Review of Inherent Vice (2014) by Jeff F — 27 Jan 2015
Wow. That's a lot of movie. I have a love/hate relationship with Paul Thomas Anderson (loved There Will Be Blood; hated The Master). I have a love/don't-love relationship with Thomas Pynchon (love his books but don't especially love reading them). While I haven't read Inherent Vice, I've read enough Pynchon to believe that he and Paul Thomas Anderson pretty accurately translated an incredibly complex novel to something incredibly watchable.
Acting is solid. Joaquin Phoenix is so spot on as a '70s stoner--he couldn't look more natural with his mutton chop sideburns and crazy hair. The large cast of oddballs circling his universe is impressive. The costumes and hairstyles contribute to the period vibe but the acting is top notch. Everyone takes their roles seriously in an appropriately messy way.
Direction was really nice as well. He kept the story moving and kept the characters rotating and the plots unfolding to a conclusion where the closure is more about relationships than resolution of the actual storyline. The success of this is probably more a testament to Pynchon than anything.
This review of Inherent Vice (2014) was written by Jeff F on 27 Jan 2015.
Inherent Vice has generally received positive reviews.
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