Inherent Vice
Deliberately confusing stoner noir where the plot matters less than the hazy atmosphere
The brief
Paul Thomas Anderson adapts Thomas Pynchon's stoner noir into a deliberately hazy, 149-minute contact high that feels like solving a mystery while extremely stoned. Joaquin Phoenix mumbles and stumbles through 1970s LA as perpetually confused hippie detective Doc Sportello, with the labyrinthine plot mattering far less than the sun-baked atmosphere of paranoia and burnt-out melancholy. The whole thing moves at the speed of someone trying to remember what they were just talking about, which is either hypnotic or maddening depending on your patience. Perfect for anyone who loved The Big Lebowski but wished it was twice as long and three times more confusing.
The verdict
If you have patience for meandering, atmospheric storytelling and enjoy getting lost in hazy 70s nostalgia like a literary fever dream, this is a hypnotic experience that rewards those who surrender to its stoned logic. If you need clear plots, brisk pacing, or coherent mysteries, this 149-minute contact high will test every ounce of your endurance.
Watch with
- 👤 Solo viewers who enjoy cerebral puzzles
- 👥 Friends familiar with Paul Thomas Anderson
- ⚠️ Avoid if you need clear plot progression
Heads up
- Frequent drug use and references (frequent)
- Sexual content and nudity (moderate)
- Strong language throughout (frequent)
Credits
- Director
- Paul Thomas Anderson
- Cast
- Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Katherine Waterston, Reese Witherspoon, Benicio del Toro, Jena Malone
Official synopsis
In Los Angeles at the turn of the 1970s, drug-fueled detective Larry "Doc" Sportello investigates the disappearance of an ex-girlfriend.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with The Master (2012)
Both Paul Thomas Anderson films explore damaged men in atmospheric period settings.
Total runtime: 2h 29m + 2h 17m = 4h 46m
