One of the nice things about watching a lot of movies is being able to differentiate one filmmaker’s style from another, be it in the way they write their dialogue or how they film their scenes. Similar to how people can listen to a symphonic work and tell who the composer is, the same can be done with certain film directors and writers. One of the more underrated but extremely respected talents working today is Shane Black, known as one of the more creative writers out there. The problem with being underrated however, is that when you release a new movie more than likely only your already established fans will care. This is a shame, because Black’s latest effort, The Nice Guys, is well worth a look from fans and casual viewers alike.
Black, writer of Lethal Weapon, director of Iron Man 3 and the vastly underrated Kiss Kiss Bang Bang with Robert Downey Jr and Val Kilmer, wrote and directed The Nice Guys, a homage to classic noir and detective stories. Released earlier this summer, the film came and went from theaters with disappointingly little fanfare. Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling star as private detectives in 1977 Los Angeles who team up to investigate a missing girl mixed up in a shady situation with even shadier people.
The Nice Guys has all the makings of a classic Shane Black film – the story is set in Los Angeles around two somewhat bumbling detectives who stumble upon a case bigger than they expected. There’s witty banter back and forth between partners, unexpected and humorous action sequences and many tough guy voiceovers. One of Black’s best skills is taking a scene in a vastly different direction than the audience would believe it’s going, thus keeping the viewer on his or her toes, and he uses this misdirection very effectively throughout the movie. Crowe and Gosling make a great team, with the former playing more the straight man for the latter. Quick side note – it’s seriously incredible that Ryan Gosling is that handsome, and still so incredible not only as an actor, but as a comedic actor as well. He steals scene after scene in the film and will rarely fail to make you laugh.
The Nice Guys isn’t necessarily Black’s greatest work, but it’s a smart, funny and fresh homage to old-fashioned detective stories. If you need a break from reboots and sequels and want something fresh, then treat yourself to a movie that is, like most of Black’s work, extremely underrated.
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