First Look at Joaquin Phoenix and Josh Brolin in P.T. Anderson's 'Inherent Vice'

There are certainly no shortage of major films rounding out the year but for many, myself included, it's Paul Thomas Anderson's Inherent Vice that is expected to top them all. In one of his quicker turnarounds to date, Anderson has been screening the zany crime comedy to select audiences (why am I not on this list?) and the buzz has earned comparisons to The Big Lebowski, The Long Goodbye, and even Cheech & Chong. So yeah, this one's sounding pretty crazy, and now we have a first look at the incredible cast Anderson has gathered to be a part of it.

Warner Bros. has released the first official image from Inherent Vice, and it features a mutton-chopped Joaquin Phoenix and flat-topped Josh Brolin. Based on the Thomas Pyncheon novel set in psychedelic '60s Los Angeles, the film centers on private eye Doc Sportello and a confusing case involving his ex-girlfriend, her billionaire boyfriend, murderous loan sharks, surfers, and drugs, of course.

Opening in limited release on December 12th before expanding January 9th 2015, Inherent Vice also stars Owen Wilson, Katherine Waterston, Reese Witherspoon, Benicio Del Toro, Martin Short, Jena Malone, Maya Rudolph, and Eric Roberts. [EW]