Paul Thomas Anderson (The Master) does Pynchon (Thomas) in this, a groovy, funny mystery set in 1970, during the dying days of free love. The zig zagging story follows weed and beach-loving private detective Doc (Joaquin Phoenix sporting tremendous side burns) who takes on a case for a troubled ex-girlfriend, nosing his way into a conspiracy involving Chinatown-like land grabs and a shadowy consortium called the Golden Fang. His journey involves a great mash of corrupt cops, druggies, new age cultists, hookers, Nazi bikers, Black Power toughs, real estate tycoons and vampiric hit men. With the likes of Josh Brolin, Martin Short, Reese Witherspoon , Benicio del Toro and Owen Wilson as just some of the great supporting cast, it’s best to leave the plot at that. It has the same loose, easy feel of 1973’s The Long Goodbye, and is unapologetically weird: just embrace it. As the Telegraph said in their five star review, this is “blissed-out bamboozlement” of the highest order. Enjoy!

• The evening screenings of Inherent Vice on Tue 10 Feb are part of our Cinébites deal: get a cinema ticket, veggie or meat lasagne, and a drink (wine/beer or soft drink) for only £15.

Ticket prices: Screenings before 16:00: £5.50 full / £4.00 concessions. Screenings after 16:00: £8.00 full / £6.50 concessions.

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