Licorice Pizza (2021)

On school picture day, fifteen year old child actor Cooper Hoffman hits on much older photographer’s assistant Alana Haim and somehow this develops into a relationship. The plot meanders aimlessly with the teenaged Hoffman starting various businesses and still trying to get into Alana’s pants while she tags along on his adventures. Paul Thomas Anderson’s films are very hit or miss for me and this is very much a miss. Aside from the disturbing age difference in the primary relationship, the actions of the characters rarely make much sense or feel realistic in any way. It doesn’t help that the leads are rather dislikable in their own ways and more dislikable whenever they’re together. 

Oscar Nominations: Best Motion Picture of the Year; Best Achievement in Directing; Best Original Screenplay