Review of Inherent Vice (2014) by Patrick C — 11 Jun 2015

The incredible filmography of Paul Thomas Anderson speaks for itself: Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood, Punch Drunk Love, The Master. These films all made my Top Ten in the year they were released. The same unfortunately will not be true of a Inherent Vice.

Set in dreamy, hazy 1970 Los Angeles, this adaptation of the famous Thomas Pynchon novel follows a private eye named Doc played appropriately by Joaquin Phoenix. He's a great actor, worked with Anderson on his last effort The Master, and is suitable for the role of a counter culture-loving hippy the cops love to harass. He's asked to help find a wealthy man who may be the victim of a kidnapping ... but honestly, good luck following or caring much about this plot. It's all over the place and seems to play like a bunch of scenes the Coen brothers might have discarded from some of their zanier movies.

Strange characters come in and out to color up the show and earn a few laughs especially Josh Brolin as a bat shit crazy cop who would like bust Doc for something - anything - because he loathes hippies. Much has been made of Katherine Waterson's performance as a former love interest of Doc. The daughter of Law & Order veteran Sam Waterston, she doesn't really make much of an impression in my opinion. It's long running time only adds to the frustration as the intermittent laughs aren't enough to sustain interest.

Inherent Vice is for strict followers of all things PTA. World class directors are allowed these missteps and bigger and better awaits his ever growing reputation as one of the best working today.