6.7/10
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302 user 435 critic

Inherent Vice (2014)

18A | | Comedy, Crime, Drama | 9 January 2015 (USA)
Trailer
1:53 | Trailer
In 1970, drug-fueled Los Angeles private investigator Larry "Doc" Sportello investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend.

Writers:

Paul Thomas Anderson (written for the screen by), Thomas Pynchon (based on the novel by)
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Popularity
1,496 ( 129)
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 94 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joanna Newsom ... Sortilège
Katherine Waterston ... Shasta Fay Hepworth
Joaquin Phoenix ... Larry "Doc" Sportello
Jordan Christian Hearn ... Denis
Taylor Bonin Taylor Bonin ... Ensenada Slim
Jeannie Berlin ... Aunt Reet
Josh Brolin ... Lt. Det. Christian F. "Bigfoot" Bjornsen
Eric Roberts ... Michael Z. Wolfmann
Serena Scott Thomas ... Sloane Wolfmann
Maya Rudolph ... Petunia Leeway
Martin Dew ... Dr. Buddy Tubeside
Michael Kenneth Williams ... Tariq Khalil
Hong Chau ... Jade
Shannon Collis ... Bambi
Christopher Allen Nelson ... Glenn Charlock
Learn more

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Storyline

During the psychedelic 60s and 70s Larry "Doc" Sportello is surprised by his former girlfriend and her plot for her billionaire boyfriend, his wife, and her boyfriend. A plan for kidnapping gets shaken up by the oddball characters entangled in this groovy kidnapping romp based upon the novel by Thomas Pynchon. Written by bignicknasty97

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Love usually leads to trouble.


Certificate:

18A | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Jeannie Berlin (Aunt Reet) reads audio books, one of which is Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon, who is also the author of the book upon which this film is based. See more »

Goofs

When Doc is talking to the girl in Dr. Blatnoyd's office, the name plaque on Dr. Blatnoyd's desk disappears and reappears. See more »

Quotes

Sortilège: [from trailer]
[when the end of the trailer displays the word "December"]
Sortilège: Coming just in time for Christmas.
See more »

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 See more »

Connections

References Friday the 13th (1980) See more »

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
See more »

User Reviews

 
Its impossible to criticize this movie
28 October 2019 | by amanmspSee all my reviews

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.


33 of 38 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook | Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Release Date:

9 January 2015 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Vice caché See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$328,184, 14 December 2014

Gross USA:

$8,110,975

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,710,975
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | Datasat | SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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