Inherent Vice

2014
R
2h 28m

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

112K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer1:54

Bumbling Detective Dark Comedy Satire Whodunnit Comedy Crime Drama Mystery Romance

In 1970, drug-fueled Los Angeles private investigator Larry "Doc" Sportello investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend.In 1970, drug-fueled Los Angeles private investigator Larry "Doc" Sportello investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend.In 1970, drug-fueled Los Angeles private investigator Larry "Doc" Sportello investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend.

Director
- Paul Thomas Anderson
Writers
- Paul Thomas Anderson
- Thomas Pynchon
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

112K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,477

271

Director
- Paul Thomas Anderson
Writers
- Paul Thomas Anderson
- Thomas Pynchon
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 15 wins & 98 nominations total

Trivia
Reese Witherspoon filmed all of her scenes in four days. Writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson loved working with her so much that he and Joaquin Phoenix, who famously worked with Witherspoon in Walk the Line (2005), began talking with Witherspoon about possibly changing the story so that her character would be around more. However, ultimately the actress convinced the two that it wouldn't be a good idea, something that in retrospect Anderson agrees with.

Goofs
When Doc goes to see Penny at her office she asks if he will let her depone him. While the use of the word "depone" might seem unusual compared to the more common "depose", this should not be regarded as a mistake. Penny's actual line from the source novel is this: "Would you be willing to depone for me?"

Quotes
Sortilège: [narrating] Inherent vice in a maritime insurance policy is anything that you can't avoid. Eggs break, chocolate melts, glass shatters, and Doc wondered what that meant when it applied to ex-old ladies.

Crazy credits
After the credits roll, the end caption is the opening inscription from Pynchon's novel, Inherent Vice: "Under the Paving-Stones, the Beach!" - Graffito, Paris, May 1968

Connections
Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Martin Short/Gabrielle Union/Mary J. Blige (2014)

Soundtracks
Dreamin' On a Cloud
Written by Heinz Burt (as Burt Heinz)
Performed by The Tornadoes (as The Tornados)
Courtesy of Sanctuary Records Group, Ltd.
By arrangement with BMG Rights Management (US), LLC

User reviews364

Review

Featured review

5/10

Its impossible to criticize this movie

We can't criticize the incomprehensible nature of the movie because it was intentionally written that way to capture the tone of the novel. Eventhough I personally couldn't enjoy this movie, I completely understand why other people like it. I understand what they were going for but I couldn't connect with it personally. All the performances, especially by Phoenix and Brolin were top notch. Both those characters were written extremely well. There were some genuinely funny sequences too. However there are several instances where Doc relies on coincidences and conveniences to uncover the cases. This aspect felt like lazy writing.

I don't dislike this movie but I can't like it either. I have such a complicated opinion on this movie. PTA is one of the best directors working today. But I couldn't appreciate this movie like I did with his other movies like The Master, There will be blood etc.