Jackson Booth-Millard
I saw the trailer for this film in the cinema, I was instantly attracted to it by the all-star cast, and it was directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood, The Master), so I'm glad when I got the opportunity to see it. Basically set in the year 1970, in Gordita Beach in southern California, pot head hippie private eye Larry "Doc" Sportello (Golden Globe nominated Joaquin Phoenix) is approached by ex-lover Shasta Fay Hempworth (Katherine Waterston). Shasta believes that her new lover, married real estate and land developer Mickey Z. Wolfmann (Eric Roberts), is the target of an abduction attempt by his wife and her lover, they want him committed to an insane asylum. Doc goes in search of Wolfmann, but soon finds other people are going missing, including Shasta, who one of them is assumed to be murdered. Along the way, Doc encounters many crazy characters and a wide array of issues from politics, cults, prostitution, the drug trade and dentistry, and involved with the "Golden Fang", an international drug smuggling operation. Accompanying Doc most of the way is LAPD detective Lieutenant Detective Christian F. "Bigfoot" Bjornsen (Josh Brolin), who is straight to the point, but does have a dark side, including need for therapy. Also starring Owen Wilson as Coy Harlingen, Reese Witherspoon as Deputy D.A. Penny Kimball, Benicio Del Toro as Sauncho Smilax, Esq., Martin Short as Dr. Rudy Blatnoyd, D.D.S., Jena Malone as Hope Harlingen, Joanna Newsom as Sortilège, Bridesmaids' Maya Rudolph as Petunia Leeway, Sasha Pieterse as Japonica Fenway, Michael Kenneth Williams as Tariq Khalil, Martin Donovan as Crocker Fenway, Serena Scott Thomas (Kristin's sister) as Sloane Wolfmann, Jeannie Berlin as Aunt Reet, Hong Chau as Jade, porn star Belladonna aka Michelle Sinclair as Clancy Charlock, Elaine Tan as Xandra, Keith Jardine as Puck Beaverton and Peter McRobbie as Adrian Prussia. Phoenix certainly stands out as the drug addled private eye, then little-know Waterston is impressive, all the other big names in the cast, including the adult actress, add something in their moments too. The film is based on the novel by Thomas Pynchon, his books have been considered unfilmable, and you can see why with this film, is is completely psychedelic and you can hardly concentrate getting entangled with the little storyline there is, but it is memorable for the use of colour and all details of the 1970s setting, a preposterous but interesting enough crime comedy drama. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay for Paul Thomas Anderson and Best Costume Design. Worth watching!
mattwilde123
'Inherent Vice' is the next feature film from Paul Thomas Anderson and you can tell. It boasts a great soundtrack, brilliant acting and a very convoluted story as it tells the story of a private detective (Phoenix) as he investigates into the disappearance of a former girlfriend.The screenplay is very confusing. It is hard to follow and purposely so as it introduces many characters and multiple stories but I have heard that this aspect of the screenplay is very true to the original source material. All I could do was admit that the film was too bewildering and to enjoy the many jokes and humorous situations.Joaquin Phoenix is tremendous as the main character Larry "Doc" Sportello. He is complimented with a great supporting cast such as Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro.Overall, 'Inherent Vice' is not a typical popcorn flick and I was very confused by the overwhelming plot but it is fun and very well made and so I have given it a final rating of 3.5 stars.
