Inherent Vice [Blu-ray] [2014]

Inherent Vice is yet another divisive film from a very divisive filmmaker, Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood, The Master, Punch-Drunk Love). Those who do not fall into the rhythm of his latest, the first screen adaptation of Thomas Pynchon, will be stupefied at best, angry at worst. Those who can find the offbeat groove of the film, however, will be rewarded with a bevy of great comedic performances (led by Joaquin Phoenix continuing his unstoppable run of roles of the last few years), beautiful cinematography, and an eclectic late 60's soundtrack, both of which look and sound incredible on Warner Brothers' Blu-ray. The lack of in-depth special features is disappointing, a trio of short featurettes not matching the usual amount of behind-the-scenes materials the director brings to the home video releases of his films, but the film is strong enough to recommend on its own (and hopefully as an indicator of a release with more features in the future),

I'm a huge fan of Paul Thomas Anderson. This is the only picture of his I didn't see theatrically. Kinda bummed by that. Except for Boogie Nights & There Will Be Blood many of his films are hard to explain, have a long running time and/or have a cult fan base. VICE is all of the above. You really need to pay attention to what's going on and like THE MASTER, the viewer could benefit from multiple viewings. The story is quite simple: femme fatale seeks private detective to help solve a case, mixed with a little CHINATOWN & THE LONG GOODBYE. Funny, quirky and gorgeously shot. Performances are top notch.

The cover of this movie caught my eye when it was first released but I held off purchasing it until recently due to the initial price of the BluRay. It finally paid off to keep watching for the price to be reduced. I was excited to buy this and take it home to watch even though I had no idea what the movie was about. I was definately going by the cover which looked like a fun watch. It was an unusual movie filled with many stars. Even after watching it I find it difficult to explain the story. I recommend this movie as it will keep your attention and it is a fun ride.

This is a tough sell. It's a trippy, haze filled story of a 70's Detective lost in the fog of drugs and a confusing plot. But the film is really about mood. It's funny and you don't realize it until a few moments later. The first time I saw it, I didn't like it. But I couldn't stop thinking about it. Then I watched it again and loved it. Don't try to figure it out. Just watch and let yourself be taken back to the 70's. A great movie for cinephiles.

Joaquin Phoenix has never been among my favorite actors. But in this movie, he's playing a role as close to tailor-made for him as I can imagine. And, he knocks it out of the park. This is one of those films that makes me wiggle uncomfortably, yet I just can't look away. I also enjoyed the setting: California beach communities about 50 years ago. While not for everyone, this movie rewards an open-minded viewing experience.

I'm a huge PT Anderson fan, so it comes as no surprise that I loved this film. Yes, its weird and hard to follow, but it's also really funny. And on my second viewing and any future viewings, I'll enjoy trying to unravel the almost impossible to unravel plot. Phoenix is great, but Brolin steals the show....and Martin Short's cameo is inspired. It will definitely frustrate, maybe even bore, some people, but I love it..

This movie is a bit confusing like the times it portrays the early 70's, but is so well made it is worth the effort. I believe that it is the first adaptation of a Thomas Pynchon novel and it follows the book very closely condensing the plot a bit of course like most book to movie adaptations must. Mr. Anderson captures the look of of the era very well. If you never inhaled you might not get it.

A nice throwback to 60's/'70's filmmaking with a thick, often complicated Raymond Chandler-esque plot set at the tail end of the 1960's in post-Manson murders L.A. where everyone is the on the edge and government conspiracies are making way for the new era. The film's gorgeous cinematography really shines on the Blu-ray preserving the soft, shimmering grain levels of the film stock P.T. Anderson wisely chose to shoot this with. Extras are sadly light especially given how much insightful press was done for this film on YouTube which would have made great supplements to the release. But I won't let that affect my score too much as on the plus side the extra disc space goes towards the film's top-notch presentation.