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| Image Source: imdb.com |
Set in 1970’s Los Angeles, Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe
star as two private investigators who, after discovering links between
suspicious cases, begin looking in to the apparent suicide of a fading porn
star.
Ryan Gosling plays ‘Holland March’, a licensed private eye
while Russell Crowe’s ‘Jackson Healy’ is much more of an enforcer, the man you
call to scare of the person that is following you. Through different events the
two cross paths and realise that they separate cases they’ve been hired for are
linked. The two characters have different personalities, different backgrounds,
different issues, but together are a cool, stylish and hilarious team. The Nice Guys is action packed but at
its heart it is driven by the layered characters. We aren’t just shown two
obviously mismatched characters a ’la Rush Hour because on the surface ‘Mr
March’ and ‘Jackson Healy’ aren’t so different. It’s throughout the plot that
past events and underlying baggage is revealed, displaying to the audience why
the two make a mismatched but brilliant team.
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| Image Source: imdb.com |
I love Ryan Gosling in comedy, ‘Mr March’ seems made for him
as he shows of his perfect comedic timing. Its also refreshing to see Russell
Crowe in a role like this, making a detour from the dramatic roles we’ve seen
previously. While he may not be the main source of comic relief out of the two nice guys, he shines in the moments
where he has some fun flexing his comedy muscles. Another stand out was
Angourie Rice’s ‘Holly March’. Holland March’s thirteen year old daughter, she
is a key player in the plot. It can be risky to throw a young character into
such an adult setting but Holly is wise, quick-witted and relevant enough to be
a truly useful element in the story.
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| Image Source: imdb.com |
While the titular Nice Guys are the main selling point, the
intriguing crime and mystery components should not be overlooked. They are
rich, developed with conspiracy, clues and an equally cool ‘bad guy’ in the
form of Matt Bomer’s ‘John Boy’. The writing and direction of Shane Black is
smart and genuinely funny. It avoids predictable jokes and cheap punches.
The Nice Guys is a 70’s throwback that is bursting with originality.
From the writing, performances and fully realised setting, it is deserving of a
lot of attention this month.
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