I'm Not Going to Forget You. 4.5 / 5
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
Set in the San Fernando Valley in the 1970s, the film follows a high school student who is also a successful child actor.
Paul Thomas Anderson returns to save cinema with his take on coming of age in Licorice Pizza.
I have fallen in love with PTA's work this year, filling in my gaps in his filmography so finishing the year by seeing this new release on 70mm was really special.
Like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, it lacks in traditional narrative, leaving the audience to get comfy and hang out with the characters. The themes of maturity and responsibility are represented at each end of the spectrum by Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman who shine in the lead in their debut performances. Hooper does everything he can to prove to others and himself that he is grown up and is to be taken seriously, whereas Haim is lost in early adulthood finding refuge by escaping back to her youth.
These opposite desires bring our characters together as they both realise that being an 'adult' isn't all it's cracked up to be and watching them adjust to their ever-changing surroundings is so comforting and easy to get lost in.
One of the year's warmest and earnest films with a wonderful cast to match - needed more Bradley Cooper.
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