So, do you remember a few years ago when Joaquin Phoenix said he was quitting acting to do music or something and nobody believed him? A few years passed and he returned to the screen with I’m Still Here and, recently, Her. He also made The Master with director Paul Thomas Anderson (affectionately referred to as PTA). The two have come together again to create Inherent Vice – a film that’s as much an experience as it is a story.
It’s set in the 1970s with a mix of costume, art design, music and even treated film stock to give a grainy old-school look. We are told the story of Private Investigator Larry ‘Doc’ Sportello (Phoenix) following a visit from old flame Shasta (Katherine Waterson). Once Shasta reveals a conspiracy she is embroiled in we follow Doc as he unravels a large plot involving the a millionaire property investor, corrupt dentists, a whole lot of psychedelic drugs, the girl he loves and a whole lot of celebrity co-stars.
Concurrent to his pursuits in finding a missing millionaire Mike Wolfmann (played by Eric Roberts), he faces a flurry of interesting and often ludicrous situations. Josh Brolin portrays the straight edge, no-nonsense cop known as ‘Bigfoot’ who steals scenes while duking it out with Phoenix. There’s Martin Short as a drug addicted dentist, Reece Witherspoon as a fancy lawyer in the District Attorney’s office and Benicio Del Toro, another lawyer, but not as fancy, specialty in marine law.
It feels as absurd to write as it is to watch it, but somehow Inherent Vice all makes sense. PTA again flexes his directing muscles and brings beautiful imagery and framing. Often there are very long one shot takes, or sweeping dolly shots that seem to move for hundreds of metres, as well as obscure framing, extreme wide shots and clever transitions. There is endless sexual innuendo, and a script that made you feel as high as most of the characters.
This could have easily been an unsuccessful film had it not been in the hands of a very skilled team – all executing their roles to perfection. Inherent Vice is witty and realistic and unique. Not since Rian Johnson’s Brick has a detective story been presented in such a vastly unique way as to become a genre piece all on its own. This is highly recommended for all lovers of storytelling.
