Inherent Vice

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Isa B Plenty of style and it doesn't lack substance, it just lacks coherence in the process. The laid back vibe of Doc and the overall setting provides a chill atmosphere. The viewing experience of Inherent Vice is enjoyable if you stop trying to make sense of everything. This is far from my favorite P.T. Anderson film, but I respect it. I love Martin Short in this picture. His is my favorite character as well as my favorite portion of the film. This film has quite the stacked cast and not the usual suspects of a P.T. Anderson movie. Overall, Inherent Vice is a good film. I do recommend. 84/100 Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/06/24 Full Review Rob N I was excited to watch “Inherent Vice,” because it was a Paul Thomas Anderson film that I had not seen. It is the worst movie that I have ever seen that I continued watching for over 2 hours. Pretentious, self indulgent, boring, and infuriating are a few words that come to mind when thinking about the film. A total waste of talent and celluloid. If this had been PT Anderson’s first film, it probably would have been his last. “Boogie Nights,” is one of my favorite films and I have watched it probably 20 times. “There Will be Blood,” is brilliant. I’m not sure what happened here, but “Inherent Vice,” is inherently bad. Not to say there are not good scenes and performances, but as a whole the movie is awful. Isn’t one of the first rules of screenwriting, “show don’t tell?” In this movie everything is tell, tell, tell. It goes from one scene to another of talking heads. Very little action, and a story that is hard to decipher and ultimately you don’t care about because you are exhausted by the monotony. I think one of the biggest problems is Joaquin Phoenix. He looks like a shaggy bum and is unappealing, not sexy, presents no sense of danger or competence, and is highly unlikable. Potheads are seldom that funny or interesting, and I say that being a pothead myself. Watching a stoner/fuckup walk around for over two hours doesn’t make good entertainment. The movie tries way too hard to be hip, and those are the worst kind. I haven’t read the novel so don’t know how it compares, but face it, some novels don’t translate to the screen well. LA detective tales often follow the same formula - a drunken has-been redeems himself by cracking the big case. A broad shows up, a man with a gun, a briefcase full of cash. Fistfights and car chases. I guess this film is too hip, slick, and cool for that. The bad guy, Eric Roberts is one of the most interesting characters in the film and we spend way more time hearing about him than seeing him. Josh Brolin, who plays the rogue cop steals what show there is to steal. This is a tale where you literally root for the bad guys. The ending is so pretentious that you feel like you have taken it in the wazoo without Vaseline after investing 2.5 hours of your life watching this travesty. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 11/26/24 Full Review David S This 70’s fueled drug trip of a movie is captivating. The screenplay is fantastic with well written characters based off the novel by Thomas Pynchon. The performances by this all star cast are all great, especially from Joaquin Phoenix Josh Brolin, Reese Witherspoon and Owen Wilson. The songs and score featured in this movie are all fantastic and fit the vibe really well. The cinematography captures the hazy and often psychedelic dream-like atmosphere of LA. This movie features a narrative that is out of order but yet draws you in to the mind altering world that Paul Thomas Anderson created. Get ready for a groovy time, when you watch what’s easily now one of my top movies. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/14/24 Full Review Audience Member This film was good to see although I have some negative thoughts in these one is that the dialogue was good but it was just too slow on what happening in the film. The actors were good in delivering this film to come out. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/11/24 Full Review Sandon D From the outset, the film immerses viewers in a world dripping with the aesthetics and idiosyncrasies of the 1970s. The costumes, set designs, and soundtrack all meticulously capture the era’s vibe. However, beyond this surface-level homage, “Inherent Vice” struggles to offer anything substantial. The plot, adapted from Thomas Pynchon’s novel, is labyrinthine and convoluted. While this might be a deliberate choice to echo the paranoia and confusion of the times, it often feels more like a crutch to mask the lack of depth in the screenplay. The dialogue, instead of delving into the characters’ psyches or exploring profound themes, is laden with an excess of pop culture references. These references, rather than enriching the narrative, come off as forced and superficial. Characters frequently exchange lines that seem more concerned with name-dropping or showcasing quirky 70s lingo than with advancing the story or revealing their inner lives. This reliance on nostalgia over substance results in a script that feels hollow and disjointed. The moments that should resonate emotionally or intellectually are drowned out by the film’s obsession with its period setting. In the end, “Inherent Vice” is a movie that prioritizes style over substance. While it may appeal to those who relish a heavy dose of 70s nostalgia, it fails to engage viewers seeking meaningful dialogue and a more profound narrative. The film’s potential to be a thoughtful and creative exploration of its era is undermined by its overreliance on clichéd references and a superficial script. For those looking for a film that genuinely inspires thought, creativity, and emotion, “Inherent Vice” may prove to be a disappointing watch. The sacrifice of meaningful dialogue for the sake of played-out pop culture references ultimately leaves the film feeling more like a pastiche than a poignant portrayal of a bygone era. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 07/01/24 Full Review Christian K I tried really, really hard, I did. But this is seemingly designed to be as impenetrable as possible. You are bombarded, with locations, characters, details, and phrases too quickly. Has its moments with characters and performances but this is not easy to get through. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/28/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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