‘Licorice Pizza’ Might Be Tasty Enough for Oscar Voters, but Needs a Dash More Bradley Cooper

Auteur Paul Thomas Anderson ushers in his breeziest, most light-hearted effort yet with “Licorice Pizza,” a film that could be an all-around awards player, possibly nabbing him an overdue Academy Award for best original screenplay.

Add in debut performances from Cooper Hoffman — son of late Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman — and singer-songwriter Alana Haim, and the film could steal the hearts of awards voters in the months to come.The comparisons to Cameron Crowe’s coming-of-age film “Almost Famous” will be plenty, in addition to parallels to another 2000 movie, “High Fidelity,” as well as “Dazed and Confused” (1993).

Anderson has been nominated for eight Oscars over his career, failing to walk away with a statue:“Boogie Nights” (1997) – original screenplay “Magnolia” (1999) – original screenplay “There Will Be Blood” (2007) – picture, director and adapted screenplay “Inherent Vice” (2014) – adapted screenplay “Phantom Thread” (2017) – picture and directingDespite its lighter tones, Anderson’s film may not be beloved by all.

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