In life, there are injustices. From billionaire tax returns to
that time my sister pushed me off the sofa and convinced my Mum I was
lying, sometimes circumstances come along and kick you somewhere
uncomfortable. The same can be said for film, as many great pieces of
entertainment don't get the praise they deserve and fade away,
perhaps dreaming of one day being called “cult”, but somehow
forgetting that gives it the same status as The Room.
Well, allow me to redress the balance and celebrate those films which
deserve more attention than they've had.
The
Unsungs #1
For Those Who Like it Short: Providing some much-needed variety to the careers of both Gosling and Crowe, The Nice Guys is further proof of writer-director Shane Black's comedic genius. It's also yet another of his films which went undeservedly unrecognised.
For Those Capable of Reading: My tolerance of both Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling has waned in
recent years. Crowe's ego had given way to a number of performances
that seem to be all about the gravitas and that led to him singing
and... just... why?
You see, it did get worse than Les Mis.
As for Gosling, the man has trademarked the sort of laid-back charm
that manifests itself as a drawling voice and a perennial look of
abject boredom, as if his soul has found itself somewhere other than where
his face is. I believe he considered it intense, but judge for
yourself.
So let's give it up for Shane Black then. He's not entirely innocent
of cinematic fumbles (*coughTrevorSlattery*cough*), but he's also a
writer who could inject decent humour into pretty much anything. Two
private investigators looking into the death (or not death) or an
“experimental” film actress should be a walk in the park for him
then. And it so is. If only I could sum up the happiness that this
film gave me in one video.
The film has a one-two punch on it's hands, as Black's hilarious
script lines up with some seriously good chemistry between Crowe and
Gosling. Both are at their absolute peak here, with Gosling pulling
out a flat out bonkers performance that steals the limelight from
anyone he shares the screen with. Even Crowe to a degree, but he
still takes the often unforgiving task of playing the straight man
and deadpans his way into the sort of territory previously reserved
for Tommy Lee Jones.
But, wait. The film also has a child star.
Angourie Rice makes her Hollywood debut as Gosling's daughter and,
thank God, she's actually really bloody good. It's the typical “who's
more mature?” dynamic between herself and Gosling, but it works on
so many levels. There's no twee with Rice and not one single
attempt to ramp up the cuteness. At only 13 years old (at the time of
filming), she brings more to a character than 80% of 20-something's
do with their own. That's partly because they actually ensure there's
more to her character than just 'Female, Young', but also because she
brings so much personality to proceedings.
That's what this film thrives on. It's stars, it's script and it's
near perfecting of the art of comedic timing. I am yet to meet a
single person who has seen and disliked this film, though I'm sure
that someone, somewhere existing in a pit of their own self-loathing,
will feel the need to pipe up eventually.
So why then did no one go to see it? It likely lost out through being
released the same weekend as Neighbo[u]rs 2;
apparently another Seth
Rogen film was the preferable choice.
Everyone else likely just went to
see Civil War again.
Or The Angry Birds Movie,
but I live in hope that they weren't adults. The Nice Guys
is better than all of those films. So f**k you, general public!
NINE out of 10
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