The Nice Guys

The Nice Guys is a 2016 action-comedy film written and directed by Shane Black, starring Ryan Gosling as a private investigator and Russell Crowe as a tough-guy hitman. Set in the 1970s, the film is a homage to the classic detective movies of the era, with a comedic twist. The story begins with Holland March (Ryan Gosling), a down-on-his-luck private investigator, whose own reputation and credibility are in question due to his tendency to not take on too much serious work. His quiet and routine life is disrupted when he's hired by a young woman named Misty Mountains (Margaret Qualley) to find her missing sister, Amelia. Amelia, a minor star in the adult film industry, has been reported missing by the police, and her disappearance has the potential to raise some uncomfortable questions. Holland's investigation leads him to a grimy office in Los Angeles, where he encounters a second private investigator named Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe). Healy is a large and intimidating individual, known for his aggressive tactics and skill with his fists. He's not in the business of meddling in the lives of amateur sleuths, but after a run-in with the police, Healy decides to join forces with Holland in exchange for 50% of the investigation expenses. The unlikely duo becomes the main investigating force in the movie, following leads and encountering various colorful characters in the underworld. As the investigation proceeds, the duo uncovers a complex and sinister conspiracy. Amelia is not who she seemed to be at the surface level, and her involvement with a shady corporation seems to be just the tip of the iceberg. They discover that a biotech firm, led by the ruthless and cunning figure of Melvin Potts (Matt Bomer), has been involved in the production of clandestine biotech substances used in adult films. Potts' goal is to use the information he's collected from the adult film industry to sell the substances to his client, who has significant clout in the industry. With this knowledge, March and Healy must gather information and piece together clues while navigating the intricacies of Los Angeles' police department and the clandestine world of the film industry. They consult with a diverse range of characters, from professional strippers to bumbling detectives, each contributing their knowledge to unravel the mystery. As they dig deeper, the story exposes how power operates within the city and within their lives. March and Healy are driven by personal stakes – their lives have been built around these specific moral imperatives. The couple is then made to question their own relationships with the justice they're fighting for. However, as tension builds, and they find themselves at greater risk, the complexity and scope of the conspiracy expand. Potts' power brokers make appearances, revealing their willingness to do whatever it takes to keep the corporation hidden and their interests unexposed. As it takes Holland and Healy some time to start gathering the full weight of the whole facts in this film, a certain darker side to this era and town starts to take form. Their partnership reaches boiling points, revealing tensions which were hitherto hidden beneath the comedy. There are strong arguments and attempts by Healy to brush aside March to investigate on his own - always intent on setting things straight to his preferred order. Holland becomes as force, more persistent and ambitious he learns how far into the business he is truly willing to go. Ultimately, they initiate a final confrontation, not only against the producers but also with each other - realizing how committed they can truly remain in their craft. Despite its irreverent beginning, the film builds towards a suspenseful ending that culminates in the duo thwarting Potts and exposing his sinister operation, in the process redeeming their own personal morale and vowing to rediscover themselves and their lives in wake of such a situation they have endured.