MovieChat Forums > Inherent Vice (2015) Discussion > Re: Doc's obsession with his feet

Re: Doc's obsession with his feet

posted 8 years ago by katiekeene
7 replies | jump to latest

What's the significance of Doc's examining and picking on his bare toes so often? He asks his girl friend (Reese Witherspoon) to kiss(?) his feet but she offers to bring over a pizza instead. Throughout the film, Doc spends a lot of time on his feet... *excuse the [great] pun.

Note: I enjoy reading the different analyses presented on this board regarding PTA alleged genius, his transference of Pynchon's novel onto film, "MKUltra" (I had to look it up ;) the hidden meanings and symbolism in Inherent Vice Thanks, guys.

katie keene

[–] Christopher_Smilax 8 years ago

He asks his girl friend (Reese Witherspoon) to kiss(?) his feet but she offers to bring over a pizza instead

In that scene, he asked her to wash his feet. But anyway, what's up with Doc's feet? I don't know. Probably just an added quirk to Doc's character.

Although, I did read somewhere that the fact that Doc's feet are so unusually dirty may have something to do with a pollution problem in the Californian waters back at that time. I could totally be getting that wrong, but I heard something of the sort. So for all we know, it could be an obscure addition for realism.

Howard Hughes was Italian?

[–] irishaspaddyspig 8 years ago

His girlfriend jokingly called him a dirty hippy. He walked around barefoot all the time.

It is just part of his counter culture behavior. He's is outside of society's expected norm.

"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

[–] katiekeene 8 years ago

Thanks for replies, guys

Re: C_S:

Although, I did read somewhere that the fact that Doc's feet are so unusually dirty may have something to do with a pollution problem in the Californian waters back at that time. I could totally be getting that wrong, but I heard something of the sort. So for all we know, it could be an obscure addition for realism.

I was in LA in '70s and a rain shortage affected water supply in CA, but I never remember being told to skip a daily shower. Believe it or not, in Bay Area, a social reminder was propagated to preserve water, "If yellow, let it mellow. If brown flush it down."(Yikes! but there it is.)
Hippies were known to be dirty but not due to pollution or a shortage of water. For them it was another way to be anti-Establishment. Like today, many were just anarchists. The hippy statement, rebellion movement, love-ins, drop-out culture ended with the 1969 Charles Manson murders. Charlie took the fun out of being a "flower child."

Howard Hughes was Italian?

What's that about? It's doubtful HH was 👀talian. ;)

katie keene

[–] irishaspaddyspig 8 years ago

The Howard Hughes comment was a misunderstanding of what Doc was being told. He was apparently unable to follow the thread of the conversation. Hippy Brain Fart.

"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

[–] taran-rod 8 years ago

"Although, I did read somewhere that the fact that Doc's feet are so unusually dirty may have something to do with a pollution problem in the Californian waters back at that time. I could totally be getting that wrong, but I heard something of the sort. So for all we know, it could be an obscure addition for realism."

That would be SO Kubrick like!!

[–] taran-rod 8 years ago

Didn't he ask her to bring soap to wash them??

[–] DepheatingRub 8 years ago

Obsession what? Did we see Doc pay attention to his feet more than twice? That doesn't seem like a lot.