Quite the showcase for newbies Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman, a charismatic couple who can't quite get together, perhaps because they run around a lot (which in itself feels referential to something - the end of The Apartment? Truffaut? Frances Ha?) Also he's younger then her, and keeps getting involved in madcap entrepreneurial activities, with which she is initially caught up before working for a politician. Its time and place, LA early seventies, are nicely caught, and the film has an episodic, eccentric feel, though never really warms the heart.
The cinematography (on celluloid) is credited to Michael Bauman and PTA. Editor Andy Jurgensen (associate editor on Phantom Thread, Trumbo and Inherent Vice). The score's a good assembly of period classics. There's quite a lot of clever lateral tracking shots in which actors come in and out of the frame. And long takes. Whole episode with crazy Jon Peters (Cooper) and backwards truck driving is a highlight. It had me thinking of Almost Famous in its coming-of-age seventies theme. I've a feeling it'll be a bit of a slow burner which we'll enjoy more each time. Won BAFTA for screenplay.
Good, not well-known cast: Skyler Gisondo, Mary Elizabeth Ellis (Cooper's mom), John Michael Higgins (Japanese restaurant owner), Christine Ebersole (TV star), Harriet Sansom Harris (scary talent agent), Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper, Ryan Heffington (his aide), Nate Mann (politician), Benny Safdie (his boss), Joseph Cross, various members of the Haim family, Isabelle Kusman, Destry Allyn Spielberg (daughter of), Maya Rudolph, Griff Giacchino, Will Angarola.
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