Paul Thomas Anderson is a film fan. I mean, that much is probably obvious given his chosen career path, of course. However, more than that, he also seems like a true movie buff—a guy that is willing to watch whatever movie is put in front of him and never look down on something because of its genre or the actors involved. He’s just ready to give any film a shot. This is why he’s willing to name-drop Marvel superhero movies next to Palme d’Or winners and prestige biopics when listing his recent film recommendations.
Speaking to Variety, Paul Thomas Anderson talked about his upcoming film, “Licorice Pizza,” but he also took the time to give a rundown of films that he has seen recently that he thinks other film fans should check out. And the man who has been nominated for eight Oscars is not afraid to admit his love of superhero movies while also pointing out one great French feature.
“‘Shang-Chi’ was good fun. There’s a terrific energy about it, but I also live in a Marvel-obsessed household, so continuing the journey of these Marvel stories is exciting to us,” said Anderson. “I liked ‘Venom 2.’”
While ‘Shang-Chi’ is definitely a film that has received strong reviews and is generally regarded as a fan-favorite, the inclusion of “Venom 2” shows that Anderson isn’t just a film guy looking for “elevated” superhero stuff with a strong message. He’s okay with a silly, most-definitely stupid superhero romp like the “Venom” franchise.
But cinephiles worried that “Phantom Thread’s” Paul Thomas Anderson, a capital-A auteur, is lowering himself to Marvel standards, he also mentioned a couple of films that are surely going to be heavily involved in the awards conversation.
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He added, “‘Titane’ is worth seeing. Proceed with caution: I have no idea how to recommend it, because it’s certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. I don’t know entirely how I feel about it, but, my God, you are in the hands of a real filmmaker. I was holding on tight for dear life, and that is a terrific feeling. I watched the trailer for ‘King Richard,’ and when it comes out, I will be first in line. When Will Smith decides to turn it on, it’s so magical. I loved his performance in ‘Pursuit of Happyness.’ It’s an undertalked-about film.”
Remember, let’s not be overly surprised that Paul Thomas Anderson is someone willing to make some (seemingly) off-the-wall film recommendations. This is the same man that is a huge fan of Adam Sandler and has praised “Big Daddy” quite a bit in the past. So, sure he is able to put to paper and film some of the most artful and emotional stories, but he also is just a human that enjoys entertaining things.
“Licorice Pizza” is set to hit theaters on November 26.