Licorice Pizza and Cruella: Reviews
I was not jumping up and down with excitement at the idea of watching either of these movies. One of them pleasantly surprised me. Both are set in the 70s.
Licorice Pizza
My biggest problem with this movie is that it is a “romance” between a 15-year-old boy and a 25-year-old woman. If the genders were reversed, people would’ve complained. As it was, all I could think was “statutory rape!” even though a) it takes place in the 70s and b) they don’t actually have sex at any point in the movie.
If you can get past that and love southern California in the 70s, then you’ll probably like this film. It’s really a pastiche of a bunch of different storylines loosely strung together by Greg Valentine’s hustling and his desire to make Alana his wife. There are a bunch of different detours through child acting, water beds, a political race, and pinball machines.
The best part of this movie, hands down, is Bradley Cooper as Jon Peters. The movie has all kinds of other Hollywood nods so movie buffs will probably enjoy those.
On the whole, I didn’t care of the story’s lack of cohesion. I would’ve replaced this with tick..tick Boom in the Best Picture nominations.
This movie is for people who
like New Hollywood
like references to Hollywood anecdotes
find age gaps funny instead of creepy
want to see Bradley Cooper as Jon Peters (you do)
This movie isn’t for people who
are skeeved out by 15-year-olds dating 25-year-olds
want a coherent story and a plot that does not meander
get a tic looking at 70s fashions
Cruella
I’m not a huge fan of this villain rehabilitation thing we have going on. Sometimes, characters are just…bad. Thus, I did not want to watch this movie.
I am glad I did. I should’ve known it was going to be right up my alley because it has Emma Stone AND Emma Thompson. Emma Squared! I love them both. Also, Disney set up the story in the 70s during the punk movement. Best of all, no puppies were harmed in the making of this film. (But I haven’t forgotten who Cruella really is, Disney)
My notes at the time began “another movie that was far better than it had any right being. Emma Thompson and Emma Stone were both riveting. Excellent soundtrack.”
This movie is for people who
love a villain rehabilitation story OR can take this movie as a stand alone
love Emma Stone and/or Emma Thompson
like movies with a rockin’ soundtrack
enjoy movies about fashion
This movie isn’t for people who
are diametrically opposed to Disney villain rehabilitation
are looking for accuracy because apparently there are some anachronisms in this one
are looking for something serious and meaty
#MondayMovies disclaimer: This blog is just for my thoughts. Sure, I’m a writer and an English major so I have some idea—we would hope—of how stories work. I’m also a flawed human being with my owns likes and dislikes, though, so please watch any movie you like and love it or hate it or just go for the popcorn. (Also, there will likely be a post a day leading up to the Oscars because I have quite a few films left)