Nice Guys – Film Review by Anthony McDonagh

Director: Shane Black
Writers: Shane Black, Anthony Bagarozzi
Stars: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice

It is almost rote, I think, to begin a film review with the names of the leading actors. ‘The Nice Guys’ is the kind of film that reminds you why it is that you should be doing it. Gosling and Crowe deliver iconic performances in this crime dramedy. They’re the kind of performances you’re not likely to forget and they’re worth mentioning. They’re worth being the first thing you mention.

Both actors do a great job at conveying their characters’ personalities pretty quickly.  Holland March (Gosling) is the kind of guy who’ll start a job but never finish it.  Meanwhile Healy (Crowe) will do whatever it takes, as long as he’s paid. When a client shows up seven dollars short, he is unwilling to carry out what he has been paid for: intimidation.

Actually, the director, Shane Black, establishes the characters so well that it seems strange that he felt the need to rely on some tired voiceover and flashbacks towards the beginning of the film to try hammer the points home. However, these techniques are quickly abandoned and the remainder of the film goes largely unimpeded by such lazy storytelling. If not forgotten, these techniques are at least forgiven by the audience as Black almost immediately sends us hurtling deep into this neo-noir crime adventure, with gunshots and laughter waiting around every corner.

The film takes place in the year 1977 with the death of a pornography star, Misty Mountains. Private detective March is hired by the star’s aunt to investigate. Meanwhile, enforcer Healy has been hired by a young woman, Amelia, to stop March’s investigation. When both men find themselves in trouble—they form an unlikely partnership to get to the bottom of Amelia’s connection with Misty Mountains.

The film’s ability to effortlessly segue between drama and comedy is one of the driving factors behind the film’s charm. Black can undercut the most tense scenes with comedy, completely disarming the viewer.  It is surreal, it is slapstick and it works.  However, even in the silliest scenes of the film, we’re constantly aware of the dangers surrounding our two leads. That only makes it better. One of the stand-out scenes of the film takes place in an elevator. In the hotel, bullets fly, people scream, a body falls from the floor above. March and Healy stand, awkward observers, silent as they ride the glass elevator.

The performances of Crowe and Gosling are brilliant and their chemistry undeniable. However, it would be remiss of me not to mention the performance of Angourie Rice who plays the character of Holly, March’s daughter. Rice is perfectly capable of holding her own in scenes with these two stars. Her character adds another dimension to the relationship between the two men. It is refreshing to see a buddy film that doesn’t exclude female characters (or have them solely as romantic interests). Rice’s character works in that she is as complex and interesting as the other characters in the film. Yes, she’s smart but she’s never portrayed as wise beyond her years. Ultimately, the character is still a child and we believe that throughout. The character does not question the verisimilitude of the world presented to us and I think that’s somewhat rare in films where a child is part of the ‘adult’ world.

The film is incredibly well crafted and it is a credit to Black. The plot is simple and doesn’t require too much thinking. It serves its purpose of keeping the pace of the film moving. The depth of the characters, and the performances by the actors, add richness to the film. It doesn’t take itself too seriously but it doesn’t let itself become too laughable either. Black has succeeded in striking a delicate balance. It’s seriously funny and a highly commendable summer flick.