Paul Thomas Anderson is often regarded as one of the greatest auteurs presently working in Hollywood, but that doesn't necessarily mean that his work doesn't polarise opinion at every turn. Indeed, his last film, The Master, was hailed - in something close to equal measure - as both a masterpiece and a travesty, depending on who saw it. So Inherent Vice, Anderson's latest picture, comes to us in a similar way: whilst some are declaring it as another masterwork from the man who brought us Boogie Nights, others left the movie theatre feeling a tad disappointed. You can understand why, given the premise and the talent involved. Based on the Thomas Pynchon novel of the same name, Inherent Vice stars Joaquin Phoenix as a hippie private detective who winds up investigating the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend's boyfriend. Most of the criticisms aimed at Inherent Vice were targeted at its lack of coherence and alienating density. But this is a picture - like so many P.T. Anderson pictures - that improves vastly with a second viewing. And given its murky nature, it seems only fair that folk give it another chance before making their minds up.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.