INHERENT VICE – The Review

Paul Thomas Anderson returns to the swingin’ 1970’s once more. Nearly eighteen years (zoinks!) after the saga of Dirk Diggler in BOOGIE NIGHTS, he’s back in the era of wacky fashions and grooming choices. But this time PT pushes the clock back a tad from the disco dancing later part of the decade to the time just after the psychedelic 60’s came to a close, 1970, a year still recovering from a massive hangover of the previous decade. And this is first adaptation since 2007’s THERE WILL BE BLOOD, the first film version of a novel by the celebrated, reclusive author Thomas Pynchon. Check your inhibitions at the door, as we indulge in some cinematic INHERENT VICE.

The film’s groovy narrator Sortilege (Joanna Newsom) introduces us to a most mellow fellow, hippie private eye (?!) Larry “Doc” Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix) as he gets a big surprise at his Gordita Beach pad: his ex-girlfriend Shasta (Katherine Waterston). She wants him to look into the disappearance of her new “old man”, real estate mogul Mickey Wolfmann (Eric Roberts). Could his flashy wife be behind it? Is it because of his involvement with some neo-Nazis? This favor sends Doc on a twisted journey that involves cults, a zonked-out dentist (Martin Short), hookers, a missing musician (Owen Wilson), a sanitarium, police informants, and a smugglers’ ship called “The Golden Fang”. But Doc’s got some back-up. There’s his lawyer pal Smilax (Benicio Del Toro), “on the down low” new girl friend Deputy DA Kimball (Reese Witherspoon), and part-time actor Lt. Det. “Bigfoot” Bjornsen (Josh Brolin), although he’s a begrudging aid (can’t stand stoners!). As the usually dazed Doc glides through the lives of the rich and powerful, and encounters many gangs and violent lowlifes, can he avoid the slammer or the morgue?

This film is a welcome reunion for Anderson and Phoenix after their compelling work together on THE MASTER. Phoenix makes Doc a very different “dick” than any seen before on film, with pot replacing Sam Spade’s shot of  ole’ “rotgut”. Much of the time he’s as disoriented as us when navigating the maze of plots and conspiracies. But this is not just another cliché “doper”. As always, his performance is unpredictable and original. Especially interesting are his scenes with Watterson, who makes quite an impression in this major role (she’s usually in supporting screen work). Though they only share two sequences, the dialogue really crackles with energy and sexual tension. The same can’t quite be said for Witherspoon. She and Phoenix were pitch perfect nearly 10 years ago as Johnny and June in WALK THE LINE, but these two characters seem an odd pairing. Other than enjoying a walk on the wild side and a toke, there’s no connection beside her throwing some needed story info at Doc. But Reese does a good job with the unfocused part. Perhaps the most vivid chemistry is between Phoenix and Brolin as the hard-edged cop who may secretly envy those “peace-niks” With his immovable buzz-cut flat top, “Bigfoot”  bellows and threatens, but then provides essential help to the confused Doc, sometimes within the same conversation. Brolin projects a joy of performance, as if he were chomping down on a sumptuous meal after a long fast. Unfortunately Del Toro is regulated to another clue conduit to Doc, as is Wilson in his brief scenes. More interesting is Jena Malone in her cameo role as Wilson’s very worried spouse. The only questionable casting may be the incredibly talented Short, whose turn as a swinger dentist doesn’t really jell with the film and borders on distracting, likes he’s just dropped in from a zany comedy.

Anderson directs with a relaxed style, allowing the actors plenty of time to interact and prod the mystery along at a leisurely pace (very leisurely!). At times the film becomes a fuzzy hybrid of genres like THE BIG LEBOWSKI goes to CHINATOWN, or a reefer-fueled episode of TV’s “The Rockford Files”. Some have speculated that the subplots and main-plots are jumbled in such a way in order to make the viewer feel just as stoned and confused as Doc. If that was the intention, then mission accomplished. I found that the jumble pushed me out of the film instead of drawing me in. But there’s much to be enjoyed in the recreation of the time’s tacky threads and in Bigfoot popping up on TV in a commercials and cleverly inserted into a tube classic. Fans of the film makers may get wrapped up in the nostalgic spoofs while those wanting a great caper flick may feel as if they’ve taken a twisted, pointless trip. Hey Doc, sorry to be such a downer, dude!

3 Out of 5