The Nice Guys

When it comes to the buddy crime film, Shane Black is one of the experts in that category. Films like “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ and the first “Lethal Weapon” are proof of that, showcasing both his clever dialogue and striking vision for action. And with his new film, “The Nice Guys,” I’m sure there’s no sign of him losing his mojo anytime soon.

In 1970’s Los Angeles, Jackson Healy, as a hired enforcer, and Holland March, a Private I, have a business connection with a girl named Amelia. When the two discover this, it leads to a case dealing with political greed, business over family, and pornography…that last part, I didn’t make up.

            After watching this, “The Nice Guys” is easily one of the year’s best films. One of the main reasons this film works is the two main leads. Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling have excellent chemistry and work off of each other so well. Every scene that these two share on screen, it’s hard to keep your attention on just one of them. Crowe’s tough and straightforward attitude, colliding with Gosling’s smart-mouth and cowardly persona is what makes most of the comedy. If they had any other duo working with this script, it might not have worked effectively.

            And it’s not just those two who are great; the supporting cast is also very solid. Angourie Rice, in particular, gave quite a standout performance as Gosling’s daughter, Holly. In any other kind of buddy crime film, the kid character thrown in is dull, annoying, and doesn’t add anything worthwhile to the story, except to pad it out. This is not the case with Holly. Holly is a smartass, quick thinker, and does contribute to how the story plays out, even inheriting certain traits from her father in desperate situations. In other words, she actually fits in with the movie. Rice really did a good job in this film, and I’m hoping to see her do more work in films like these. We also get some great villain performances from Matt Bomer, Margaret Qualley, Keith David, Beau Knapp, and even Kim Basinger.

            While the cast was good, and they all gave good performances, how was the story? It’s actually pretty well thought out, and very interesting. I mean, a political corruption case mixed in with the porn business; what’s not to like? It is a very tight mystery that unfolds nicely as you watch, and at the same time will have you laughing at some of the absurd situations and lines. Or, maybe it’ll keep you entertained by its high quality action scenes. Shane Black is one of those directors that can deliver a great mixture of comedy and action so well, that you’d be begging to work with this guy, even as an extra.

            Overall, if you haven’t seen “The Nice Guys” yet, go out and do so. The comedy is great, the action is solid, the characters are very likable, and the story is very investing. It’s one of the best films of the year, and I’m looking forward to buying it on blu-ray.

Rating: 10/10