Inherent Vice
dir. Paul Thomas Anderson · 2014
Feature
Moral Ambiguity
Mood
Contemplative / Melancholic
Look
sun-soaked, grainy textures with a retro color palette
Structure
non-linear with fragmented storytelling
Plot
In Los Angeles at the turn of the 1970s, drug-fueled detective Larry "Doc" Sportello investigates the disappearance of an ex-girlfriend.
Why watch
"Inherent Vice" invites viewers into a sun-drenched, psychedelic labyrinth of 1970s Los Angeles, where a stoner detective navigates a world of moral ambiguity and lost love. With its blend of humor and melancholy, this film is a unique exploration of the absurdities of life and the complexities of human connection.
Cultural context
post-Vietnam disillusionmentthe rise of counterculturethe complexities of 1970s Los Angelesthe intersection of crime and comedy