Mark's criticism always impresses me, because it's not easy to be a film critic. How many times have you not enjoyed a film and then years later revisited the film and fell in love with it? For me, too many times to count. Inherent Vice is a very difficult movie to unpack and review and I think Mark does great here. He was able to touch on so many of the positives of the film that went over many critic's heads. I especially love that Mark recognized and understood that the plot is purposely incoherent. Essentially every critic who hated the film tried too hard to understand the plot. Inherent Vice is one of my all time favorites and I think it will only be appreciated more as it ages. I'm glad Mark enjoyed the film as well.
I'm glad Mark Kermode isn't totally trashing this film. I saw it after hearing a lot of bad things. Was both mesmerised and crying with laughter. It was far more linear than I thought it would be and suited the picture's mood of paranoia and uncertainty (I was expecting some incomprehensible story like a recent Nolan picture or maybe something like Ridley Scott's "The Counsellor") It's a great great piece of cinema which I think will get a lot more praise and become a cult classic in years to come! One of the funnest and most creative film's I have seen in the last few year's along with "Birdman" of course.
And this is an adaptation of what is considered Pynchon's most ACCESSIBLE novel. And seeing the reactions this film got one could probably understand why this is the only book of his so far that Pynchon permitted to be adapted into a film.
Exactly, his other novels are totally unadaptable, with the possible exception of Bleeding Edge, published later. I love Pynchon's work, and I really like this film - even though it is not perfect. It may very well be the best possible adaptation of Pynchon. Pity that it did not get the love it deserves.
@@geoffrey1001 Crying of Lot 49 is certainly adaptable with enough effort. A surrealist filmmaker like Jodorowsky could work wonders with it if only he were interested.
I’m trying. My brain doesn’t like it though. It wants to know exactly what’s happening. Restarting the movie over & over again only to find out there is nothing I’m missing. It’s the movie that purposely leaves things out to make you feel like you haven’t been paying attention.
I'm a massive fan of both Pynchon and PTA like yourself and I can honestly say that there's no way I can imagine someone making a better Pynchon film. Not only has it rocketed to my fav film of 2014, but also my fav PTA film, and potentially my fav film ever. Like seriously, go see it, I hope you won't be disappointed. Would be interested to see what you think.
Loved this movie when I saw it in the cinema; more than half of the people walked out part-way through! It's the only film I've ever watched that made me feel like I'd smoked way too much green beforehand - absolutely amazing achievement by PTA to get that feeling across in a film.
@@JC-li8kk That's how I think it's meant to be watched - you end up feeling the same as the main character i.e. dazed and confused, but it's a fun ride
Some years ago I read the novel, and enjoyed its craziness..but Pynchon for the most part nailed what Mark spoke of the 'creeping paranoia ' of that era. The 'iron fist' (the establishment) was always waiting on the sidelines for its moment to pounce on the hippies and other beings- those that survived became : Yuppies Peace..from the state of mind that is Texas
Pynchon's novels are never understood on the first reading. On the second reading you finally start getting what the plot is and who the important characters are. On the third and fourth readings the rhythms and absolute utter poetry of the prose starts grabbing you and you find yourself blown away by a whole new kind of reading experience -- one in which you become emersed in the beauty of language.... A lot of work -- but absolutely worth it.
Loved the film, funny as hell!! Everybody in the cinema (which had a big range in terms of ages, like from ~15yo to ~80yo) was laughing and enjoying. They even clapped in the end.....
A film that comes back and haunts you like an acid flashback. I almost comprehended what was going on, but then I realized that was a mistake. PTA ftw.
I'm about to start watching Inherent Vice for the 6th time and I'm really getting to another level with the film. Watching this review now I'm impressed at how spot on he is on everything, and really if you take any part of the review and follow the direction he's pointed you in you get to the root of that aspect. I might be wrong, though, I am exceptionally high at this time. Be brave. Be kind.
The way I really enjoyed it thoroughly was to read the screenplay after I saw the film and then watch it again - it certainly makes sense when you get deeper into it Putting so much into making a film it's good to look at the brilliant ones a few times
The movie has so many 'wow' shots Mark! There's the outside and foyer of The Mental hospital Wolfman is holed up in. The scene where Shasta comes back to visit Doc is a one take shot that last several minutes. Ok, it's not the tracking shot from the start of Boogie Nights or that great tracking shot in Magnolia, but it's still impressive.
The film lost me a couple of times but still very much enjoyed it, and it had Joaquin Phoenix, the way he acts and looses himself in his characters is really unique, only a handful of actors are able to do it, and we lost one them the one and only Marlon Brando.
I really like this movie, but I couldn’t tell you any of the plot or almost any specific details in it. If you pay attention to the plot, you will hate it, but if you just watch I think it’s very enjoyable
I’m trying. My brain doesn’t like it though. It wants to know exactly what’s happening. Restarting the movie over & over again only to find out there is nothing I’m missing. It’s the movie that purposely leaves things out to make you feel like you haven’t been paying attention.
If you find it "hard going" or are watching it again almost in the sense of putting in work, I don't think you're connecting with it. Seems like a weird attitude to watching such a funny and intensely atmospheric film. I don't think people should be trying to "get" this. They either do or don't.
I'm a big Thomas Anderson fan, I like reflecting on his movies. I got the impression there was more to it and it demanded a second watch. I was like that with the Master. There are some movies that get better with more viewings and I reckon this is one of them. Maybe that is a weird attitude. Each to their own my man,
My brain can’t handle it. I have to know exactly what’s happening in a film. It’s not the content itself, but the fact that I can’t stay focused long enough to process 100% of what’s happening on screen. My mind just constantly wanders while watching this lol.
there's a german novel which as you read it is very disorienting - you feel like you're repeating bits, forgetting stuff, etc. then you clock the main character has MS and what the author is doing is bringing you into his world. i think PTA is doing something similar here. anyway i love this film, and the opening scene is as hardboiled as you can get
SomeSunshineOutside It doesn't really try to portray tripping, it's more of a film in which a man faces paranoia and confusion whilst taking drugs. The tripping is understated. Whereas Enter The Void, is a stylistic clusterfuck of images
Punch Drunk Love was much more accesible. I'm one of those that lost patience with it. didn0t get it first time and it's too long and frustrating to watch it again.
Finally caught up with this film tonight, loved the whole thing! I thought the same thing, like a Long Goodbye if the screenplay had been written by Robert Anton Wilson, the Illuminatus! guy. I've heard fans of the novel claim the film lets the book down a bit, and the novel is of course superior, but I thought the movie was solid all the way through, a total early 70s bad trip in the best way. Also reminds of me of novels by the likes of Ross Macdonald and all those modern P.I./noir guys.
A movie can have an atmosphere AND comprehensible plot at the same time. You don't have to sacrifice one to have another. But I like trance like experience movies so I'm a bit interested in this one. And I also want to know if I have patience to get through it and understand the plot, I might watch it one day just as a challenge.
"A movie can have an atmosphere AND comprehensible plot at the same time." But a movie can be great by being incomprehensible and atmospheric as well. Just look at Mulholland Drive.
ZeppelinBigFan Really? Mulholland Drive? I remember it being very confusing to me. Afterwards I even read an explanation of what happened in the film and still didn't get it. :D Maybe I wasn't patient enough that day or perhaps I'm just dumb. :)
jktomas I misread your comment at first, and had to edit my comment. Mulholland Drive is certainly not very comprehensible, it's basically driven by its unique atmosphere.
ZeppelinBigFan Mulholland Drive has short bursts of narrative, but I have no idea what all the comprehensible parts have to do with each other (it's not like some movies where absolutely nothing makes sense). My favorite moment in the film is the Winkies scene (about the scary dream). It's not made clear what is dream and what is real and I'm not even sure how to interpret it, but it has a comprehensible narrative if you look at it as a short film. But what does it have to do with the film and the main characters? But I really don't mind not understanding what's going on. I love atmosphere movies. My only problem is when they go for far too long and you lose interest. When there's no narrative, you don't have anything to get invested in and it goes on for hours is when I lose my patience. The best example of that is Lynch's Inland Empire. I tried watching once - fell asleep, tried again - wished I could sleep instead. Pro tip for all the filmmakers out there: if you make a dream like movie don't drag it out. 3 hours is too much by an hour and a half.
I like production value and acting in this movie. The main problem is the book is great to read but definitely not cinematic. I appreciate they try to honor the essence of the book, but doesn't mean it's great for audience
why does that guy scoff dismissively at 10 mins? is “you arent supposed to follow the plot”not legitimate? what would that mean for films like 2001? People forget film is the youngest art form besides video games, and theres more than one way to tell a story.
As much as the plot doesn't make sense in some parts it didn't really bother me either time watching it I still found it really enjoyable and very funny. It feels kind of like Big Lebowski in tone except I actually prefer it
Ok, I won't trash this film. I think it has it merits and all(both cinematic and sytilistic), but I found the movie to be incoherent, incomprensible and laughable at the same time. Yet, I tried to enjoy it on my own. Again, i coudn't connect with the main caracther Doc Sportello and there lies the problem, or maybe is me. At times I was trying to compare it to Godard's Made in USA. Both movies with similar plot. As a fan and follower of PTA, I would suggest next time he films his own material. I hope he will.
I wanted to like it, but thought it was a crashing bore. As Pauline Kael maybe once said about a film, It's like a Playboy mag that has been left out too long in the sun.
Big mistake to get stoned before watching this film. Missed the first 60 seconds and never recovered. Loved Bigfoot, loved the women, loved Joaquin Phoenix's face...but didnt have a clue what was going on. And the weed in the weed eating scene looked more like chopped up parsley.
Funny reading this as first time I watched it sober had no idea what was going on but enjoyed the acting the way it was shot and the music, I then rewatched it high and the whole thing made sense or as much sense as it can lol
This is the greatest review I have seen of the film, really incapsulates my feelings about it, great moments and fun but at times you do feel like the sober person at a party, I think some of the dialogue went for too long
Twenty minutes into this film I could only imagine PTA playing with himself and I wasn't laughing. I enjoy the film described by the Doctor a trillion times more than the film and yes I bailed on the movie. About as fun as listening to Yesterday by the Mac.
The film is a perfect adaptation. Is it a perfect film? No. But you can’t adapt this particular novel any better than PTA did. It captures the sort of chaotic and fractured feeling of Doc as you experience it from his internal monologue while reading the book. Hes a heavy stoner and his perspective can’t fully be trusted or understood, and thats the point
The film is not as "Incoherent" as you think. Give it a re-watch with the Companion: docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/b596d5_d80ac13a3d5f4b048e57858d500ef8ce.pdf
Good in parts, nicely stylzed, but not nearly as funny as everyone says it is. It's so long and meandering that the fact it has zero pay-off for the fairly big energy investment it requires, was massively deflating. I did not enjoy this film.
Agreed with mark on this one. I think this would've been an amazing 100 minute film. I normally like how long PTA's films are but this one was a bit much.
I watched this film almost entirely because I liked the trailer so much. That's a rare thing for me. But trust me, the bulk of all the best moments of the film are in the trailer. So I suggest watching that instead.
+bbkingzor Yes the movie is incoherent and boring. I gave up on the plot about half way through. But I still loved all the cinematography, props and costumes. So I spent the second half just fast forwarding through the tedious conversations just so I could view each scene to appreciate the cinematography.
My least favourite Paul Thomas Anderson film so far. Loved the Master even though a lot of people couldn't get into it, but that at least had the duel of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Phoenix. This one really meanders and the humour for the most part didn't work for me.
The humour was a little all over the place, much of it not landing for me either. The tone of the film was extremely inconsistent. I still enjoyed it overall, but it felt hollow, despite some great scenes and characters.
The Master was way more focused. I had no problem understanding what was happening. Inherent Vice I’ve gotten 25 mins into the movie and started it over 3 times now. Cant ignore the cast, but I’m very unmotivated to figure out what’s happening.
Good review. Bookchemist says this is a good first book by Pynchon to read. The movie just seems like a lot of made up bs that you can't understand unless you know the other made up bs it's based on.
PTA had a total misfire here. It really pains me to say it. It didn't earn it's length. It wasn't nearly as funny as it (or others) thought it was. Incomprehensible plot dosen't matter, it was just dull.
Mark's criticism always impresses me, because it's not easy to be a film critic. How many times have you not enjoyed a film and then years later revisited the film and fell in love with it? For me, too many times to count. Inherent Vice is a very difficult movie to unpack and review and I think Mark does great here. He was able to touch on so many of the positives of the film that went over many critic's heads. I especially love that Mark recognized and understood that the plot is purposely incoherent. Essentially every critic who hated the film tried too hard to understand the plot. Inherent Vice is one of my all time favorites and I think it will only be appreciated more as it ages. I'm glad Mark enjoyed the film as well.
I'm glad Mark Kermode isn't totally trashing this film. I saw it after hearing a lot of bad things. Was both mesmerised and crying with laughter. It was far more linear than I thought it would be and suited the picture's mood of paranoia and uncertainty (I was expecting some incomprehensible story like a recent Nolan picture or maybe something like Ridley Scott's "The Counsellor") It's a great great piece of cinema which I think will get a lot more praise and become a cult classic in years to come! One of the funnest and most creative film's I have seen in the last few year's along with "Birdman" of course.
compared to inherent vice, the counsellor's a 21 minute sitcom.
Your review is much better, much more intelligent, than Kermode's.
Brolin is so funny in this movie. One of my all time favorites. Who says a movie has to make total sense to be great?
Loved this film after several viewings.
And this is an adaptation of what is considered Pynchon's most ACCESSIBLE novel. And seeing the reactions this film got one could probably understand why this is the only book of his so far that Pynchon permitted to be adapted into a film.
Exactly, his other novels are totally unadaptable, with the possible exception of Bleeding Edge, published later. I love Pynchon's work, and I really like this film - even though it is not perfect. It may very well be the best possible adaptation of Pynchon. Pity that it did not get the love it deserves.
@@geoffrey1001 Crying of Lot 49 is certainly adaptable with enough effort. A surrealist filmmaker like Jodorowsky could work wonders with it if only he were interested.
I'm a huge fan of PT Anderson's Inherent Vice. Would you recommend the book for my first Pynchon read?
@@trevorrapp7227 yeah, most people recommend Inherent Vice is the one to start with
I'm glad that Jonny Greenwood got a mention here.
absolutely devastated that my cinema isn't showing this. They didn't show whiplash either but they will show taken 3 on 2 screens!
Go to the Kurzon mate
Change cinema
ouch!
It's worth the drive to find a theater that's playing it. Best movie of 2014. Only gets greater with each viewing.
Anthony Patterson Same here. The cinemas at my place that show great films are hidden.
This is my favorite movie of 2014 that I wouldn't recommend to anyone for fear that it would frustrate them haha
I’m trying. My brain doesn’t like it though. It wants to know exactly what’s happening. Restarting the movie over & over again only to find out there is nothing I’m missing. It’s the movie that purposely leaves things out to make you feel like you haven’t been paying attention.
I know I'm kinda off topic but does anyone know a good site to stream newly released series online?
@Otis Mohammed lately I have been using flixzone. You can find it by googling =)
@Marcellus Aaron yup, I have been using flixzone for years myself :D
@Marcellus Aaron Thank you, I went there and it seems like a nice service =) I appreciate it!!
Unfortunately underrated imo
I'm a massive fan of both Pynchon and PTA like yourself and I can honestly say that there's no way I can imagine someone making a better Pynchon film. Not only has it rocketed to my fav film of 2014, but also my fav PTA film, and potentially my fav film ever. Like seriously, go see it, I hope you won't be disappointed. Would be interested to see what you think.
BakehousePictures It is good mate. The Cinema going public don't get it cos they've never been near a Pynchon novel.
I know a lot of people really didn’t like this film but, god lord, I absolutely loved it!
This film is bound to become a classic through and through. Criminally overlooked and misunderstood.
Loved this movie when I saw it in the cinema; more than half of the people walked out part-way through! It's the only film I've ever watched that made me feel like I'd smoked way too much green beforehand - absolutely amazing achievement by PTA to get that feeling across in a film.
That explains why I can’t wrap my head around it. I’ll stop trying to understand it & just let it play out.
@@JC-li8kk That's how I think it's meant to be watched - you end up feeling the same as the main character i.e. dazed and confused, but it's a fun ride
Upon 2nd viewing of this film, I absolutely adore it in every way.
Some years ago I read the novel,
and enjoyed its craziness..but
Pynchon for the most part nailed what Mark spoke of the 'creeping
paranoia ' of that era.
The 'iron fist' (the establishment) was always waiting on the sidelines for its moment to pounce
on the hippies and other beings-
those that survived became :
Yuppies
Peace..from the state of mind that is Texas
I could listen to Mark Kermode talking film for days...what a knowledgeable man.
Spot on. I thought I wasn't the only one. You voiced out my reservations for the film.
Pynchon's novels are never understood on the first reading. On the second reading you finally start getting what the plot is and who the important characters are. On the third and fourth readings the rhythms and absolute utter poetry of the prose starts grabbing you and you find yourself blown away by a whole new kind of reading experience -- one in which you become emersed in the beauty of language.... A lot of work -- but absolutely worth it.
Loved the film, funny as hell!! Everybody in the cinema (which had a big range in terms of ages, like from ~15yo to ~80yo) was laughing and enjoying. They even clapped in the end.....
A film that comes back and haunts you like an acid flashback.
I almost comprehended what was going on, but then I realized that was a mistake.
PTA ftw.
Another brilliant performance by Joaquin Phoenix.
I'm about to start watching Inherent Vice for the 6th time and I'm really getting to another level with the film. Watching this review now I'm impressed at how spot on he is on everything, and really if you take any part of the review and follow the direction he's pointed you in you get to the root of that aspect. I might be wrong, though, I am exceptionally high at this time.
Be brave. Be kind.
This movie is far better organized, plot-wise, than a first viewing would lead you to think.
If I can get through the first 25 minutes without restarting it maybe I can agree with you one day.
J C you made it to 25 minutes? 😬I only got to 20 minutes 😑
This movie is amazing. Ranks among Paul Thomas Andersons best.
The way I really enjoyed it thoroughly was to read the screenplay after I saw the film and then watch it again - it certainly makes sense when you get deeper into it
Putting so much into making a film it's good to look at the brilliant ones a few times
I love this film, the book is amazing, the dialogue and pacing is really faithful to Pynchon.
when u fall out of step with it- you feel like the only sober person in a room of furry freaks.....that is why i love kermode
My favorite film of 2014 hands down
The movie has so many 'wow' shots Mark! There's the outside and foyer of The Mental hospital Wolfman is holed up in. The scene where Shasta comes back to visit Doc is a one take shot that last several minutes. Ok, it's not the tracking shot from the start of Boogie Nights or that great tracking shot in Magnolia, but it's still impressive.
The atmosphere was like something I inhaled and put me to sleep. Maybe if I was a critic I would’ve gone gonzo crazy over it.
Patterning something on Neil young puts you in trouble immediately- the buffalo Springfield founder from Canada that lectured us via song.
The film lost me a couple of times but still very much enjoyed it, and it had Joaquin Phoenix, the way he acts and looses himself in his characters is really unique, only a handful of actors are able to do it, and we lost one them the one and only Marlon Brando.
sam soul : Is English your first language?
Fun fact, this is still an amazing movie :P
It had the worst luck opening alongside American Sniper. It did not even play in my cornbread home town because of it.
I love it when an artist is given a check and simply told....." go".
Not for everyone but I really, really loved watching it.
I really like this movie, but I couldn’t tell you any of the plot or almost any specific details in it. If you pay attention to the plot, you will hate it, but if you just watch I think it’s very enjoyable
I’m trying. My brain doesn’t like it though. It wants to know exactly what’s happening. Restarting the movie over & over again only to find out there is nothing I’m missing. It’s the movie that purposely leaves things out to make you feel like you haven’t been paying attention.
It's a movie you need to watch a few times, it's hard going. I'm still trying to piece it together in my head.
If you find it "hard going" or are watching it again almost in the sense of putting in work, I don't think you're connecting with it. Seems like a weird attitude to watching such a funny and intensely atmospheric film. I don't think people should be trying to "get" this. They either do or don't.
I'm a big Thomas Anderson fan, I like reflecting on his movies. I got the impression there was more to it and it demanded a second watch. I was like that with the Master. There are some movies that get better with more viewings and I reckon this is one of them. Maybe that is a weird attitude. Each to their own my man,
My brain can’t handle it. I have to know exactly what’s happening in a film. It’s not the content itself, but the fact that I can’t stay focused long enough to process 100% of what’s happening on screen. My mind just constantly wanders while watching this lol.
Nah I loved it on first viewing years ago
there's a german novel which as you read it is very disorienting - you feel like you're repeating bits, forgetting stuff, etc. then you clock the main character has MS and what the author is doing is bringing you into his world. i think PTA is doing something similar here. anyway i love this film, and the opening scene is as hardboiled as you can get
I can't even hear what they are saying in the clip, hard to follow if you can't even hear anything and have to turn the volume to full.
does it beat "enter the void" as a movie in the stoner/trip sense?
TheDensley7 ok. i meant strictly in its portrayal of tripping, though, which 'enter the void' excels at.
SomeSunshineOutside It doesn't really try to portray tripping, it's more of a film in which a man faces paranoia and confusion whilst taking drugs. The tripping is understated. Whereas Enter The Void, is a stylistic clusterfuck of images
Punch Drunk Love was much more accesible. I'm one of those that lost patience with it. didn0t get it first time and it's too long and frustrating to watch it again.
Let me get this straight...neal young is an important aesthetic in this film. Self explanatory
Finally caught up with this film tonight, loved the whole thing! I thought the same thing, like a Long Goodbye if the screenplay had been written by Robert Anton Wilson, the Illuminatus!
guy. I've heard fans of the novel claim the film lets the book down a bit, and the novel is of course superior, but I thought the movie was solid all the way through, a total early 70s
bad trip in the best way. Also reminds of me of novels by the likes of Ross Macdonald and all those modern P.I./noir guys.
A movie can have an atmosphere AND comprehensible plot at the same time. You don't have to sacrifice one to have another.
But I like trance like experience movies so I'm a bit interested in this one. And I also want to know if I have patience to get through it and understand the plot, I might watch it one day just as a challenge.
"A movie can have an atmosphere AND comprehensible plot at the same time."
But a movie can be great by being incomprehensible and atmospheric as well. Just look at Mulholland Drive.
ZeppelinBigFan Really? Mulholland Drive? I remember it being very confusing to me. Afterwards I even read an explanation of what happened in the film and still didn't get it. :D Maybe I wasn't patient enough that day or perhaps I'm just dumb. :)
If a movie based on a Pynchon novel was comprehensible it wouldn't be faithful to the source material.
jktomas I misread your comment at first, and had to edit my comment. Mulholland Drive is certainly not very comprehensible, it's basically driven by its unique atmosphere.
ZeppelinBigFan Mulholland Drive has short bursts of narrative, but I have no idea what all the comprehensible parts have to do with each other (it's not like some movies where absolutely nothing makes sense). My favorite moment in the film is the Winkies scene (about the scary dream). It's not made clear what is dream and what is real and I'm not even sure how to interpret it, but it has a comprehensible narrative if you look at it as a short film. But what does it have to do with the film and the main characters?
But I really don't mind not understanding what's going on. I love atmosphere movies. My only problem is when they go for far too long and you lose interest. When there's no narrative, you don't have anything to get invested in and it goes on for hours is when I lose my patience. The best example of that is Lynch's Inland Empire. I tried watching once - fell asleep, tried again - wished I could sleep instead. Pro tip for all the filmmakers out there: if you make a dream like movie don't drag it out. 3 hours is too much by an hour and a half.
I like production value and acting in this movie. The main problem is the book is great to read but definitely not cinematic. I appreciate they try to honor the essence of the book, but doesn't mean it's great for audience
I loved this movie.
Harper with Paul Newman would be a good guide to this film.
How many times did you watch to get to that conclusion.
Incoherent vice
+Colin Molony more like inherent TWICE
The cleverness in this thread is overwhelming
Best way to describe this film.
I really enjoyed it.
Mr Kermode doesn't really rate The Big Lebowski either. He's out of his element.
That's not entirely true. There was a Kermode uncut episode where he stated that after a rewatch he did enjoy it noticeably more.
So what if he didn't enjoy it? Do you really expect everyone's tastes to align with your own?
i want that thumbnail to be my computer screen wallpaper
I wondered when this review was going to show up.
Yeah it seems like the reviews are being uploaded later and later.
Luvie1980 I'm pretty sure I saw this review some time ago, must have been taken down for some silly copyright claim, I guess.
Luvie1980 this only came out in the UK 2 days before the video was posted ...
There is a plot! And the movie has one. Can't wait for a movie of Bleeding Edge
why does that guy scoff dismissively at 10 mins? is “you arent supposed to follow the plot”not legitimate? what would that mean for films like 2001? People forget film is the youngest art form besides video games, and theres more than one way to tell a story.
Where do I find this genius.
This is in my top five films ever. Love it
As much as the plot doesn't make sense in some parts it didn't really bother me either time watching it I still found it really enjoyable and very funny. It feels kind of like Big Lebowski in tone except I actually prefer it
I love this reviewer
shame you cant click like on the review description
Good ol Wacking Phoenix
Sounds like my kind of movie 🍿
I'm not sure what trailer he watched, but I never got it was a full on comedy. I'm not disagreeing, I'm just wondering.
Possibly the greatest film of the decade
🤔
😂
For me, its not even a question
Ok, I won't trash this film. I think it has it merits and all(both cinematic and sytilistic), but I found the movie to be incoherent, incomprensible and laughable at the same time. Yet, I tried to enjoy it on my own. Again, i coudn't connect with the main caracther Doc Sportello and there lies the problem, or maybe is me. At times I was trying to compare it to Godard's Made in USA. Both movies with similar plot. As a fan and follower of PTA, I would suggest next time he films his own material. I hope he will.
I wanted to like it, but thought it was a crashing bore. As Pauline Kael maybe once said about a film, It's like a Playboy mag that has been left out too long in the sun.
Big mistake to get stoned before watching this film. Missed the first 60 seconds and never recovered. Loved Bigfoot, loved the women, loved Joaquin Phoenix's face...but didnt have a clue what was going on. And the weed in the weed eating scene looked more like chopped up parsley.
Funny reading this as first time I watched it sober had no idea what was going on but enjoyed the acting the way it was shot and the music, I then rewatched it high and the whole thing made sense or as much sense as it can lol
This is the greatest review I have seen of the film, really incapsulates my feelings about it, great moments and fun but at times you do feel like the sober person at a party, I think some of the dialogue went for too long
Twenty minutes into this film I could only imagine PTA playing with himself and I wasn't laughing. I enjoy the film described by the Doctor a trillion times more than the film and yes I bailed on the movie. About as fun as listening to Yesterday by the Mac.
What the hell is yesterday by the Mac
@@lockandloadlikehell Yesterday by Paul MacCartney. That song hurts my bones and yes I'm a Beatles fan since 1963.
The film is a perfect adaptation. Is it a perfect film? No. But you can’t adapt this particular novel any better than PTA did. It captures the sort of chaotic and fractured feeling of Doc as you experience it from his internal monologue while reading the book. Hes a heavy stoner and his perspective can’t fully be trusted or understood, and thats the point
The film is not as "Incoherent" as you think. Give it a re-watch with the Companion: docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/b596d5_d80ac13a3d5f4b048e57858d500ef8ce.pdf
It is incorrect to say that Doc Sportello is unhinged.
"Wacking phoenix"
Me after 25 minutes watching: wtf is happening?
Also me: restart the movie.
Excellent review
Good in parts, nicely stylzed, but not nearly as funny as everyone says it is. It's so long and meandering that the fact it has zero pay-off for the fairly big energy investment it requires, was massively deflating. I did not enjoy this film.
Smoke some grass and get a nice heady stone going. Sit back and just let the film play. Best way to view it
@@TheJonnyEnglish yeah you definitely don't need to do that to enjoy it
Agreed with mark on this one. I think this would've been an amazing 100 minute film. I normally like how long PTA's films are but this one was a bit much.
I watched this film almost entirely because I liked the trailer so much. That's a rare thing for me. But trust me, the bulk of all the best moments of the film are in the trailer. So I suggest watching that instead.
bbkingzor Same. I love the trailer, not so much the film.
+bbkingzor Yes the movie is incoherent and boring. I gave up on the plot about half way through. But I still loved all the cinematography, props and costumes. So I spent the second half just fast forwarding through the tedious conversations just so I could view each scene to appreciate the cinematography.
+TonyLoco23 One-sentence review of the film: "Watching this film is like being the only sober person in a room full of highly intoxicated people".
@@bbkingzor Good, I thought it was just me. Glad I’m not losing my ability to connect with intelligent life.
The performances were my favorite part of the movie, but i felt like it meandered and went on a bit too long
My least favourite Paul Thomas Anderson film so far. Loved the Master even though a lot of people couldn't get into it, but that at least had the duel of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Phoenix. This one really meanders and the humour for the most part didn't work for me.
it's supposed to meander though.
The humour was a little all over the place, much of it not landing for me either. The tone of the film was extremely inconsistent. I still enjoyed it overall, but it felt hollow, despite some great scenes and characters.
The Master was way more focused. I had no problem understanding what was happening. Inherent Vice I’ve gotten 25 mins into the movie and started it over 3 times now. Cant ignore the cast, but I’m very unmotivated to figure out what’s happening.
I fell asleep
Didn’t get it at all, it’s no there will be blood
Agreed- it was nothing boring like that
More like Incoherent Vice.
G-good one
MOTO PANEKEKU!!!
Good review. Bookchemist says this is a good first book by Pynchon to read. The movie just seems like a lot of made up bs that you can't understand unless you know the other made up bs it's based on.
No mention of "The Big Lebowski"? I felt that was the closest match.
He mentioned big lebowski in the beginning. Compared with The Big Sleep, The Big Lebowski and The Long Goodbye
Im just inclined to watch this regardless of reviews etc.
PTA has yet to let me down in any movie yet.
Incoherent vice it made no sense eh if can stomach that then that's fine
Watch it on acid
PTA had a total misfire here. It really pains me to say it. It didn't earn it's length. It wasn't nearly as funny as it (or others) thought it was. Incomprehensible plot dosen't matter, it was just dull.
A failed Big Lebowski.
An uncomfortably flag waving and overly patriotic portrait of 70's America, duh.
Ha. Sure can, Liam. This was simply a sarcastic, cheeky remark made during the midst of all the AMERICAN SNIPER backlash.