Inherent Vice: A '70s California Hidden Figures of intrigue and corruption

“Strange taste” created by hiring Joanna Newsom

Robert Downey Jr. was initially considered for the role of private detective Doc. However, Paul Thomas Anderson expressed reservations, saying that he was too old for the role, and Joaquin Phoenix, with whom he worked on The Master (2012), was cast instead. When Joaquin received the script, he thought that the most important thing was to "get involved in the story and get confused, rather than understanding the story." Yes, he also demonstrated the spirit of "the consistency of the story is secondary."

"Paul gave me the book first. I read the book and then I read the script. Then I tried to read it a second time, but halfway through I realized I didn't really want to know. I didn't want to know what was going on, I wanted to be confused." ( Denofgeek, Joaquin Phoenix interview )

“Inherent Vice” © 2014 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Interactivecorp Films, LLC and RatPac-Dune Entertainment LLC.

Josh Brolin plays the role of Detective Big, who always has a frozen chocolate banana in his mouth. Katherine Waterston plays his ex-girlfriend Shasta, and Reese Witherspoon plays his current girlfriend Penny (this is the first time they have worked together since Walk the Line (2005)).

Of particular note is Joanna Newsom, who plays Sortilage. She is a singer-songwriter who sings acid folk with her harp accompaniment, and her unique voice is very cute. Paul Thomas Anderson had a sudden flash of inspiration: "This movie needs a female narrator!" So he selected Sortilage, a former employee of Doc's detective agency who is said to have some kind of spiritual power, as the "movie's narrator." Having her narrate the film, even though she has almost no involvement in the story, adds a "strange flavor" to the film. It creates a somewhat prosaic and unrealistic tone.

By the way, Thomas Pynchon is known as a masked writer who never shows his face in public, but according to Josh Brolin's comments, he will make a cameo appearance somewhere in the movie. Whether that's true or not, and if he does appear, who will appear in which scene, the truth is still a mystery. This story itself is very "Inherent Vice"-like, isn't it?

America's inherent flaws, America's inherent flaws