INHERENT VICE ***
Paul Thomas Anderson is undoubtedly the greatest modern American filmmaker. All his films demonstrate a high level of cinematic skills, defining his surrealistic, impressive and authentic style as a master visionary of story-telling. Although he infuses all his credibility in this psychedelic comedy based on Thomas Pynchon’s novel, the process and its result appear as too confusing and disorientating. The film follows a compulsive and troubled pothead incensing the hippie-era of the 70’s Los Angeles, and this characteristic, so present throughout the narrative, isn’t the cause of the obvious unbalance. Joaquin Phoenix is the kind of actor with no limits to reach perfection in his roles; despite he should never attend public meetings, where he can never behave as a social communicator, the actor is a giant in the art of acting, and here is no exception: he delivers another unpredictable, intensely hypnotic performance as a young Doctor, constantly stoned and caught up in the middle of a cash-loaded scheme. One summer night, his ex-girlfriend reappears, and as the conversation goes on, she reveals a disturbing plot involving a billionaire and the attempts of getting rid of him. But she doesn’t say much, of course, and suddenly disappears again, leaving Doc intrigued by the mystery and involved in the case as a bunch of characters start popping up at his office, including the eccentric detective, hilariously performed by Josh Brolin. After Doc visits a brothel/restaurant and gets hit in his head, the film will keep him on the run. This memorable take, brilliantly shot on 70mm, looks like the first exciting climax in the investigation. But as the scared and confused Doc engages on his own investigation, meeting up secretly with lunatics, drug-addicts, artists, hippies and authorities, the film becomes overwhelmed with so many characters gathered, telling long (and mostly uninteresting) stories that could serve to solve the puzzle, but don’t really have a meaning besides adding up aspects of liberation and the infusion of a contaminated society trying to avoid the consequences of Vietnam. No matter how unsatisfying it could be, still P.T. Anderson has his fingerprints all over it, managing to save the film with his techniques of enthralling movie lovers. Also, he maintains the film honest to the senses of its protagonist, a careless guy whose priority is to ‘chill and blaze’, letting the smoke prevail the atmosphere. A master’s smallest film, yet a must-see!
BETTING ON MOORE
It happens every year: Studios rush their films in the final weeks of the year, attempting to score Oscar attention. By this time, the Golden Globes have announced their nominees and Julianne Moore is certainly celebrating her name on the list, becoming Oscar’s Best Actress frontrunner. “Still Alice” closes today after a week-run for eligibility and officially opens in mid-January. Moore gives a fantastic, heart-breaking performance as a Columbia teacher who’s diagnosed with early symptoms of Alzheimer. Moore is one of the best performers ever, and she carries the entire film with her portrait of desperation, transformation and defied by the tragic circumstances. But the film itself is injured by its imposed repetitiveness.
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