Ranking The Films Of Paul Thomas Anderson From Worst To Best

8. Inherent Vice

Overly complex and sometimes confusing, Inherent Vice is the only 'miss' in Paul Thomas Anderson's portfolio. Focused on a drugged up PI in 1970s Los Angeles as he attempts to find his missing former lover, among other things, which becomes so complicated that a lot of it just becomes white noise by the end.

The saving grace here is Joaquin Phoenix as private investigator Doc Sportello. Phoenix is incredibly watchable as he fumbles around a psychedelic and corrupt L.A. and is responsible for the majority of the film's laughs. The film is shot well, as all PTA films are, with flashing visuals that makes the most of its period costume and set design.

The narrative just drags the film down with an abundance of underdeveloped characters that leave the film feeling hollow overall. Featuring a fantastic performance from Phoenix and a brilliant soundtrack aren't enough to stop this from being PTA's worst film to date.