Inherent Vice

Inherent Vice is a film, that at some level, defines definition. The Wikipedia blurb calls it a "2014 American stoner crime comedy-drama film." An adaptation by Paul Thomas Anderson elusive picture comes from a similarly elusive author, Thomas Pynchon. It was rumored Pynchon had a cameo in this winding film starring a hippie named Doc, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix. However it's unclear where the cameo comes in as nobody knows what Pynchon looks like in 2014.

     Shot by Robert Elswit, who collaborated with Anderson on Boogie Nights and Punch Drunk Love among others, creates a beautiful and elaborate  aesthetic that matches the flow of Pynchon's prose.

The plot is entirely convoluted and complex, but the story is pretty simple. Doc's ex girlfriend, Shasta Fey, is mixed up with some bad people. Doc, a private eye, tries to crack the case. All under the constant supervision of the straight-laced hippie hater Lt. "Bigfoot" Bjornsen breathing down his neck. All while Doc is really, really high. Which is a lot of fun.

 Vice could be a straight laced drama if it weren't for the lyrical prose of Pynchon. The difference between comedy and drama is surprise, which Anderson works with well. Whether it's Doc's reaction to the stillborn baby of heroin addicts or it's Owen Wilson coming out of the fog or the fact that Benicio Del Toro plays Doc's lawyer who is an expert in maritime law.

Paul Thomas Anderson leads us to the resolution of the case. But like the novel, the film is more about the journey than the destination. The case falls by the wayside as the story shows more of Doc's struggle with finding love. Shasta Fay is a catalyst for the mystery but also for Doc's regret. Anderson does a masterful job of portraying all this complex human emotion while surprising the audience.

Surprising and beautiful enough for this to be the best stoner crime comedy-drama of 2014. 

It's Actually Pretty Groovy To Be Insane

      Inherent Vice is the first ever Thomas Pynchon novel to be adapted into a screenplay. The fact I have to say that is pertinent to the creation, outcome, and reaction to the movie. Thomas Pynchon is a modern literary giant. He is well respected, reclusive (as artist are portrayed), and has created a modern classic. Some call it The Modern Classic. Regardless, one of critics most loved filmmakers in Paul Thomas Anderson has taken on the great challenge of adapting one of critics most loved writers. He did so by writing the whole novel out as script and then cutting out what he felt was unnecessary.

     Inherent Vice, a movie based on the 2009 novel of the same title, is a drug-filled noir set in the 1970's. The main story follows "Doc" Sportello, played by Joaquin Phoenix, a private investigator and dirty hippie. The story is jumpstarted when Shasta Fay Hepworth, an ex lover of Doc's, comes into Doc's home with a hunch that the new hot shot real estate tycoon she's with, well his wife and her boyfriend are planning to send him to the loony bin. She thinks.

   

   













   
     Doc begins his journey and immediately bumps into characters such as a Black Guerilla Family member, a woman who thinks her husband may not be dead, and a prostitute Jade. Like a noir film Doc has a particular distaste for the formal police, particularly Josh Brolin's character nicknamed "Bigfoot."

     

     Detective Bjornsen is the antithesis of Phoenix's doping Doc and their unwillingness but need to work together to solve the case creates a lot of the tension and comedy in the film. 

     To try to summarize the rest of the plot would do a disservice to both the movie and Pynchon's style of writing. The movie is complex, surreal, and elaborate. All the characters relate and the solving of one mystery just leads to more questions. That is to say, it watches as a Pynchon novel would read. The cast is humongous and star studded, leaving me to look over several times to a friend throughout the film and remark "Oh my god I didn't know they were in this movie." 

    Critic review of the film has been inherently positive while audience left the theatre "confused." I too left confused and spent most of the remainder of the night trying to piece together the plot. I think the story would work better in it's original format, as a novel. That's not to say I didn't like the film. I really liked the film. The more I write about it the more I liked it. It's a flawless adaption of a Pynchon novel. Tonally the movie was perfect and, dare I say, groovily insane. 

    

     

The Master

Paul Thomas Anderson has just released a new movie. The film, starring Joaquin Phoenix has made quite the stir in the press as of late because of it's take on scientology. At first I was under the impression that this film would only be able to be seen in large urban areas due to it's limited release, but upon finding out that Cinemapolis would be showing the film this weekend I was ecstatic to say the least. My cousin was able to see an advanced screening of The Master about a month ago and has been raving about it, he kept talking about the sheer brilliance of the colors in the film. As a person who has the utmost admiration for cinematography, hearing about the aesthetic beauty of the film has made me even more excited. The only other Paul Thomas Anderson movie I have seen is Boogie Nights, which I truly enjoyed. This combination of Anderson and Phoenix should be a knockout, or at least that's what I'm hoping for. I am captivated by Joaquin Phoenix for a number of reasons, but most recently because of his  PR stunt to promote "I'm Still Here" his mockumentary/performance art piece about him pursuing a hip hop career. Despite the fact that the film was a flop I grew to respect his commitment to a role greatly, which is what I hope to see in "The Master." The trailer I have included is a good indication that my expectations will be met.

Gladiator

Gladiator is a movie set during the Roman Empire starring Russell Crowe.  It is a beautiful epic that tells a fantastic story and leads the view through an amazing journey through the brutality of Ancient Rome.  What I love about Gladiator is how beautiful each scene looks and how grand each scene is.  The opening scene of Gladiator shows the Roman army about to take on barbarians.  The scene is beautiful, there is a light snow as the army ready for battle.  Russell Crowe leads them in the charge and sure enough the romans over power the Barbarians.

Part of the reason I am such a fan of gladiator is that I am a big fan of Roman history and I love watching epics, so this suits me quite perfectly.  After this battle the emperor comes to visit and tells him (Russell Crowe) that he is to become emperor after him instead of his son (Joaquin Phoenix).  Well his son finds out about this and after his father's death he attempts to kill Russell Crowe.  Though Russell Crowe escapes and this is where the story really starts.  He becomes a slave and then he is forced to fight as a Gladiator.  These scenes look stunning and the arena is amazing.  Every arena battle is amazing and very well done.  One of his early gladiator fights leads Russell Crowe to say the now famous line "Are you not entertained"

Gladiator is a must watch for anyone and especially anyone who likes Russell Crowe or Ridley Scott.  You will be taken on a fantastic journey that will have you wanting to find out what happens next at every moment.  Luckily for me I have the extended edition so I can watch it over and over.  If you want a glimpse here it is.