Inherent Vice is the auteur, Paul Thomas Anderson's film adaptation of the eponymous novel by Thomas Pynchon. It is a psychedelic, neo-noir, stoner mystery, with absurdist humor. This picture contains a star-studded cast.
The talented Joaquin Phoenix stars as Larry "Doc" Sportello, a hapless hippie private detective on a mission to locate the lost love of his life: Shasta Fay Hepworth. Phoenix gives authenticity to the world he comes from, having grown up in Hollywood. Josh Brolin finally hams it up, playing with type as cop Christian "Bigfoot" Bjornsen--a hippie's worst nightmare. The humorous dynamic between the two characters symbolizes the clash between the Nixon administration and the radical youth, playing out as a backdrop to the storytelling.
The novel was about a place, Pynchon's "Gordita Beach," supposedly based on real life Redondo Beach. The film is about a time, sending up the '60s the way Anderson satirized the '80s in Boogie Nights.
Along the way, the detective encounters harebrained conspiracies and a cast of oddball characters. Owen Wilson is the natural choice for the surf rocker government mole character. The timeless Reese Withersppon is well cast as the Deputy District Attorney. I swear, somewhere there is a portrait of the woman aging horribly! Benecio Del Torro puts on a good performance as the dorky lawyer/sidekick.
The book had a lot of characters and they tried to cram them into the feature. The result is a two and a half hour deconstructionist dreamscape with loose ends. It could have used some editing. The book had quirks which were included for their own sake, while losing sight of the plot. Key plot points were distilled into minimal exposition. It drags at times.
There was a rare female narrator. Lavish cinematography, extended classic rock scores, and blending of scenes creates an almost ethereal effect. I found it entertaining. I recommend seeing Inherent Vice. Coen brothers fans will like this one.
The talented Joaquin Phoenix stars as Larry "Doc" Sportello, a hapless hippie private detective on a mission to locate the lost love of his life: Shasta Fay Hepworth. Phoenix gives authenticity to the world he comes from, having grown up in Hollywood. Josh Brolin finally hams it up, playing with type as cop Christian "Bigfoot" Bjornsen--a hippie's worst nightmare. The humorous dynamic between the two characters symbolizes the clash between the Nixon administration and the radical youth, playing out as a backdrop to the storytelling.
The novel was about a place, Pynchon's "Gordita Beach," supposedly based on real life Redondo Beach. The film is about a time, sending up the '60s the way Anderson satirized the '80s in Boogie Nights.
Along the way, the detective encounters harebrained conspiracies and a cast of oddball characters. Owen Wilson is the natural choice for the surf rocker government mole character. The timeless Reese Withersppon is well cast as the Deputy District Attorney. I swear, somewhere there is a portrait of the woman aging horribly! Benecio Del Torro puts on a good performance as the dorky lawyer/sidekick.
The book had a lot of characters and they tried to cram them into the feature. The result is a two and a half hour deconstructionist dreamscape with loose ends. It could have used some editing. The book had quirks which were included for their own sake, while losing sight of the plot. Key plot points were distilled into minimal exposition. It drags at times.
There was a rare female narrator. Lavish cinematography, extended classic rock scores, and blending of scenes creates an almost ethereal effect. I found it entertaining. I recommend seeing Inherent Vice. Coen brothers fans will like this one.