I've watched
The Nice Guys
(2016)
two times
in the last week.
Written and directed
by Shane Black
(Last Action Hero,
Lethal Weapon, Iron Man 3)
and starring
Ryan Gosling
and Russell Crowe,
the film draws
a great deal of comparisons
(in a good way)
to Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
(2005), which I often
said was Shane Black's opus.
Now, with The Nice Guys,
that opinion might change.
Similar in tone
i.e. murder, mystery,
sharp-witted comedy,
the two complement each other
very nicely. I couldn't
tell you which of the two
I prefer, but both
are damn fine films.
I think the cinematography
and color palette is stronger
with The Nice Guys,
but both have near perfect
stories to tell.
Without giving anything
away, the film takes
place in the 1970s
in California, and it revolves
around two private eyes,
one who is drunk
the entire film (Gosling)
and one who is stone
cold sober the whole time
(Crowe). They try
to track down a woman
and rest is left for you
to discover on your own.
Visually stunning,
hilarious, and an entertaining
action packed thrill ride.
If I had three thumbs,
I'd give it three thumbs up.
Shout-out again
to Shane Black
for also writing the screenplay
for The Long Kiss Goodnight
and The Last Boy Scout.
He might be the king
of the action screenplay.
