INHERENT VICE (2014)

Summary:

Set in the hazy, sun-drenched landscape of 1970s Los Angeles, "Inherent Vice" follows Larry "Doc" Sportello, a perpetually stoned private detective. His life takes a convoluted turn when his ex-girlfriend, Shasta Fay Hepworth, reappears, asking for help investigating a plot to kidnap her current billionaire real estate mogul boyfriend, Mickey Wolfmann.

As Doc delves into the mystery, he finds himself entangled in a labyrinthine web of disappearances, murders, drug cartels, corrupt cops, and a vast conspiracy known as the Golden Fang. Navigating a world where everyone seems to be hiding something, Doc's investigation becomes a surreal and often comedic journey through the fading ideals of the counterculture, all while trying to find Shasta and make sense of the chaos.

Keywords: Inherent Vice, 2014, Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Katherine Waterston, Paul Thomas Anderson, Neo-noir, Comedy-drama, Mystery.

Plot:

The film opens in 1970, with private investigator Doc Sportello receiving a visit from his former girlfriend, Shasta Fay Hepworth, who tells him about her affair with married real estate mogul Mickey Wolfmann and a plan by Mickey's wife and her lover to have Mickey committed. Soon after, both Mickey and Shasta disappear. Doc begins his investigation, which quickly spirals into a complex and bizarre series of events involving a white supremacist biker gang, a drug ring called the Golden Fang, the LAPD, and a mysterious entity known as the "Pussy Eaters."

As Doc stumbles through the psychedelic underbelly of Gordita Beach, he encounters a colorful cast of characters, including his nemesis Lt. Det. Christian "Bigfoot" Bjornsen, his lawyer Sauncho Smilax, and various musicians, dentists, and federal agents. Each lead only seems to deepen the mystery, pulling Doc further into a world of paranoia and shifting realities. He attempts to piece together the truth behind Mickey's disappearance and the larger conspiracy, all while holding onto the faint hope of finding Shasta and understanding his own place in the unraveling dream of the 1960s.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Joaquin Phoenix as Larry "Doc" Sportello
• Josh Brolin as Lt. Det. Christian "Bigfoot" Bjornsen
• Katherine Waterston as Shasta Fay Hepworth
• Owen Wilson as Coy Harlingen
• Reese Witherspoon as Penny Kimball
• Benicio del Toro as Sauncho Smilax, Esq.
• Jena Malone as Hope Harlingen
• Martin Short as Dr. Rudy Blatnoyd, D.D.S.
• Joanna Newsom as Sortilège (Narrator)

Crew:

• Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
• Screenwriter: Paul Thomas Anderson
• Producers: Paul Thomas Anderson, Joanne Sellar, Daniel Lupi
• Cinematographer: Robert Elswit
• Editor: Leslie Jones
• Composer: Jonny Greenwood

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: December 5, 2014 (limited), January 9, 2015 (wide)
• Language: English
• Genre: Neo-noir, Comedy-drama, Mystery
• Running Time: 148 minutes
• Accolades: Nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design); Nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (Joaquin Phoenix).