MovieChat Forums > Licorice Pizza (2021) Discussion > What's with the flat cinematography?

What's with the flat cinematography?

posted 3 years ago by SlackerInc (1121)
7 replies | jump to latest

Other PTA films are gorgeous to look at, but other than a couple brief shots, not this one. Very flat.

[–] highhorse (22) 3 years ago

Seems to me that was the intention, likely to contribute even more to the 70s feel with a rawer and grittier look.

Not every movie has to or should look beautiful, and personally I'm a little sick of it in modern Hollywood. Especially in period pieces where it really takes me out of it to see perfect hair, fabrics, lighting, cinematography... sorry but that just reminds me I'm watching people playing dressup. This movie did extremely well to make me feel like we were actually in the 70s.

[–] SlackerInc (1121) 3 years ago

Idk, there are Coppola films from the Seventies that look as good as anything today. PTA's Boogie Nights is set partially in that decade and looks better than this film.

[–] modica (4169) 3 years ago

Don't compare Coppola to most 70's movies.

[–] liscarkat (19385) 3 years ago

There are color movies from the 1930s and 1940s that are gorgeous to look at. Film gorgeousness is nothing new.

[–] SlackerInc (1121) 3 years ago

Fair.

[–] modica (4169) 3 years ago

Making it look more like a 70's movie I guess.

[–] ecarle (14979) 3 years ago

I've looked at it again, and actually, a lot of the scenes look pretty good to me.

PTA uses some sort of "flare lighting" to add style to....the scene where Alana demands to learn what her Jewish "boyfriend's" penis looks like...the scene is ABOUT the comedy, (and Alana's always-there temper), but it LOOKS gorgeous.

There's the golden indoor light of Alana's martinis with Jack Holden...followed by the "flames against a night sky" motorcycle jump scene.

I find the opening scene of "photography day at high school" quite visually pleasing. Alana's pert but sexy blue blouse (and all the other workers in THEIR blue blouses and white "skorts") .... the bright sunlight...the whole thing suggests "LA sunshine and a sexy if not pretty girl"(but the angles and lighting here ensure that Alana will look her BEST here -- its why Gary falls for her instantly.)

The outdoor lighting at the movie theater at the end(at night.)

The "visual business" of the pinball parlor.

Its all fairly pleasing to the eye.