Beaks here...
Let's just take a moment and marvel at the cast Paul Thomas Anderson has brought together for his adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's INHERENT VICE. I mean, Anderson could've rounded up a group of unknowns and I'd still be stoked, but Joaquin Phoenix as a stoner detective and Benicio Del Toro as his attorney (sounds familiar) who gets him out of trouble? Sensational. Then add in Reese Witherspoon, Jena Malone, Owen Wilson and the great Martin Short in supporting roles? This is all getting very Altman in a hurry, and I like it.
I know Anderson's going to make this material his own, but I won't complain if he tips his cap just a little to Altman's THE LONG GOODBYE. I'm also really excited to see how he utilizes Short. It's evidently a small role, but Short doesn't need much space to take over a movie (just check out his flamboyant performance as Kevin Bacon's agent in THE BIG PICTURE). I have unreasonably high expectations for INHERENT VICE now.
