So, I have to admit, I made a mistake. When I first heard about / saw reviews for this thing, I blew it off as shit. Russell Crowe??? PFFFFT. Ryan Gosling? Meh…. Hipster shit outfits on the poster? I’m out. But Mrs. THE IPC wanted to watch it and that is my Prime Directive so we did and ———————–> I absolutely fucking loved it. The outfits look this way because this is set in the 70s which is my favorite decade, it’s totally hilarious and it’s really, really well made. They also do things in here that most movies don’t do – they pay attention to details and they introduce something minor in the middle of the movie that makes sense later, so it’s not just some sort of useless thing that has nothing to do with anything. I was totally wrong about my pre-conception of this – I loved it and will watch it a lot while I live.
Surely you’ve read about this already from the people that have time to go to movies and then write something up. Even back when I didn’t have much to do it still took me about a week or two to get something produced out here after a watch. Anyway, Gosling is a drunk Private Investigator much along the lines of Jim Rockford from The Rockford Files (a total win in my book). Crowe (who doesn’t ham it up for two hours) is a muscle for hire much along the lines of his role in L.A. Confidential although, he is not quite as, um, thin here. Tangent – I should watch The Rockford Files again, I wonder if they are as good as I remember. Noted!
After some early adversary-ness, they team up to track down the daughter from The Leftovers and – well – it all works. A lot of people have already done this so I’ll touch on some other things. One of the things I loved was the subtlety of the humor. At one point, the daughter from The Leftovers is screaming about fascists and the car industry and her mom and, quietly, in the background (not on screen) Goslings says “I have neighbors, you know.” Or, how Gosling has this cast on his arm and his suit jacket is always cut so it fits. They don’t highlight that shit but it’s always there. Or the duck on his cast.
I can’t say enough good things about the blond girl above – her name is Angourie Rice and she was really fantastic. I also thought it was funny that they referenced The Waltons (TV show) a lot and the car industry sends in a hit man named John Boy and he looks like this:
I also enjoyed that they put Gil Gerard in here. He’s not in it for long but it’s always good to see Buck Rogers. I met him once at a ComicCon in Tulsa. He was real nice and not a complete asshole like Tia Carrere. I guess, to close this out, if you’re in doubt about this, don’t be. It’s hilarious and I hope they do a sequel.
Sweet Pappy,
Sound like you really loved this! Russell Crowe can be amazing when he wants to be, and Ryan has just always been good and does interesting roles really well. I’ll definitely watch this when I stumble across it!
Love,
Kidney
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sweetest Kidney,
I really did! Totally unexpected too! How have you been??? Miss you!!
Love,
Uncle Pappy
LikeLike
This movie looked dull to me. Are you saying that I was possibly wrong??
LikeLiked by 1 person
It looked bad to me too – and then I watched it and loved it!
LikeLike
PS: what happened when you met tia carrere? that needs to be an entry on here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She was a total bitch. Like she was the Queen of fucking Sheba lol
LikeLike
i’d like to hear the details whenever you have the time to write a story. I want to know where you saw her, and what she was doing and how she turned you off and how others responded, etc. I’m guessing you approached her and said “Loved you in Wayne’s World!” and then proceeded to grab her breast and she slapped you; and now you’re all like “What a bitch!”
LikeLike
Loved your enthusiasm for this Eric.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent
LikeLiked by 1 person
How you doing buddy?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just busy as fuck all day every day…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope you get some form of break soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice one, man. I had a lot of fun with this too. Gosling was the shit. I thought he was absolutely superb. He was much funnier than I’ve ever seen from him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally agree! I hope they make a sequel!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! So glad to get your take on this because I wasn’t holding much hope for this movie but now it’s 100% on my watch list. ‘Bout time they’ve done a unique buddy movie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks miss cine!! I hope you like it as much as I do!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tia Carrera is indeed a complete asshole. Her ethnicity is Fiipino ( both her parents were born in the Philippines ) , but Filipinos do not like her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She really needs to get over herself and her half-ass career!
LikeLike
For a while then, she was ” almost ” an A-lister, but her career tanked ( bleh, sticks out tongue ), and now she’s a has-been.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Weak!!
LikeLike
My daughter’s boyfriend brought over the dvd for me and It’s been sitting on top of my player… maybe tonight after such a good recommendation 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent! I hope you like it as much as I did!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can you believe I still haven’t seen this? Nice review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jay! ! I loved it. On the contrary, I did not like The Neon Demon…
LikeLike
I blew this one off too. Maybe I’ll break down and give it a go based purely on your recommendation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I felt the same way and I totally loved it. Good luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So, I’ve been sort of holding a grudge against Russell Crowe for a while now because of the way he treated a teenage fan when he was filming A Beautiful Mind, but I suppose I really do need to move on. I know he’s a great actor, and I love Ryan Gosling and Gerard Butler, so I’m definitely going to check this out.🙋🏻☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve been pissed at Crowe since he threw that telephone at that hotel clerk and followed up Gladiator with a movie about wine. He was the first reason I didn’t want to see this.
He’s actually very good here but Gosling makes the show.
Oh – and its Gil Gerard not Gerard Butler : ) : )
#buckrogers
#tweekie
#beedeebeedeebeedeebeedee
Love!
LikeLike
Dear PSC,
I am glad to see you loved this one so much! I watched it last night and I liked it well enough, but it was so not what I had been hoping for 😦 Plus that little girl pissed me right off.
Love,
JJB
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dearest IJB,
: (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( I loved it so much….
Love,
ISC
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear PSC,
I honestly thought I was going to love it 😦 It was okay, but I won’t be rushing for a rewatch.
Love,
JJB
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fairest IJJB,
Did you like it more than Saw 7??
Love,
ISPC
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kindest ISSC,
Let me think about that… hmmmm… well, ABSOLUTELY!
Love,
JJB
LikeLiked by 1 person
Warmest ISJB,
GOOD!
Love,
TGMJS
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was the last movie I saw in the theatre before I spawned and it was an excellent choice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay for #spawning !
LikeLike
So glad you enjoyed this bro! One of my faves of the year!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes sir!!
LikeLike
Dearest ei,
I miss you! How’s it hanging?
I think literally EVERYONE seems to love this film! I’m definitely going to watch it, now. Based on the poster, I would not have.
Your friend,
fn
PS Ryan Gosling’s trousers are very tight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My Dear fn!!!
How are you?? I am busier than allgitout every fucking day. I hate it!! I hope you like it!!
Yours,
ei
P.S. Nice! I didn’t catch that one…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dearest ei,
I’m good thanks, but still have knackered wrists, hence my absence from these parts. Off on a mini-break tomorrow for a few days, so that should be good.
They’re working you like a cart-horse at that new job of yours, then?
I’ll come back and catch up on your posts when I get back.
Yours,
fn
LikeLiked by 1 person
My Dear fn,
Get some rest!! I do miss you!
Yours,
ei
LikeLiked by 1 person
Been thinking about getting an ergonomic set up for my laptop so I can do more at home… just need to get my arse in gear!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My Dear fn,
Let me know if I can help in any way : )
Yours,
ei
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope they do a sequel and have it be an homage to 80’s action buddy cop movies
LikeLike
I love when a movie completely blindsides me, as it appears “The Nice Guys” did for you. It’s refreshing to have the well-developed cynicism defused for a few hours as a movie surprises thoroughly. The last one that did this for me was “Hell or High Water”, which has a similar gritty and bumbly charm to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person