They Ain't So Nice: The Nice Guys (2016)
Stephen Arnell
Broadcast/VoD Consultant for TV & Film, Writer/Producer (inc Bob Fosse, Alex Cox, Prince, Sinatra), Media/Culture Commentator & Author (novel The Great One published November 2022)
Between the really rather good Iron Man 3 (2013) and the truly awful Predator (2018) Shane Black directed The Nice Guys (2016).
A companion piece to Black's 2005 picture Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, the story concerns porno movies and automobile industry graft in late 70s LA, with our two leads, Ryan Gosling's chiselling PI Holland March and Russell Crowe's professional leg-breaker Jackson Healy drawn into the nefarious goings-on.
Like KKBB, the movie drew inspiration from a pulp novel by Brett Halliday (1905-77) a prolific mystery and western writer who has accrued a cult following.
The Nice Guys is not as funny as it thinks it is - and the Gosling/Crowe combination are no match for Kiss Kiss's Downey/Kilmer, but on second viewing recently I greatly enjoyed the 70s vibe, crazy outbursts of violence and (some of) Black's dialogue.
The supporting cast features some familiar and up and coming talent, including Kim Basinger, Matt Boomer, Keith David and Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood).
Oh and Gil Gerard, who older readers may remember in the title role from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979-81):
The movie turned a small profit, but a sequel doesn't look likely, which is a shame, as it could actually improve on the first installment.
The Nice Guys is currently on Amazon Prime in the UK.