Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Inherent Vice,” a 2014 neo-noir detective film set in 1970s Los Angeles, deserves a reevaluation. Initially met with lukewarm reception, this underappreciated gem offers a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the lingering effects of the 1960s counterculture on a city grappling with change. The film, starring Joaquin Phoenix as the perpetually stoned private investigator Doc Sportello, unfolds as a complex and often confusing web of drug smuggling, real estate deals, and a mysterious conspiracy involving the FBI. Anderson masterfully blends humor and melancholy, creating a hazy atmosphere mirroring the era’s uncertainty and the characters’ internal struggles.
The narrative follows Doc’s investigation into a plot to institutionalize his ex-girlfriend, Shasta Fay Hepworth (Katherine Waterston), a journey that intertwines him with a colorful cast of characters, including a memorable performance by Josh Brolin as the enigmatic Lieutenant Bigfoot Bjornsen. The film’s plot, based on Thomas Pynchon’s novel, is deliberately convoluted, reflecting the fragmented and disorienting nature of the post-1960s landscape. The film isn’t just a detective story; it’s a character study, a love letter to a bygone era, and a meditation on the enduring power of memory and the pain of loss. The relationships, especially Doc and Shasta’s, are central. Their past haunts the present, adding to the film’s evocative atmosphere.
The use of dissolves and flashbacks creates a unique cinematic experience, blurring the lines between past and present, dreams and reality. This technique perfectly embodies the film’s thematic concerns, highlighting the characters’ inability to let go of the past, much like how 1970s Los Angeles was grappling with the legacy of the 1960s. Anderson uses this cinematic device to reflect the lingering effects of societal shifts and the personal transformations they generate. The film’s pacing and stylistic choices might initially seem challenging, but upon reflection, they prove integral to its overall message. It’s not about meticulously following the plot twists, but about understanding the characters’ emotional journeys and their struggle to find meaning in a changing world.
The film is visually stunning; Anderson’s cinematography and set design perfectly capture the spirit of 1970s Southern California, a place where the remnants of the counter-culture movement collide with burgeoning real estate development and political corruption. This collision of eras provides rich thematic material, allowing for an exploration of the clash between the ideals of the 1960s and the more materialistic, disillusioned reality of the 1970s. This nostalgic and critical juxtaposition adds a layer of depth, making it a thought-provoking exploration of time’s passage, societal changes, and the lasting impacts of the past.
“Inherent Vice” is more than just a crime thriller; it’s a poignant reflection on the human condition, memory, and the enduring nature of love and loss, expertly told through the lens of 1970s Los Angeles. The film’s use of real-time trending topics like nostalgia for the 1960s and 1970s, the exploration of societal shifts and their impact on individuals, and its focus on the changing California landscape add layers of relevance to its story. The film is currently streaming on Max and deserves rediscovery by those who missed its initial release, and a newfound appreciation from those who have already seen it.
