For over a year now the hype surrounding Paul Thomas Anderson’s next drama, Inherent Vice, has been building. What can you expect? It’s a twisted, debauched tale that’s got all the hallmarks of a cult classic. The director’s star-studded effort will finally be granted its first audience next weekend at the New York Film Festival and we can’t wait to hear how it’s received.
Based on the novel by Thomas Pynchon, the movie’s ensemble stars Joaquin Phoenix in the lead as Doc Sportello, a scruffy, pot-smoking P.I. investigating the disappearance of his girlfriend. Josh Brolin is on board to give him him grief as a grizzled cop, with Benicio Del Toro channeling his Gonzo persona as druggie lawyer Sauncho. Owen Wilson, Jena Malone, Martin Short and Reese Witherspoon round out the cast.
The first glimpse at Witherspoon arrives today, to remind us all that this movie is set in the 70s. As Deputy District Attorney Penny Kimball, she’s seen trading banter with Doc.
We can expect more information on the movie, and early buzzy reviews (we hope!) by the end of next week. Its widespread release won’t come until two months after its NYFF premiere – so we’re confident that a trailer will hit the web shortly.
Inherent Vice debuts at the New York Film Festival October 4th, and hits theatres on December 12th.
“Inherent Vice” is the seventh feature from Paul Thomas Anderson and the first ever film adaption of a Thomas Pynchon novel. When private eye Doc Sportello’s ex-old lady suddenly out of nowhere shows up with a story about her current billionaire land developer boyfriend whom she just happens to be in love with, and a plot by his wife and her boyfriend to kidnap that billionaire and throw him in a looney bin…well, easy for her to say. It’s the tail end of the psychedelic `60s and paranoia is running the day and Doc knows that “love” is another of those words going around at the moment, like “trip” or “groovy,” that’s being way too overused – except this one usually leads to trouble. With a cast of characters that includes surfers, hustlers, dopers and rockers, a murderous loan shark, LAPD Detectives, a tenor sax player working undercover, and a mysterious entity known as the Golden Fang, which may only be a tax dodge set up by some dentists… Part surf noir, part psychedelic romp – all Thomas Pynchon.”