Inherent Vice (R) There is so much to like about this zany film that the toughest part is deciding where to jump into the mix. Director Paul Thomas Anderson skilfully adapted the popular novel of the same title, written by Thomas Pynchon, so as to preserve the original vibe of the quirky tale. Then, Anderson proceeded to direct a positively stellar cast to created a kaleidoscope of a film. This is the first of Pynchon’s novels to be adapted into a movie.
A comedy, a crime drama, a satire or all of the above, you can decide for yourself. Set in the early 70s in a beach town in California, this convoluted tale of sex, drugs, crime and cops will have you in its clutches for about two and a half hours, and you will not mind a bit. Long on characters, sub plots and craziness, the tawdry tale leads you down a varied path including several dead-ends with a multitude of red-herrings scattered here and there.
Joaquin Phoenix takes the lead in the parade of characters as Larry “Doc” Sportello, a private detective who goes through life perpetually stoned. Enter his former girl friend Shasta (Katherine Waterston) who needs his advice and expertise in a very sordid scenario. Shasta’s new love is a wealthy, married real estate magnet, Mickey Wolfmann (Eric Roberts) who is caught up in of the throws an ugly triangle that could prove to be disastrous. Normally Wolfmann’s life is focused solely on greed and the promotion of upscale real estate at the expense of the disenfranchised, now he may have more to think about than his bottom-line.
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One thing leads to another as the audience is treated to a parade of misfits and an assembly of bigger-than-life caricatures of stereotypes all portrayed by the best Hollywood has to offer. Watch for Reese Witherspoon, Benicio del Toro, Owen Wilson, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Jena Malone and Josh Brolin. The character names and nicknames are thick with satirical touches.
All a joke, and a good one at that, the film runs as if it is dead serious, but there is always a tongue-in-cheek attitude. Where else can you take a retro trip to California in the 70’s complete with sex, drugs and songs by Neil Young, all embellished with some of the finest stereotypes anyone could create? Add the talents of cinematographer Robert Elswit and designers Mark Bridges and David Crank, a great 70s soundtrack and you have a delightful, at times confusing, masterpiece of fun that is well deserving of its MPAA rating. 3 Stars