Tag: The Nice Guys

Geekscape Movie Reviews: The Predator

by MCDave

Shane Black’s footprints have been scattered all throughout Hollywood for over three decades now. And when you realize just how overlooked this versatile beacon of creativity has become over years, it can’t possibly be a byproduct of his astonishing body of work. Black’s first taste of success came on the heels of his hilarious buddy cop screenplay, Lethal Weapon. From there his uncanny ability to craft a story and continued notoriety as a writer finally guided him to the director’s chair for impressive films like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Nice Guys, only to have his career come full circle in 2018. One of Black’s first career credits comes as an actor in the 1987 action-horror, Predator, which the filmmaker finds himself rebooting 30 more than years later.

Within the muddy waters of this shared film universe, a decorated sniper (Boyd Holbrook) encounters an alien Predator who’s crashed his spaceship in the backwoods of Mexico. And after the soldier sends some of these other-worldly devices back to his autistic son (Jacob Tremblay) living in Georgia, the boy’s unique perspective allows him to crack the foreign code and reboot the alien weapons. Unfortunately, this chain of events signals an even more diabolical species of Predator that travels all the way to Earth to reclaim its prized technology.

Summer may be gone, but 2018 certainly has room for one of its most well-constructed blockbusters with Shane Black’s The Predator. Re-booting a franchise can be a tall order, yet Black’s passion for the subject matter and dark comedic wit inject life into this energizing popcorn flick. And although some loyalists to the film universe may have hoped for a few more call-backs to its predecessors, The Predator occasionally acknowledges its origins all while serving up a plethora of trademark gory massacres and heavy doses of action. Black’s colorful dialogue becomes delivered brilliantly by an extensive collection of secondary actors who help sell the film’s strongly written misfit comedy angle. In fact, the effort’s surprising lack of star appeal isn’t problematic whatsoever, thanks in large part to these relatively unknown performers who work in complete cohesion to generate an authentic and engaging thrill ride. Fans of Keegan-Michael Key (Comedy Central’s Key and Peele) won’t be disappointed either, as he crushes every scripted (or perhaps even non-scripted) joke. Yet, all of these quality aspects are weakened by an untypical inadequacy with Black’s screenplay. Pacing is a bit of a problem, as the film races out of the gate until it becomes completely lost in a meandering mid-section that eventually discovers a desperate need to abruptly wrap things up. However, all in all there’s more good than bad in Shane Black’s gratifying return to an iconic horror villain with his new release, The Predator.

GRADE: 3.5/5

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MCDave’s Top Ten Films Of 2016!

by MCDave

Can you believe that 2016 is coming to a close? In just a few days, we’ll abolish that dreaded six for ten more years, and a cool, clean, sexy seven will take its place.

2016 has been an incredible year for everything aside from presidential candidates and celebrity deaths, so as always, we wanted to share our favourite games, movies, moments and more of 2016.

Adam shared his favourite things yesterday, and today longtime critic MCDave is here to share his favorite films of the past year!

#10. Arrival

My top ten list begins with Denis Villenueve’s sci-fi drama, Arrival. This Oscar hopeful deviates from the stereotypical sci-fi structure by offering majestic cinematography and an artistic vision from its filmmaker. After 12 alien spacecrafts appear across the globe, the U.S. military reaches out to a linguistics expert (Amy Adams) to form a line of communication and determine if their motive is peaceful or violent. This cerebral effort works in opposition to some punishingly sluggish pacing which, admittedly, concludes in a remarkably clever fashion.

#9. The Nice Guys

One of the year’s most entertaining features came from Iron Man 3 director, Shane Black, and jump-started the summer blockbuster season. The Nice Guys stands as a successful twist on the buddy-cop genre as two private investigators (Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe) look into the disappearance of a teenage girl. There are countless laugh-out-loud moments scattered throughout this hilariously scripted story that’s bound to get the sequel treatment.

#8. Remember

One of the only upsides to this year’s middling crop of releases is it allows me to offer praise to some lesser-known titles. One such film is the early-year release, Remember, from director Atom Egoyan. Christopher Plummer stars as Zev, an elderly man living in a retirement-home and experiencing early stages of dementia. He is reminded of his gruesome childhood in the Auschwitz internment camp where a Nazi guard killed both his and a fellow resident’s families. With nothing left to live for, Zev sets out on a vengeful mission to find the prison guard and kill him. Remember is a wildly engaging thrill ride that’s elevated by an explosive final scene you won’t want to miss.

#7. Nocturnal Animals

Tom Ford’s stylish sophomore effort isn’t everything you’d expect it to be, but it’s still quite good. Amy Adams stars as an art gallery owner who receives a manuscript of her ex-husband’s new novel. The book is dedicated to her and, as she becomes consumed by its grisly story, she reflects on the emotional torment she caused her former lover (Jake Gyllenhaal). I expected a more brutal and twisted affair, but what it lacks in physical anguish is made up with psychological misery. Michael Shannon and Aaron Taylor-Johnson offer fine supporting work while Tom Ford’s direction is on-point.

#6. Don’t Think Twice

The modern evolution of the comedy genre is actually quite sad. Character development in such a setting has become a lost art and cleverly-crafted humor is a dying skill. Thankfully, Mike Birbiglia’s personal indie comedy, Don’t Think Twice, represents a return to the glory days. The film follows a tight-knit improv comedy group who begin to experience fierce competition between one another when the world’s most notable sketch-comedy show scouts them for new talent. This wonderfully told story draws the audience into each of its characters and is highlighted by hilarious situational humor.

#5. Manchester by the Sea

Kenneth Lonergan’s emotionally charged Oscar contender is by no means an easy watch. Casey Affleck, who stands as the Best Actor frontrunner for his unmatched performance, plays a brutally scarred handyman who returns to his home town to care for his nephew after his brother passes away. Deeply immersed in feelings of hope, heartache and uncertainty, Manchester by the Sea absolutely pushes the dramatic envelope.

#4. Captain Fantastic

There’s something so euphoric about Captain Fantastic. On the surface the film’s central characters appear to be a crazed family who shut themselves off from the world by living deep in the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest. But at the same time, to have the fortitude and survival instincts to actually pull it off are impressive and convincing. There are countless controversial elements scattered all throughout this captivating story and artistically shot film that make Captain Fantastic a movie unlike any other.

#3. Hell or High Water

David Mackenzie’s tale of bank-robbing brothers is the perfect blend of the classic Western genre with a modern day flair. Chris Pine, Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges all provide phenomenal performances that catapult this slow-boiling and often witty screenplay into a completely well-rounded piece of filmmaking.

#2. Moonlight

I had heard all of the lofty praises for Barry Jenkins’ indie drama, but a familiar premise left my expectations extremely tempered. However, Moonlight was this year’s biggest surprise. It delivers the finest ensemble of 2016 and tells its powerful coming-of-age story with a level of tenderness and humanity that will leave you craving for more long after its credits roll.

#1. La La Land

In a year overrun with grim storylines from its major awards season contenders, Damien Chazelle’s whimsical musical is a fresh breath of upbeat originality and a bona-fide Best Picture selection. La La Land comes with its own roller coaster of emotions, but the film tells a deeply passionate story using a deliberate nod to classic cinema all while injecting a modern touch.

Geekscape Movie Reviews: The Nice Guys

by MCDave

Considering Shane Black broke into the the industry as the writer of the 1987 buddy-cop comedy, Lethal Weapon, there’s no surprise that he’s returning to his roots for his third directorial effort, The Nice Guys. I’ve been on record speaking out against Black’s previous entry as the visionary behind Iron Man 3, but I’m thrilled to see him transitioning back to a place of comfort. Black first stepped behind the camera for 2005’s wildly acclaimed caper comedy, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and more than a decade has passed since, Yet, Black’s able to rediscover his winning formula with a new pair of leading stars, Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling.

Set throughout 1970s Los Angeles, Jackson Healey (Crowe) is an enforcer who makes problems go away. And when a fearful young client named Amelia goes missing, Healey must team up with a binge-drinking private investigator named Hollard March (Gosling) to locate the girl. But as they dig deeper into the mystery, Healey and March become entangled with dangerous mobsters, porn stars and high-ranking government officials.

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The Nice Guys stands as a refreshing new buddy comedy that delivers well-earned and cleverly crafted jokes. There is no shortage of laugh out loud moments, all of which solidify Shane Black’s latest film as a clear-cut winner. Gosling and Crowe have a natural chemistry that allows the humor to flow naturally. Their characters possess contrasting personalities that perfectly complement one another. Gosling as the clumsy and more unprofessional investigator, and Crowe as the brute muscle who operates under a strict unwritten code of the industry. In addition to a fine script that allows for the film’s talented leads to work their comedic magic, The Nice Guys has another surprising talent emerge from all of its splendor. Normally the overuse of a teenage character can be a hindrance to a movie, yet Black brilliantly incorporates newcomer Angourie Rice into the story. As Holland March’s daughter and voice of humanity in the film, Rice sets herself apart as a valuable asset. Each of these glowing attributes come together masterfully in one of 2016’s finest efforts.

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Although the film’s laughter and light-heartedness keep a positive and energized tone throughout its duration, The Nice Guys does manage to struggle in a few key areas. The overall mystery of their case lacks depth and unpredictability. Furthermore, many of March and Healey’s big breaks are discovered by luck and sheer chance. Black’s work could have used a little more investigative wit to counterbalance all of the film’s accomplished comedy. And finally, The Nice Guys merely skims over any dramatic elements that it introduces. As a result, the film’s characters appear cartoon-ish and one dimensional. Perhaps a slightly deeper dive into their personal lives would have gone a long way. Instead, we’re left with a hysterical and effective caper comedy, but very little more.

Needless to say, Shane Black has another winner on his hands. Acceptable doses of action, mystery and hilariously scripted humor come together to deliver a wildly entertaining film. The Nice Guys doesn’t break any barriers or demand a place on the Mount Rushmore of buddy comedies, but it definitely makes for a worthwhile movie experience. If your in need of some genuine laughs and an engaging couple of hours at the movies, then you certainly won’t regret taking a chance on Shane Black’s latest entry.

GRADE: 4/5

Check out a list of Ryan Gosling’s Best Roles and other write-ups at MCDAVE’s host site