inherent-vice

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix
Josh Brolin
Reese Witherspoon
Eric Roberts
Benicio del Toro
Owen Wilson

Doc, Bigfoot, Mickey Wolfmann, Shasta Fay, Japonica… these are just a few of the characters you will meet in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice.

Set in early 70’s Los Angeles, Doc (played perfectly by Joaquin Phoenix) is a hippie private detective who is on a mission to help an old flame, Shasta Fay, involved in a scheme to frame her married lover. Although Doc is continually high, he still functions and manages to keep his own and outwit LAPD Cop, Bigfoot (played by Josh Brolin), the FBI, his D.A. girlfriend (Witherspoon), an informant (Wilson) and almost everyone he meets. It’s a complicated plot and at first you may want to give up on it but I urge you to continue.

Josh Brolin is hilarious as Bigfoot. We see him interact on several occasions with phallic items (yes, phallic) with a wide-eyed Doc looking on in wonderment. Their interactions are what make this movie a comedy. And it’s the interactions between Shasta Fay and Doc that make this a “dark comedy”.

The movie is narrated by Joanne Newsom (who is married to Andy Samberg). There is something about her voice and look that were perfect for the tone of this film. Also, Shasta Fay who is played by Katherine Waterston (daughter of Sam Waterston) looks like she came straight from Woodstock. Both actresses captured the look and feel of the 70’s era.

The dialogue comes straight from Thomas Pynchon’s novel, a language versed in THC, Cop Lingo and Free Love. Make sure you keep your popcorn chewing and wrapper opening to a minimum so you can keep up. It’s not so bad that you won’t get gist of it. If you’ve read the novel you will definitely have an advantage. I am looking forward to the DVD so I can re-watch it with the captions on and get the full experience.

Director Paul Thomas Anderson has continuously delivered throughout his career and Inherent Vice once again proves it. You have to like a guy who casts Adam Sandler in a film (Punch Drunk Love) and it’s actually good. The Master was a little flat but there is no getting around the exceptional performances by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix. Aside from his signature use of an ensemble cast of amazing actors, his movies are completely different. And that is what makes a director truly great.   

Inherent Vice is now playing at the Art Theater, located at 2025 East 4th Street in Long Beach. Visit http://www.arttheatrelongbeach.com/ or call 562 438-5435 for show times.