2012 was an amazing year for Joaquin Phoenix. His collaboration with director Paul Thomas Anderson in 'The Master' won him a great deal of acclaim, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Obviously not one to ignore a successful formula, Phoenix is in talks to re-team with Anderson for 'Inherent Vice.' The new film will be based on the Thomas Pynchon novel of the same name. The story is described as equal parts noir and psychedelic comedy; centering on stoner private eye Doc Sportello whose estranged girlfriend gets him embroiled in a kidnapping plot. Anderson will adapt the novel for the screen in addition to directing. Phoenix replaces Robert Downey Jr., who was originally attached to the project. At the moment, 'Inherent Vice' does not have a start date.

I'm happy for Joaquin Phoenix. As much as the overall movie itself left me a little cold, a first in my experience with PT Anderson's work, I have to lend major props to Phoenix's recklessly powerful performance in 'The Master.' He threw himself headlong into that violently unstable character and the result was something fascinating and dangerous. I'm interested to see what another collaboration with Anderson will yield. All that said, I can't tell you how disappointed I am that Robert Downey, Jr. is no longer playing the lead here. This story sounds like a wonderfully weird film noir, and given how exceptional Downey proved to be in Shane Black's 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,' it would have been fantastic to see him tackle another off-the-wall crime story. However, if there is one performer who seems to exist on his own planet, it's Joaquin Phoenix. Therefore I'm sure he will do quite will with the forays into the psychedelic headspace of this character. Here's hoping this gets under way soon.

What do you guys think? Does this project interest you? Are you happy Phoenix is aboard or would you have preferred RDJ?

Source:Variety