Buddy cop films have come a long way haven't they? In 2016, Warner Bros. Pictures will be releasing two of the four buddy cop films this year: "The Nice Guys" and "Central Intelligence". While there aren't many similarities between the two, it's comforting to know that the genre will not take a dive in popularity. Disney's "Zootopia", which is considered to be a buddy cop film, raked in $971.5 million worldwide and both "Ride Along" films have made $100+ million each. Clearly the box office has shown that audiences still have a hunger for more buddy cop films and will continue to support other entries in the genre. "The Nice Guys" pairs up a tough enforcer with a hapless private eye as "Lethal Weapon" writer Shane Black directs the feature film with Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling as the main leads. The two actors have never worked together before but judging from the viral marketing campaign that started early this year, it is clear that Crowe and Gosling have a palpable chemistry together and Black has proven himself to be a formidable force of nature when it comes to his screenplays. With all this in mind, how nice is "The Nice Guys"?
"The Nice Guys" stars Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer, Margaret Qualley, Keith David and Kim Basinger, and is directed by Shane Black. In 1977 Los Angeles, a hired enforcer, Jackson Healy (played by Russell Crowe), teams up with a miserable private detective, Holland March (played by Ryan Gosling), to solve the case of a missing girl, Amelia Kuttner (played by Margaret Qualley), who is surprisingly linked to an even larger mystery that the two "brave" men have to unravel to save Amelia's life. As you leave the theater, you'll notice a wide grin on your face as the film leaves you with such a wonderful impression. It's nice to say that "The Nice Guys" is, so far, the best film of 2016 and is also one of the funniest comedies in the past decade. Shane Black's sharp writing and nostalgic visuals along with sizzling chemistry between Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling make this a very special film. The kind of magnetic chemistry that only comes once every few years. Everything from the dialogue, acting, music, costume/set design and cinematography were all executed very meticulously in a manner that almost made you feel as if they shot 1970's L.A. with digital cameras.
Every buddy cop film needs a great duo and the unpredictable pairing of Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling gave birth to magic on screen. The way the bounce of each other and work together in the film lead to some of the funniest moments in recent memory. Some may point out the similarities between Crowe and Ryan to Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer in Shane Black's film debut "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang", which was also a buddy cop film.
In the nearly three decades Russell Crowe has worked as an actor in films, he has never tackled a full blown comedy before (at least not an America one). The rich writing behind the character of Jackson Healy along with what Crowe brings to the table makes for some amazing banter against Ryan Gosling's character, Holland March. Crowe definitely feels so at home in the 1970's Los Angeles setting that Shane Black has carefully crafted and always commanded the screen with power and strength. While in most buddy cop films, you pair two people who are very different from each other, Jackson Healy isn't too far away from Holland March. They both share very similar characteristics and don't really contrast one another throughout most of the film. Although taking different approaches in what they do, both Healy and March are made to be more human than most buddy cop film characters, which was an appreciated touch. Bringing their talents together in the film, Healy and Holland's relationship and eventual partnership is what makes the film so endearing and Crowe brings that to life without any sense of falsity.
Most mainstream audiences would associate Ryan Gosling with films like "The Notebook" or "Crazy Stupid Love". Film fans may refer to "Drive", "The Ides of March", "The Place Beyond the Pines", "Only God Forgives" and, most recently, "The Big Short" when referring to his body of work. Gosling has made a name for himself for choosing several critically acclaimed projects in the past few years and now with writer/director Shane Black, Holland March could soon become one of the best characters Gosling has ever played. Being the funny man to Crowe's straight man, Gosling is able to stretch all the funny bones in his body and inevitably makes his hilarious performance in "Crazy Stupid Love" virtually insignificant. His comedic timing along with Shane Black's impeccable dialogue will have you laughing in your seats and quoting his lines for days. Although the character is very humorous and light-hearted, there is a more human side to Holland March that Shane Black cleverly adds to the film's screenplay. Much like Mel Gibon's character in "Lethal Weapon", Martin Riggs, March is a broken human being and his more somber traits are masked with layers of comedic relief that services the film very well. Never pandering and never bothersome, Ryan Gosling was down right amazing as Holland March in "The Nice Guys".
While Crowe and Gosling are stellar in their roles, Angourie Rice as Holly March was the most shocking and unexpected performance in the entire film. Rice, with her confidence and charm, stole every scene she was in and was able to hold her own against two Academy Award nominated actors, one of which won Best Actor in 2001. Similar to Chloë Grace Moretz's stunning debut in 2010's "Kick-Ass", Rice was able to captivate the adult audience with her dry wit and her innocence. Being integral to the plot, it was important for her character to be an annoyance to the film and sadly most child actors don't have the talent or understanding to make their performances real. But it seems that Rice knew exactly what Shane Black wanted in his film and understood who her character was. If she continues to work at this pace, she will be the next rising star to look out for. A shockingly marvelous performance that alone is worth the price of admission.
Being the spark that lead to a massive flame, Margaret Qualley brings a fiery quality to the beautiful and illusive Amelia Kutner who gets Healy and March into a whole lot of trouble. Because her case is the mystery that our dynamic duo have to solve, knowing her background or motivations will give away key elements to the film's plot so knowing almost nothing about Amelia Kutner would be the best way to view "The Nice Guys". Margaret Qualley, your future is looking bright.
No matter how you look at "The Nice Guys", it is, without a doubt, a Shane Black film. From the writing to the characters to the absurdity of it all, this is his world and we are here for the ride. This has to be the best screenplays of 2016 and one of the writer/director's personal best. Moment to moment, it is consistently funny and also, at times, very heartwarming and touching. The mixture of extreme violence, hilarious jokes and actual human emotion is something that Black does so incredibly well and "The Nice Guys" displays his talents with full force. He has never been sharper or more on top of his game.
In a time when most comedy directors have no idea how to shoot a proper action scene, Shane Black waltzes in and proceeds to spit on their poorly edited and poorly shot action scenes. Each set piece in "The Nice Guys" is executed and coordinated to perfection. The camera never shakes to hide the fight choreography the actors and stuntmen are pulling off. The fistfights are aggressive and brutal, nothing fancy in this film. Each hit feels like it has such an impact to it. And the shoot outs are also done with great impact. Done in the typical 80's style filming (while set in the 70's), it really did feel like watching a classic action film from the Schwarzenegger days.
With this great nostalgic 70's setting, "The Nice Guys" marks the first Shane Black has ever attempted a period piece. This film greatly captures the look and feel of the 1970's with its classic cinematography and color palette along with the beautiful, and sometimes comical, costume and set design. Academy Award winning French cinematographer Philippe Rousselot worked meticulously with Black to create a fully realized setting that never felt fake or fantastical. The reality of the scenery and costumes added a whole new layer to the film, making it much more than a simple romp.
What a marvelous film. "The Nice Guys" is a reminder that comedies can be intelligent and doesn't have to rely on immature jokes. The humor in the film is what makes it so charming but it is not what makes it brilliant. What makes this film great are the characters and the complexities Shane Black gives to them in order to make them real people and not just two obviously scripted characters from a magical version of the 1970's. This is a one of a kind picture that only a director like Shane Black could bring to us in the year 2016. It is also very admirable to see Warner Bros. Pictures taking such a risk with this film. Although very funny and easily recommendable, it's a film that's not guaranteed to rake in all the cash. Thank you, Warner Bros., for giving us quality over quantity. And now that the film is out nationwide, you all should rush out to see this great film in theaters that absolutely deserves a perfect 10 out of 10.
Go see it in theaters today!
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