If you aren’t aware, and based on box office numbers most of you aren’t, “The Nice Guys” is a movie from 2016 starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling in a throwback to 1970s action films. Written and Directed by Shane Black, who built his career on writing these kinds of Odd Couple action movies (The Last Boy Scout, Lethal Weapons 1-4, and The Long Kiss Goodnight).
Set in 1970s Los Angeles, it’s a story about a licensed private detective Holland March (Gosling) who takes up a case to investigate an assumed suicide of a pornographic film actress. As his investigation begins he runs into unlicensed local tough guy Jackson Healy(Crowe) as his investigation leads into someone Healy is protecting they quickly realize there’s a much deeper story to this case than they realize, mostly involving Yoo Hoo and local gangsters. It leads them into the LA porn scene, national politics, car makers, and the lengths all groups will go to try and continue their success.
The story mixes in aspects of LA classics, including LA Confidential and Chinatown along with lots of the witty banter Shane Black scripts are known for. You’ll also recognize a young Angourie Rice (Spiderman Far From Home, Mean Girls) as Gosling’s daughter who consistently aids the investigation by providing information or by spurring on her dad when she calls him “The world’s worst private detective.” Matt Bomer, possibly the most handsome man alive, and Keith David, possibly the best voice alive, also appear in the movie.
It also re-unites Crowe with his LA Confidential co-star Kim Basinger, who plays someone who is in charge of the local Justice Department office and hires the duo as part of the film’s plot.
This Saturday night please consider this wonderful and entertaining film, two words that can’t be used to describe Austin FC this season.
“The Nice Guys” is currently available on Netflix.