First INHERENT VICE trailer previews some Pynchon madness via Paul Thomas Anderson

Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice teased with first trailer

Media outlets have been lapping up any snippet from the upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson-directed adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s novel Inherent Vice that has surfaced in recent weeks, so it’s nice to finally get a great first trailer. Everything’s neon lights and quirkiness on the surface, but buried in there somewhere looks to be a strange, sobering punch to the gut delivered expertly as only Anderson can. Given the time period, crazy cast of characters, and underlying oddness of it all, it wouldn’t be surprising if comparisons to Boogie Nights are made until the film hits theaters.

Watch the wacky first trailer for Inherent Vice after the jump.

Those mutton chops are superb. Again, there’s a moment in there when all the silliness takes a breath and something serious peaks its head through, and that’s pretty great.

In case you’re not familiar with the Pynchon novel or the film adaptation, here’s a plot synopsis for Inherent Vice:

Inherent Vice is the seventh feature from Paul Thomas Anderson and the first film adaption of a Thomas Pynchon novel. When P.I. Doc Sportello’s ex-old lady shows up with a story about her current billionaire land developer boyfriend and a plot by his wife and her boyfriend to kidnap that billionaire and throw him in a looney bin… well, easy for her to say. It’s the tail end of the `60s, paranoia is running the day and Doc knows that “love” is one of those words going around, like “trip” or “groovy,” that’s way too overused–except this one usually leads to trouble. With a cast of characters that includes surfers, hustlers, dopers and rockers, a murderous loan shark, LAPD Detectives, a tenor sax player working undercover and a mysterious entity known as the Golden Fang, which may only be a tax dodge set up by some dentists… Part surf noir, part psychedelic romp–all Thomas Pynchon.

Inherent Vice sees the likes of Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Reese Witherspoon, Jena Malone, Eric Roberts, Owen Wilson, Benicio Del Toro, Michael K. Williams, Maya Rudolph, and Martin Short playing it up as Pynchon characters brought to life. While the movie won’t see wide theatrical release until January 9, 2015, it’ll play soon at the New York Film Festival and then see limited release as soon as December 12, 2014.