Lantern picks up ‘Licorice Pizza,’ ‘Power of the Dog’

Above : The Magic Lantern is opening “Licorice Pizza” (above) and “The Power of the Dog” on Friday. (Photo/United Artists)

I’ve already written abou t Friday’s mainstream movie openings. So you may wonder what’s the Magic Lantern is up to.

Well, not much that’s new, at least to ardent movie fans. Both features the theater is opening – Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Licorice Pizza” and Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog” – have already been playing elsewhere.

“Licorice Pizza” has been screening at AMC River Park Square for the past few weeks. After appearing at a number of film festivals, both national and international, and then seeing a limited release Nov. 17, “The Power of the Dog” began streaming on Netflix Dec. 1.

Nevertheless, those interested parties who may have missed seeing either or both of the films now have the opportunity. And in the case of “The Power of the Dog,” on something other than a television screen.

In any event, I’ve collected some critical comments.

“Licorice Pizza” (91 percent critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes)

Dmitry Samarov , Chicago Reader: “This is a film carried by two people (Cooper Hoffman, Alana Haim) who’ve basically never acted before, but Anderson somehow knew that they could, and neither hits a false note in over two hours. It’s a star-crossed love story à la Harold and Maude minus the tragedy.”

David Fear , Rolling Stone: “There are two courtships unfolding in ‘Licorice Pizza,’ and only one of them is happening on the screen. The other is between us and the movie. Guess who ends up punch-drunk and smitten?”

Dana Stevens , Slate: “In large part thanks to its fresh-faced stars, the charming Hoffman and the wildly charismatic Haim, I’m hard pressed to think of a recent movie whose world I would have liked to stay in longer.”

“The Power of the Dog” (94 percent critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes)

Brian Truitt , USA Today: “A picturesque, enthralling exploration of male ego and toxic masculinity, crafted by an extremely talented woman and offering enough nuanced bite to keep it interesting till the very end.”

Kate Taylor , Globe and Mail: “Campion builds the tension slowly and emphatically, telegraphing the perils ahead. Yet when the two-edged climax comes it’s powerfully unexpected.”

David Erlich , IndieWire: “ ‘The Power of the Dog’ sticks its teeth into you so fast and furtively that you may not feel the sting on your skin until after the credits roll, but the delayed bite of the film’s ending doesn’t stop it from leaving behind a well-earned scar.”

The critics have spoken. Now’s your turn.