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    The Review Is In

    Stoned movie making bums out audiences: Inherent Vice an incoherent haze of a messy downer

    Alex Bentley
    Jan 10, 2015 | 3:03 pm

    Director Paul Thomas Anderson has always been known for his esoteric films. In fact, he’s probably the most well-known current filmmaker to have trafficked solely in films that aren’t aimed at mainstream audiences.

    Although the ads for his latest, Inherent Vice, make it seem like an accessible stoner comedy, it may be his most impenetrable film — and that’s saying something. At its center is Larry “Doc” Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix), a private eye and unabashed pothead in Southern California in 1970.

    Doc is brought into a web of intrigue by his former girlfriend, Shasta Fay Hepworth (Katherine Waterston), who wants his help in preventing the man with whom she’s having an affair, Mickey Wolfmann (Eric Roberts), from being committed to a mental institution by his wife.

    The ads for Inherent Vice make it seem like an accessible stoner comedy, but it may be Paul Thomas Anderson’s most impenetrable film — and that’s saying something.

    The rest of the film is a meandering and seemingly never-ending series of investigations by Doc. Each lead opens multiple doors, all of which he delves into while in a haze and being hounded by detective Christian “Bigfoot” Bjornsen (Josh Brolin). The film is also narrated in dense fashion by Doc’s friend Sortilege (Joanna Newsom), and her soporific droning does more to confuse matters than enlighten.

    Of course, the film is based on the book by Thomas Pynchon, who’s famous for his complex novels, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that the film is similarly complicated. But just because the source material is convoluted doesn’t mean that the story couldn’t have been adapted into something more understandable.

    What’s so frustrating about the film is that it does contain a multitude of undeniably hilarious moments, as if Anderson wants to tease us with his ability to appeal broadly before diving back in to more inscrutable matters. The funny scenes help keep the film moving when it threatens to get bogged down, but not enough to make up for the less interesting parts.

    At two-and-a-half hours, the film is comparable in length to other Anderson films like Boogie Nights, Magnolia and There Will Be Blood. The difference, at least in those first two films, is that they contained a massive number of characters that allowed for digressions into subplots without ever feeling like you were losing momentum. In Inherent Vice, each of Doc’s detours feels like he’s leading us further and further into a rabbit hole, one from which we can never get out.

    To his credit, Phoenix keeps Doc appealing throughout so that we want to see him succeed in his quest, whatever that may be. He’s no Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski, but Phoenix holds his own. Brolin, Waterston and appearances from the likes of Maya Rudolph, Martin Short and Reese Witherspoon also rescue the film at times.

    But no amount of acting prowess can save Inherent Vice from its tedious fate. Anderson may have known exactly what he wanted to accomplish with the film, but he failed to translate it.

    Katherine Waterston's Shasta Fay Hepworth is the impetus for Doc's meandering quest in Inherent Vice.

    Katherine Waterston and Joaquin Phoenix in Inherent Vice
    Photo by Wilson Webb
    Katherine Waterston's Shasta Fay Hepworth is the impetus for Doc's meandering quest in Inherent Vice.
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    where to party on NYE

    Close out 2025 with a bang at these Houston New Year's Eve parties

    Craig Lindsey
    Dec 29, 2025 | 12:45 pm
    Meow Wolf Houston New Year's Eve
    Photo by Cathlin McCullough
    Experience sets by four DJs at Meow Wolf.

    Whether 2025 has been good or bad, you owe it to yourself to end this year with a bang. And that’s why your friends at CultureMap have laid out more than 20 places – bars, pubs, nightclubs, even a children’s museum – that’ll be closing out 2025 in a grand, festive manner.

    Happy New Year, and drink as much bubbly as you can reasonably consume — just leave the driving to someone else:

    Art Club’s first NYE will feature one of their favorite artists from this year: Neon Indian. Expect an unpredictable sonic journey with an artist who crafts immersive DJ sets that weave deep cuts, vintage textures, and dancefloor energy. 10 pm.

    Axelrad will have a free NYE bash with a champagne toast, a midnight cash ball drop, and live music from bands Azul and Rupert & Friends, as well as DJ sets from Rikkiton, Eleven Toes Down, and IYKYK. Shop Local Market will also be there with vendors. 7 pm.

    Bar Boheme will get the New Year started with Rudy Rincon & GRUPO KACHE, delivering infectious rhythms that'll have people dancing all night long. They’ll also have an all-you-can-eat buffet until 10 pm, a champagne toast with grapes, and more. 7 pm.

    Best Regards will transform into a full winter wonderland/Alps-inspired Après-Ski lounge for “An Après Affair.” For this champagne-forward celebration (complete with DJ-led energy building to a midnight toast), faux fur, metallics, and "Alpine-chic" attire are encouraged. 8 pm.

    Children’s Museum Houston will throw its annual NYE-during-the-day bash for kids, where they’ll be counting down until the clock strikes noon. The first 200 children will receive “Happy New Year” necklaces to kick off the celebration. 9 am.

    Constellation Field in Sugar Land will host a midnight fireworks display as part of its Sugar Land Holiday Lights display. Adults (21-plus) can upgrade to the New Year's Eve Ball in the Regions Bank Club that includes an open bar, DJ, a champagne toast, and premium seating for the fireworks. 6 pm.

    Dan Electro’s will be mixing vibes, funk, world reggae, and rock & roll for a New Year's concert in the Heights. Bayou City Funk, demrootsmusic, and Charlie Danger’s Jet Set will play the music, while champagne will be available for purchase. 8:30 pm.

    The Flat will be opening its doors to partygoers looking to ring in the New Year with Jamaican grooves. For this NYE edition of “Reggae Wednesday,” Flabba Dabba and KingFari will be spinning tunes while Caribbean food will be available on the patio. 9 pm.

    Flying Saucer Draught Emporium will have its third annual, interactive murder-mystery event on NYE. Ticket holders get access to the mystery and a complimentary welcome beer or cocktail, as well as private dining and access to their cocktail and reserve beer menu. 7 pm.

    The Foundation Room at House of Blues will get real soulful with “If It Don't Feel Like 90s RnB: New Year's Eve Edition.” Host/local R&B vocalist Keith Jacobs will be providing the vocals, while The Ken Chatham Project serves up the sounds. 9 pm.

    Grooves of Houston will throw a “Tux & Tennies” party, where dressing up in your finest evening wear (complete with fresh fly kicks) is a requirement. There will be a midnight cash balloon drop, a champagne toast, a brunch buffet, and much more. 8 pm.

    Heights Social will be the starting point for the Heights NYE celebration on W. 20th St. For $60 (and two drinks), you can skip the line and check out the parties at Heights Social, BLVD Park, Say No Mas, and Cattlemen’s Country Club. 8 pm.

    Hotel Saint Augustine will be throwing a free soiree in their listening lounge. Described as an evening “filled with elegance and indulgence,” with a complimentary midnight toast. But, to be honest, they had us at “music, decadent caviar, and truffles.” 9 pm.

    Hotel ZaZa Memorial City will roll out the red carpet for a Hollywood-style NYE, so dress to impress. Wine, beer and cocktails will be flowing, with a bubbly toast popping off at midnight. There will also be live entertainment and a hors d'oeuvres station. 10 pm.

    Houston Museum of Natural Science will ring in the New Year with “Mixers and Elixirs: New Year's Eve.” Enjoy live music from Danny Ray and the Atlantic Street Band, and catch a screening of Ocean’s Eleven (2001) in the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre. 9 pm.

    McGonigel’s Mucky Duck continues its tradition of celebrating Irish New Year’s Eve, where they get their “Auld Lang Syne” on at 6 pm. Pat Byrne, Kristopher Wade, EJ Jones, and Frances Cunningham will be around with some fiddle music. 4:30 pm.

    Meow Wolf Houston will have its first-ever NYE celebration inside Radio Tave, giving guests full access to explore the worlds while moving through distinct DJ-driven zones. The lineup features Houston artists Machine Elves, IMAX713, PHARAX, and KINOTE. 8 pm.

    Neil’s Bahr will be adding something new to their annual NYE rager – karaoke! At their new location, partygoers will get the chance to sing their heads off. The party will also offer cheap champagne, classic cocktails, silly hats, and all the free hors d'oeuvres you can handle. 8 pm.

    Numbers will serve up another NYE spectacular, which includes a $2,026 balloon drop at midnight, along with a champagne toast, and complimentary party favors. Longtime Numbers DJ Wes Wallace will be in the booth spinning. 9 pm.

    Off the Record Listening Bar is planning a big New Year's bash with live sets from Keith Jacobs (again) & the B-Sides Band, DJ Ortiz, DJ Youngstreetz, and FlemmDoggyDogg. A welcome cocktail is given to the first 50 RSVPs. 8 pm.

    Pimlico Irish Pub will continue its tradition of celebrating NYE on Ireland time, when the clock strikes midnight at 6 pm. They will have complimentary swag, a champagne toast, and a livestream of the Ireland NYE celebration. 2 pm.

    POST’s New Year's Eve Celebration features a Great Gatsby-inspired celebration of glitz, glamour and over-the-top excitement. The grand finale will be a midnight fireworks spectacle orchestrated by pyrotechnic artists Celestial Displays. 9 pm.

    Shoeshine Charley’s Big Top Lounge will have a NYE bash with performances by rockabilly group Shame on Me, synth-punk rockers TV Dolls, and Americana band Brightwire. There will also be a free champagne toast at midnight. 8 pm.

    The Spot Lounge & Bar will celebrate NYE with its signature welcoming energy, music, handcrafted cocktails, and bubbly. A limited-edition, holiday cocktail lineup features festive twists on classics, blending bold seasonal flavors with approachable comfort. 2 pm.

    Tejas Brewery will be celebrating the New Year with a rooftop shindig. Your ticket includes a free first beer and a champagne toast at midnight, as well as live music (from brotherly rock trio Wolf Moon) all night and a great view of the downtown fireworks. 8 pm.

    Velocity - Sim Racing Lounge will have a special, family-friendly celebration. They’ll be hosting an exclusive ticketed event featuring unlimited sim racing, a live DJ, goodies throughout the night, light bites and, of course, that midnight champagne toast. 7 pm.

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