better with age


I'm one of the PTA fanboys who gave it a disappointing "C" after first take. But it's definitely a B+ after 2 more viewings. May be an "A" 20 years from now...

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I just saw after a year. The movie is great. Its kinda a tragedy of the 70's- Its confusing for a detective story, and that so original. And I read the novel. I think is a great adaptation.

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I agree with the both of you. I'm glad some folks are starting to come around. I think this a great movie, and an even better adaptation. It captures the essence of the book very well


Howard Huges was Italian?

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Although I thought it better than a C on first watch, I agree, I think people will come around to this after more viewings. Certainly not everyone, it's not a mass crowd pleaser... But I know some PTA fans were really disappointed. I'm reading these kinds of posts more and more. On different sites and even with talking to people in person. PTA has this strange ability to make a film complex but very basic at its core. The Master was a story about a Confused Man, Post War and Unsure of Himself and the Future. Dodd represents the opposite in Freddies mind... But, so much else is going on AROUND those characters. The same can be said with Inherent Vice, albeit a much different tone. It's simple at its core as well but the Odyssey taken is anything BUT simple. Add in There Will Be Blood and it's PTAs assessment of America's Progress and how different each era was.

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"it's PTAs assessment of America's Progress and how different each era was" Yes. I find that part very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

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How dare you

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excuse me?

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Don't mind him. He's a troll.


Howard Hughes was Italian?

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Beautiful kmags, you really get PTA's stuff.
With Inherent Vice, I see a similar to connection to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas in terms of it's ideas about the 'American Dream'.



Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride

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I can dig it. There's something PTA does that gets a good emotional response from me. I'm typing this while watching the opening scene in IV and... Idk, it's a truly moving scene IMO. Phoenix brought so much life to Doc.

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it was on the border of being watchable the first time. no chance i would rewatch this ever.

"May be an "A" 20 years from now..."

it was a bomb at the box office and shunned by critics. most people have forgotten about it by now. in about 2 years you will get the inherent vice DVD/BD for a buck or less.

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"Shunned By Critics"

Lol... That's a good one. You must not read enough reviews. It's acclaimed by a ton of critics. 80+ on Meta. Terrible!

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I had high hopes based on the trailer and was discouraged by the negative reviews. After seeing it the first time, I felt that it was a let down. Recently, I kept having this urged to rewatch it for some reason. After seeing it again, I found I was laughing out loud and thoroughly enjoying the movie much more. I think this is a great movie with layers, subtlety, wit. Once you get through it and understand the somewhat confusing structure and plot, you can really stretch out and enjoy it. I recently revoted and gave it an 8/10

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I loved it the first time but I can see what you mean.

I've got into trouble previously for comparing IV with "Lebowski", but I think it shares the quality of appearing to be rambling and unfocussed but actually being constructed like a swiss watch. I was really disappointed with Lebowski until the second or third viewing...


I used to want to change the world. Now I just want to leave the room with a little dignity.

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I seriously can't imagine anybody viewing this more than once!

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Haha, I've seen it 4 times (and counting) and it is one of the 5 films I have given a 10 

I did not like it so much after the first viewing though...

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Saw it five times in theaters.

Wanna know how many times I've watched the blu-ray? You don't 


Howard Hughes was Italian?

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You're lucky. This film wasn't in the theatres anywhere in my country 

Watching this in Doc's state of mind with my friends on a big tv was one of the best film experiences of my life though 

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Shame 

On my fifth go, I saw it with a buddy who lit up before we went. He felt as if he was trapped in a labyrinth of confusion, haze and weirdness  Lucky him


Howard Hughes was Italian?

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Well maybe it's gonna come to some arthouse cinema in a few years. I'll wait 

I have seen The Lobster in the cinema this year though. If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend it very much. It's amazingly funny, weird and disturbing 
(Also Delicatessen, Possession (1981) and Catch-22)

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If you don't mind my asking, what's your country? The film had a moderately decent run in North America and in some of Europe.

Oh yeah, the Lobster? The movie's premise sounds bonkers haha. If it ever hits arthouse theaters in my area, I'll probably check it out.

(Delicatessen and Catch-22 are two movies I've been putting off for a couple of years now. Never seen or heard of Possession. Sounds interesting though!)

Howard Hughes was Italian?

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It's Slovenia (Google it )

Possession is in my opinion one of the most underrated films of all time. It's a surreal and smart drama/horror film, with one of the most beautiful cinematographies ever. Also, it's set in West Berlin during the cold war which makes the atmosphere even more tense.

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I'm definitely gonna have to look into that.

Cheers mate 


Howard Hughes was Italian?

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Gotta watch this with CC on.

I'm on my 4th time through and I catch new stuff each time.

Josh Brolin is simply magnificent. The scene when he kicks in Doc's door is so close to the Lebowski scene when the Nihilist's invaded the Dude's apartment.

Yep, gonna keep spinning this one.

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Huge PTA fan. Drove to NYC just to see this early. Read the book and really liked it (as a book; wasn't sure how the screenplay was going to be handled). I just don't think Inherent Vice is that good. The whole thing about it being "better with age" is it seems like a bit of a jury-rigged opinion because if you look at the reviews after its release, you saw both critics and fans saying this. "It may not change the world now but has the makings of a cult classic!" I've seen IV numerous times in different settings now and I think I liked it more the first time I saw it - when I saw it as a slight disappointment or noble failure - than I do now.

What exactly gets better about it? The mystery makes more sense? It's not supposed to be about the mystery because there are no big revelations and plot turns within that narrative. The cultural statement becomes clearer? I feel I got what was trying to be said the first time. None of this changes that IV is a chore to get through and is every time I see it.

I don't think PTA did anything wrong in the script or direction; he just made a strange decision to try to turn this into a film to begin with. Again, I really appreciated the book. But it doesn't lend itself well to adaptation, especially one this faithful. There were definitely parts of Joaquin Phoenix's performance that I admired but the constant mumbling DID make it hard to get into. While there are definitely some funny moments, many of the comedic rhythms just seem...off.




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It has everything that's needed for this type of film... I don't like mysteries (my fault, not the movie's... ) but if you're a person who does, then it's perfect. I loved the characters and the humour, I just couldn't muster an ounce of interest in the plot... but, like I said, that's on me, not the film. It's incredibly well-made, which is a hallmark of all PTA's work.






"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"

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