When the phrase “return to form” is bandied about for a director, it is usually referring to Woody Allen when he makes one of his better movies. I may be alone in this, but I think it’s the perfect way of describing Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice.
In the late 90s he delivered the underrated Boogie Nights and his masterpiece, Magnolia. Since then, I have been largely underwhelmed by his work which has been otherwise garnering more and more critical acclaim. Punch Drunk Love was fine but over praised largely because Adam Sandler was not terrible in it! They Will Be Blood and The Master each had a towering performance – Daniel Day Lewis and Philip Seymour Hoffman respectively – but otherwise I found them a little pompous and overblown.
Inherent Vice, however, captures both the freewheeling feel of Boogie Nights with a complex plot structure that recalls Magnolia. Joaquin Phoenix, who was trying too hard in his mannered performance in The Master, gives a career best performance as ‘Doc’ Sportello, a Private Investigator based in Los Angeles in the early 1970s. He becomes embroiled in a complex case involving his missing ex-girlfriend (Shasta), a probably corrupt businessman and a mysterious group called The Golden Fang who may be importing drugs into the country. Doc relentlessly pursues the various leads of the case, despite being in a dope induced haze for much of the time!
Aside from Phoenix, the rest of the cast are impressive. Josh Brolin shows again what a fine actor he is as an apparent straight laced detective who has an acting career on the side. Martin Short, Jena Malone and Maya Rudolph are all good is small roles, but it is Katherine Waterston as Shasta who stands out. She made her mark in a very small role in Night Moves last year, and here her promise is confirmed. In a weak year in the female acting categories, it is ridiculous that she did not get a supporting actress Oscar nomination.
Don’t expect to completely follow the plot as the complex narrative is reminiscent of The Big Sleep, with the setting bringing to mind The Long Goodbye. That is exalted company to be amongst, and whilst it does not quite reach the heights of those two films, Inherent Vice is a brilliant watch. It requires your patience but it is worth it.
Rating: 9 out of 10