A New Golden Duo
May 20, 2016
The Nice Guys (2016).
D: Shane Black. DP: Phillippe Rousselot. W: Shane Black & Anthony Bagarozzi. Starring: Ryan Gosling/Russell Crowe/Angourie Rice/Margaret Qualley/Yaya DaCosta/Keith David/Matt Bomer/Lois Smith/Jack Kilmer/Kim Basinger.
This summer a new duo has joined the streets in an original story by action genre wiz kid and Lethal Weapon creator Shane Black. Also a co-writer and the director of Iron Man 3, Black returns to his roots so to speak with a witty film that has just the right amount of homage to 1970s action films to be fresh, but not overcooked.
Black finds his duo in Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. Not the most likely pairing, but believe me it works. Gosling plays Holland March, a weasel of a former detective who squeezes the most money out of every job he can. A single father to a 13 year old girl, Holly (Angourie Rice), his business is certainly paycheck to paycheck in more ways than one. During his investigation into the disappearance and death of a pornography actress he crosses hairs with Crowe’s Jackson Healy whose been charged with keeping men clear of Amelia Kuttner (Margaret Qualley). In the name of justice Healy throws his weight around for a living with plenty of middle aged machismo. Thrown together they soon realize the puzzle they are dealing with is a lot bigger than they knew.
Set in 1970s Los Angeles, The Nice Guys has a vigorous vintage feel in its construction as well as its trimmings. The credits and music grafts the 70s onto the Los Angeles skyline with its blinking yet homogeneous skyline that draws all sorts of characters into its bowels. The setting works to keep the investigation tools simple and humor brings lightness to a genre overlaid with one-liners and serious courage. Costume designer Kym Barrett (Jupiter Ascending, The Amazing Spider-Man) does not over do the period with Amelia’s flashy yellow gown a particular favorite along with Tally (Yaya Dacosta’s) jumpsuits and Afros. The production gets all its 70s weird out with one go at a Hollywood party that houses mermaids and contortionists.
This duo suffer from March’s excessive drinking and Healy’s inability to deduce anything from clues. The pairs chemistry drives the story rather than the other way around and each time Gosling appears with his caste arm ripped through another suit you have to chuckle. Crowe is a love-able brute here and keeps up with Gosling’s quieter mumbling. Neither actor brings shtick and perhaps this is because they both, for the most part, play serious roles. The script brings in the daughter Holly just enough to break the action and build protective tension between the men. Rice’s Holly is a clever and sassy kid who is a good sounding board for the duo and whose good instincts actually help the case. Maybe it’s time to bring back Harriet the Spy? Happy to see the female voice was not ignored in this film.
Black paces The Nice Guys exceptionally so that by the time you are ready it is over. He seems in command of the material and does not pull gags. Gosling in particular does well with his surprise delivery as he keeps surviving falls and mayhem. Now working on a revival of The Predator with the same producer, Joel Silver, it should be fun to see what Black brings up next. Here’s hoping another The Nice Guys comes our way as I sure hope to see Gosling saying ‘no’ like a child does when you take his toy. Granted he was about to get his arm broken, but it is still comedy gold.
Have not seen the trailer yet? Catch it here: The Nice Guys trailer
Summer Stripper Madness
July 3, 2012
Magic Mike (2012).
D/DP: Steven Soderbergh. W: Reid Carolin. Starring: Channing Tatum/Matthew McConaughey/Alex Pettyfer/Cody Horn/Joe Manganiello/Olivia Munn/Matt Bomer/Adam Rodriquez/Kevin Nash.
The newest tagline for this weekend’s new movie is…tell your boyfriend you’re going to book club, and meet me at the movies for Magic Mike. Really? Are American women so repressed that they must lie in order to get out of the house to see a little movie about some men who take their clothes off for a living? Why the double standard? If they were going to an actual male strip club would anyone care as much? Or is it the fact that its on a big screen, with name actors, and in the daylight for all to see?
Without getting all my feminist feathers in a ruffle about marketing, Magic Mike will be a success not only because of women, but because of gay men. Let’s face it, there are just as many men out there drooling over the prospect of Channing Tatum’s waxed bum as the next lady. And there’s nothing wrong with that. At my screening alone I would say half the cinema was men, and there wasn’t any shameful book club con aimed at them. But let’s put our money where our mouth is and be honest about the quality of this film.
Magic Mike tells the lenient biographical story of Tatum’s time in Florida as a stripper and up and coming “entrepreneur.” The story predominately focuses on Tatum (Magic Mike) and his new friendship with Alex Pettyfer (Adam/The Kid). Tatum takes on mentoring Pettyfer as he indoctrinates him into the stripping world and all the many perks it has to offer. So at its heart, the film is a story of friendship and drive. But it looses this focus many times. Tatum continuously and tirelessly tries to woo Pettyfer’s sister, played by newcomer Cody Horn. Horn is unfortunately miscast here. Although it is great to have a girl next door looking lady, she ends up coming off as boring, stiff, and will make the audience wonder what Tatum is so entranced with.
Tatum and Pettyfer are better, though never really given a meaty (pardon the pun) scene to work with. Regardless, the true star is (of course) Matthew McConaughey as aging, club owner Dallas. McConaughey is the only man who seems to give any color or layer to his character. Very disappointingly, White Collar star Matt Bomer and True Blood beef cake Joe Manganiello, have about ten lines split between them. But I guess they weren’t hired to act? Rather it seems they were hired to illicit the hoots, claps and hollers I heard in the cinema during the whole film. Honestly, it was just as entertaining to see what people shamelessly clapped at than watch the film.
Even worse than its muddled story, Magic Mike maintains no sense of balance between stripper performances and the actual story. Director Steven Soderbergh’s touch is only evident with certain transitions and shots. Other than that I felt like he didn’t really know how to tell a story with this material. How do we tell a story while also getting everyone to strip as that is probably why they’ll see the movie anyway? Maybe a better script? Just a thought. So what is ultimately frustrating about Magic Mike is it probably could actually have been better. If the characters were more important than the clothes they took off, then maybe the movie would be an even bigger success. That being said it is greatly entertaining. Don’t feel ashamed. Go with your girlfriends or boyfriends, have a few drinks and help remind this business that people still go to the movies. Even if it is to see some good gyrating.