side covering his ears.

A man throws an empty can of gasoline at a boy sitting in a truck.

A woman drives a truck as a boy stares at her angrily and a man stares at her happily.

A man climbs over a boy to drive a truck.

A man leans over to speak in a woman's ear as they both drive a truck.

A truck drives slowly and closely next to a stalled convertible.

A boy stares ahead of him as a man is leaned over him to speak to a woman.

A man threatens another man with a lighter and gasoline.

A woman and a boy sit in a large truck looking shocked.

People fill up cars with gas. A sign to the side reads

A boy smiles at a woman as she drives a truck.

A man smashes the windshield of a convertible while a woman waits for him in a truck.

A man turns around to smile at a woman offscreen.

A woman stares down at a truck's dashboard.

A red light blinks, signaling an empty fuel tank.

A boy smashes the windshield of a convertible.

A car drives backwards down a dark road.

A woman concentrates as she looks out a sideview mirror.

Two boys are thrown around the back of a truck.

A truck drives down the middle of a street.

A boy yells excitedly at a stunned woman.

A group of boys laugh and yell near a stalled truck.

A group of boys mess around with gasoline cans.

A woman stares at a group of boy sin the distance.

A woman hides her head as a man behind her smashes a store's window.

A woman turns behind her to look at a campaign poster hanging in a window.

A campaign poster in a store window that reads

Woman on the phone rests her head on counter

Woman walks past window. Signs on window read

Man and woman stand behind man conducting interview

Woman listens with unclear expression on her face

A film crew of young boys and some adults watch a man offscreen

Man speaks passionately with mountains behind him

Man and woman walk with man's hand on woman's back

Boy watches man and woman offscreen jealously

Woman sits in chair to interview man offscreen, boy operates camera behind her

Camera crew stands around people on couch

Woman looks back at boy operating camera

Woman joins boy at dining table, she speaks to him

Boy blows cigarette smoke into woman's face

Boy drives with worried look on his face

Man continues looking at woman, suspicious man wearing a shirt reading

Woman looks out the window and sees man in

Man looks at man dubiously, woman walks off

Two boys run down the street passing out flyers

Boy looks at himself in the mirror while he tries on suit

Woman and man look at each other as phone rings

Woman answers phone, man starts to leave

A boy tries to peer into an empty building, knocking on the door.

A boy tries to peer into an empty building.

A boy fixes his hair, looking at his reflection in a building window.

A woman scans a restaurant looking for someone.

A woman looks over the head of a man speaking to her.

A woman walks towards someone she recognizes.

A boy walks down a sidewalk, out of breath.

A boy and woman run toward each other, accidentally knocking each other over.

A boy runs into an arcade holding hands with a woman.

A boy stands on an elevated surface, extending his arms out in a grand gesture.

A boy turns a woman around by placing a hand on her shoulder.

A woman runs down a street, holding the hand of a boy running in front of her.

Credits in green text on a black background.

A woman smiling up at someone with green cast credits at the bottom of the shot.

A boy auditioning with green cast credits at the bottom of the shot.

Green credits over a shot of two people walking at dusk.