This movie introduced me to a genre that has since become my favourite- the neo-noir black comedy crime buddy cop genre. And it’s got almost everything one looks for in a movie. It’s thrilling, rivetting, funny & tugs onto your heart strings at the same time without getting all melodramatic on you.
P.S. This movie also made me realize Ryan Gosling isn’t just lover boy, pretty boy material and actually possesses a cracking comic timing too.
The narrative of ‘The Nice Guys’ isn’t exactly linear which helps because its many twists and turns propel it and keep viewers enthralled and intrigued. In fact it would be near impossible to tell you the whole story without getting all tangled up myself but since this is a review, here’s just the gist- Porn star gets murdered, two private investigators bump into each other to team up to solve the crime & then they both fall down a rabbit hole of more crime. Also hilarity & a lot more chaos & murder ensues from there.
While the screenplay (as all Shane Black screenplays go) can get a tad mind boggling & hard to keep track of sometimes, the performances elevate this neo noir. Russell Crowe is brilliant as the witty wise cracking PI Jackson Healy, but Ryan Gosling steals the show as goofball PI Holland March. He is a funny, endearing character who is often brought down by his own alcoholism but isn’t a quitter. Angourie Rice as Holly March is a young talent to look out for.
The rest of the supporting cast do justice to their well rounded characters who for once aren’t just around to fill out a movie and have their own subplots which add to the already thrilling plot. The lighting, soundtrack & costumes also never let you forget that you’re taking a ride through the dark, dingy, yet heavily neon clad seventies era. Much like Black’s previous outing Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, there are also plenty of wtf moments and quotable witty zingers.
If you love crime capers that give off major 70s vibes while keeping you on the edge of your seats as well as highly entertained, this taut & unpredictable noir by Shane Black (honestly my favourite filmmakers in this genre) is a must watch.
Jinx Coolness' Cinephile Blog 
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