MovieChat Forums > Paul Thomas Anderson Discussion > Anyone else love his films, but hate Inh...

Anyone else love his films, but hate Inherent Vice?


I think everything he's done is great, but Inherent Vice was the point where PT disappeared so far up his own ass that I don't know if I can follow him. It wasn't quite like the work of another director... it was him, just badly done.

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I'm sure there are plenty of other people out there who feel the same way; I'm not one of 'em though.

In fact, Inherent Vice is my favorite of his work (Boogie Nights used to be #1). To me, Paul really flexed his muscles as a filmmaker with Inherent Vice. I didn't care for it very much when I first saw but it dawned on me upon subsequent views what the movie was all about and what he was trying to do.


Howard Hughes was Italian?

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Why? I mean, what do you think the movie was about and what he was trying to do?

To me, his other movies, love em or hate em, came form the same place- and then this seemed so utterly out of left field for him, it was like he forgot how to direct. But I'm curious as to what Inherent Vice is to you.

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Under the surface, Inherent Vice is about the search for lost glory. To me, Doc's hunt for Shasta is allegorical for the hunt of the innocence of a dying spirit falling victim to the corruption of new evil entities that seem to be here to stay now and forever. (The tragedy of their relationship is truly exemplified in the scene where Shasta appears for the 2nd time)

Allegories aside, I also think it's an excellent satire on the "neo-noir" genre itself. Where noir films are inherently confusing in nature, IV perpetuates and exaggerates that tradition by telling an already messy story from the POV of an unreliable protagonist who's high 24/7 and has a questionable perspective (Ex. His interactions with Sortilege the narrator. It's never made clear whether or not she's real), alongside the fact that the film's treatment of paranoia contributes to the "what ifs" and the "Shhhh, don't let them hear you" nature of the film, never truly answering questions and letting the threats ride the waves of dangerous conspiracy, which also contributes to the questionable perspective of Doc's already fragile mind as he cannot properly decipher what is and isn't. Seeing the entire film unfold from Doc's POV made feel intoxicated and unclear of everything (just as much as him), and I admired the absurdly subtle experience of being put in the shoes of the main character himself. Very interesting experience

Lastly, for what Paul was trying to do, I find the subdued approach to the film in-sync with the caricature of Doc Sportello. Doc is a sluggish, stumbling, intoxicated character who sorta kinda sleepwalks through all of three of the cases while they all unfold around him. Everything passes in such a way where you aren't even sure what's happening, which is another testament to Doc. The whole film feels like one big high, washing over you for 2 and a half hours. I thought it matched very well, along with the stagnant note of the film's blend of drama and comedy, which I also feel lends itself to the amusement of Doc's silly nature, and the overall melancholy of the situation he's been thrown into. One doesn't outweigh the other and manages to hold a delicate balance throughout the journey

I admire how understated and subtle the film is. PTA manages to quietly create a poignant atmosphere through the interwoven storylines which gets carried and pushed along through the nuances and "tiny things" that add to one whole. It's not an easy thing to do, nor is it a task one would even dare to do anyway. It's a film that meant to be experienced on the first go, then understood on repeated viewings, and you learn so much through repeated viewings. The film is jam-packed with so many nuances, I LOVE IT! 10/10 for me (Great music, visuals and performances too)

Howard Hughes was Italian?

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I think it's his best and I love all his oner stuff. Give it a second change. It might look incoherent on first view, but it's not. All pieces fall together perfectly. It's amazing how PTA makes the viewer feel as stoned and confused as we think the protagonist. But in fact Doc is right on!

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Interesting. It seems really love it/or hate it.

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I hate The Master (although I have seen it only once), most of the others are OK/good in my opinion, Punch-Drunk Love is excellent and Inherent Vice is my favourite of his and also in my top five of all time.

I really recommend you to see it again without being too focused on understanding every bit of the plot. Don't get me wrong - the plot can me understood, but the main thing that I enjoy about the film is that atmosphere of paranoia, conspiracies and melancholy that doesn't prevent the film from also being extremely funny. On top of that, it also looks beautiful with perfect acting and music.

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The only reason it has taken me any time to wrap my head around Inherent Vice is expectations set up after reading the book, back when Robert Downey Jr. was still attached.
I had this kinetic kind of late 90's idea of it's presentation in my head (obviously thinking of "Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas" or, well, even Doug Liman's "Go"), and that's not how PTA executed it. That was the hard part for me, but that even happened with "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World", and I know in my heart that that one isn't poorly executed just because I dug the books so hard.
I would say I'm a PTA fan, really LIKE all his movies, love a couple. Plus I have this weird thing where I'm unable to relate to every other movie he puts out, and am not engaged instantly. Then the opposite with the next one. Examples:
I knew "Magnolia" was well-made, but wasn't quite on the same page when I was 17. I instantly got Barry and felt alive watching "Punch-Drunk Love".
I knew "There Will Be Blood" was a masterwork in atmosphere and performance, but thought it was trying too hard. There was an instant connection with the themes, relationships and setting of "The Master", as hard as it is to get through those last 20 minutes for me (slow boat to China??)
The idea is that maybe he pushes himself every other movie, then the next one is executed more naturally? I have no clue, but I'm gonna discount the documentary and hope the trend continues with this fashion flick, because I really dig parts of "Inherent Vice", but hope we can all enjoy the next one more as a group.

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The Master > Magnolia > Punch Drunk Love > There Will Be Blood > Hard Eight > Inherent Vice

Never watched Boogie Nights, though. Had "Magnolia" tatooed on my left arm 10 years ago so Paul's been a huge influence on me, and Inherent Vice left me cold until the last 20 minutes. I think I got what the movie was about, but his dedication to keep the Pynchionesque nature of the story was its biggest downfall, imho.

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