Writer/Director: Shane Black
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe, Angourie Rice
‘Captivating Comedy’
Few actors in Hollywood have built a career as long-lasting as Ryan Gosling. Following his rise to stardom during the 1990’s, Gosling has proven to be one of the most successful actors in the film industry. With his charming personality, commanding presence and musical talents, Gosling has gained a huge fan following. One of the actor’s greatest strengths is his aptitude for humor. Gosling has always excelled at making audiences laugh through his perfect comic timing. He has always had a natural talent for comedy that has resulted in unforgettable performances in movies.
Gosling’s strengths as an actor with a natural talent for evoking humor are clearly evident in “The Nice Guys”. Shane Black’s film is a comedic murder mystery that finds the actor at the peak of his craft. Boasting exquisite production-design, sharp storytelling and phenomenal performances, it’s one of the actor’s greatest films. Although it makes for a nice viewing, “The Nice Guys” isn’t a flawless film. It builds towards a formulaic conclusion. Nevertheless, it offers old-fashioned entertainment that would please fans of detective dramas.
Set in 1970’s Los Angeles, “The Nice Guys” follows a pair of detectives that are tasked to investigate the murder of a famous adult actress.
Director Shane Black is no stranger to the detective genre. His previous film “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” investigated a pair of detectives solving a murder in Los Angeles. With “The Nice Guys”, however, Black crafted his first period piece. Through captivating cinematography, Black captures a pair of detectives solving a murder in the 1970’s. Each shot is a feast for the eyes. The visuals beautifully capture the time period of the 1970’s through clever use of montages.
One of the strongest aspects of the movie is the writing. Black has always excelled at creating compelling characters through witty dialogue, and his strengths are clearly evident in this film. The dialogue is sharp, witty and comical. Inspired with Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction”, Black expertly uses the dialogue to capture the bond between a pair of buddies in Los Angeles. It keeps viewers captivated in the film for its entire running-time.
It’s hard to not praise the powerful cast performances.
Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe deliver phenomenal performances as a pair of mismatched detectives investigating a murder. Gosling is at the top of his game, showcasing a comedic side to his acting that audiences have never seen before. Crowe is equally excellent in a comical role that marks a departure from his usual serious characters. The two actors build captivating chemistry together keeping viewers engaged in the central mystery.
If there’s a minor drawback to the movie, it suffers from a formulaic conclusion. It’s a conventional shoot-em-up ending that has become a staple of the detective genre. Whereas this ending elevated Curtis Hanson’s “L.A. Confidential”, it detracts from this movie. For a film that is otherwise so surprising in every way, the ending feels like a let-down.
Nevertheless, fans of detective dramas will definitely appreciate “The Nice Guys” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. At a time when Ryan Gosling remains one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood, it’s a hilarious reminder of his abilities to surprise by playing nice guys whose comedic talents mesmerize.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 
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