Inherent Vice keeps close tabs on a trippy hippy private-eye Joaquin Phoenix

REVIEW: Inherent Vice is a tremendously trippy adaptation of the way-out Thomas Pynchon novel by Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights).

Inherent Vice (MA15+)

Director : Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood)

Starring : Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Katherine Waterston, Reese Witherspoon.

Rating :***1/2

Leaving no stoner unturned

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If the collective opinion of the many loyal readers of legendarily enigmatic author Thomas Pynchon counts for anything, maverick US writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood) is doomed to fail in adapting one of their idol’s more unwieldy works.

Another quirky side ... Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from Inherent Vice.

Nevertheless, this trippy tale of a drugged-up, bugged-out private eye (Joaquin Phoenix) investigating a case in a sun-dappled 1970 southern California is a truly escapist experience.

If your definition of great cinema is complete immersion in a world you could never have possibly imagined, then Inherent Vice is everything you could wish for. And just as importantly, leaves much to wonder about forevermore.

Drugged-up ... Joaquin Phoenix is a private-eye in Inherent Vice.

The star of the show here is Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role of Larry ‘Doc’ Sportello, a man who has never met a marijuana bud or magic mushroom he did not like.

In spite of his perpetually hazy state of consciousness, Doc can sense when the vibes around him are turning negative at an alarming rate.

At times, what is left of his awareness will be all that keeps Doc alive as he digs deeper in a dark conspiracy involving a beautiful ex-girlfriend (Katherine Waterston) and her new married boyfriend, a powerful real estate tycoon (Eric Roberts).

Close encounters ... Joaquin Phoenix stars in Inherent Vice.

Then there’s Doc’s problematic relationship with the toughest cop in LA, who revels in his nickname of Big Foot (Josh Brolin). Doc’s every move is being watched perversely closely by Big Foot, who has that rare habit of showing up exactly when he is not needed.

There are a zillion recognisable names (Owen Wilson, Benicio del Toro, Martin Short) doing the freakiest things they can find in their repertoire for the director, who revels in the chaos sure to follow.

It doesn’t make much sense, but as an exercise in mind-altering time travel, it’s as immersive and involving as such fare can get.

Just don’t go looking for any explanations. Just look, man.

*** for more reviews, news and updates, follow Leigh Paatsch on Twitter at @leighpaatsch and on Instagram at leighpaatsch ***

Originally published as Inherent Vice keeps close tabs on a trippy hippy private-eye Joaquin Phoenix