Inherent Vice is a 2014 American neo-noir movie based on Thomas Pynchon's 2009 novel of the same name, and written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. It follows a stoner hippie investigating the case related to his ex-girlfriend and her wealthy boyfriend. The cast includes Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Katherine Waterston, Eric Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, Benicio del Toro, Jena Malone, Joanna Newsom, Jeannie Berlin, Maya Rudolph, Michael K. Williams and Martin Short. The movie had a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 12, 2014. It had mixed responses with critics liking Phoenix's performance and disliking the plot.