Joaquin Phoenix: Shoot felt so real

Joaquin Phoenix said the experience of working with Paul Thomas Anderson was "dreamy".

The 40-year-old actor stars in the director's upcoming crime drama Inherent Vice, playing Los Angeles detective Larry 'Doc' Sportello who is investigating the disappearance of a former girlfriend. His co-star Josh Brolin has spoken about shooting the flick, describing it as "absolute f**king chaos every day" in a good way, and Joaquin has to agree.

"Well, Josh is the best. The best. Yeah, working with Paul is such an immersive experience. Everybody on set is so committed to that experience," he explained to Playboy magazine.

"It doesn’t feel like making a movie in some ways. Sometimes I don’t even fully understand how he does what he does - how he gets you in this feeling like you’re watching a movie rather than being in one. Some days you’re driving home and you go, 'Wow, wait - I know we were on that set, but what were we shooting today' It was dreamy."

The movie, based on the same-titled novel by Thomas Pynchon, was in the pipeline for many years before being brought to life. It was originally rumoured that Robert Downey Jr. would take on the lead role, but that isn't something which bothers Joaquin.

"When I get cast, I always think it’s because their first choice wasn’t available. Of course, who’s going to admit that to you'" he continued. "But I don’t have any problem with that. For me it’s like, just get in where you can. I remember I told Paul, 'Listen, man, I don’t want you to feel any obligation.' When we were filming I said the same thing, and he was like, ‘Yeah, no, I’ll fire you if you don’t...'"