FILM

LICORICE PIZZA

FRI 7 JAN //CINEMA

Paul Thomas Anderson makes a welcome return with a thoughtful coming-of-age comedy. Picture day at Gary Valentine’s school leads to an encounter with a bored photographer’s assistant. Cue plenty of mischief, fast driving, an age-inappropriate relationship and a world of nuanced comedic (and slightly transgressive) delights.

Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper and Benny Safdie all put in some terrific work in one of the and director’s lighter works. This intriguing tale of quick hustles, fading stardom and unlikely romance is set in the 70s, so there’s plenty of kitsch nostalgia, an absolutely