"THE NICE GUYS" (2016) Review
The 2016 summer movie season is proving to be somewhat dismal. I cannot recall a remake of television or previous movie with an original twist. Worst, most of the movies seemed to be nothing more than sequels. And if I must be brutally frank, not very good ones. But I have only come across two movies that struck me as completely original. One of them is the period action comedy, "THE NICE GUYS".
Co-written and directed by Shane Black, "THE NICE GUYS" told the story of a down-on-his-luck private investigator and an enforcer investigating two cases that might have a connection with each other - the death of a fading porn star and a missing young woman, who happens to be the daughter of a U.S. Justice Department official. Set in Los Angeles circa 1977, "THE NICE GUYS"began with a young boy witnessing the death of fading porn star Misty Mountains in a car crash in the Hollywood Hills. Later, Misty's aunt, Mrs. Glen, hires private eye Holland March to find her, claiming that she is still alive. Despite feeling skeptical of Mrs. Glen's claim, Holland takes the case and discovers that a young woman named Amelia Kutner is connected to Misty. Unbeknownst to him, an enforcer named Jackson Healy has been hired by Amanda, who does not want to be found, to intimidate March into staying away from her. But when two thugs try to coerce Jackson into revealing Amelia's whereabouts, he teams up with Holland and the latter's young daughter Holly to find Amelia before the thugs do. The duo's investigation lead them into the world of Los Angeles' pornography industry and a scandal surrounding the automobile industry.
"THE NICE GUYS" was not a major box office hit. It barely made a profit, if I must be brutally honest. This is a pity, because I believe Shane Black not only directed, but co-wrote - with Anthony Bagarozzi - a first-rate action comedy. There were a few aspects of "THE NICE GUYS" that I found unappealing. One, I was a little taken aback that the main villains behind the murders committed in the movie and involved in the automobile scandal did not face any justice. Perhaps I should not have been surprised, considering that the main villains were a cabal of businessmen in the Detroit automobile industry. I mean, honestly, Black and Bagarozzi could have provided the movie with a more distinct main villain and saved an ending like this for a drama like 1974's "CHINATOWN", instead of an action comedy. And two, for a movie set in the late 1970s, one aspect struck me as anachronistic - namely the Judith Kutner character portrayed by Kim Basinger. What else can I say? Basinger looked like an early 21st century woman who had time traveled back to 1977, thanks to her anachronistic hairstyle. Visually, the actress stuck out like a sore thumb.
Thankfully, there was a lot more to admire about "THE NICE GUYS". Shane Black and Anthony Bagorozzi really did themselves proud. Who else could write a comedic story about a group of people in the porn industry, using the power of film - a "porn" flick called "How Do You Like My Car, Big Boy?" to expose the shady dealings of a cabal of Detroit automobile makers; toss in an alcoholic private investigator, a burly and somewhat violent enforcer, the former's 12 year-old daughter; and set all of this in 1977 Los Angeles? By all of the laws of nature (and writing), this should not have worked. But it did . . . beautifully. This movie featured some interesting and off-the-wall scenes that included Jackson and Holland's first violent meeting, their search for the missing Amelia at a wild party held by a pornography producer in the Hollywood Hills, and that crazy finale at the L.A. Auto Show.
"THE NICE GUYS" also featured some first-rate action sequences. Among my favorites are the screen fights that featured Russell Crowe, Keith David and in the first one, Beau Knapp. I would include Ryan Gosling, but his character did not strike me as an effective brawler, just a person who falls from high places, while in a state of intoxication. The movie also featured a first-rate scene in which the Jackson Healey and Holland March characters have a deadly shoot-out in front of the March home with a psychotic hit man named John Boy (a name that requires a photograph of actor Matt Bomer and an article on its own). But once again, the auto show sequence tops it all with some first-rate action that include a major brawl and an intense shoot out.
Being a period piece, "THE NICE GUYS" is a colorful movie to look at, thanks to contributions from the crew. I love sharp color in my films, especially if they are period pieces. And I am happy to say that Philippe Rousselot's photography not only satisfied me color wise, but also gave the movie a late 1970s sheen that I have not seen in a long time. I noticed that some of his exterior shots were filmed in close-ups. And I cannot help but wonder if he had done this, because the movie was partially shot in Atlanta, Georgia. Also contributing to the movie's late 1970s look was Richard Bridgland's production designs. Speaking as a person who remembered that era (and location) very well, I have to give Bridgland kudos for doing an excellent job in re-creating that era. I also have to say the same about David Utley's art direction. I was also impressed by Kym Barrett's costume designs. As shown in the images below, I found them very colorful and spot-on:
I cannot help but wonder if Russell Crowe's character had become attached to that faux leather jacket. The actor wore it throughout the film. Although David Buckley and John Ottman provided a solid score for the movie, I really enjoyed the variety of songs from the mid-to-late 1970s that were included. This especially seemed to be the case during the porn producer's party that featured a band playing Earth, Wind and Fire tunes. Be still my heart!
"THE NICE GUYS" also featured some solid and outstanding performances. Murielle Telio, Beau Knapp, Ty Simpkins (who had worked with Black in "IRON MAN 3"), Lois Smith, Margaret Qualley, Jack Kilmer, and Gil Gerard ("BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY" anyone?) all gave some pretty solid performances. I can also say the same about Kim Basinger, who portrayed a very pragmatic, yet emotionally intense Federal prosecutor named Judith Kuttner.
But I was really impressed by the likes of Matt Bomer, who gave a really intense performance as the rather scary hit man, John Boy. It was nice to see Bomer portray a character so completely different from what he usually does. Yaya DaCosta was equally intense, yet very seductive as Tally, secretary to Kim Basinger's Judith Kuttner. I thought she did a great job in conveying all of the interesting traits of Tally - friendly, sexy, intense and dangerous. Keith David had the unenviable task of being one of the few sane characters in this crazy film, while portraying a Detroit-born hit man nicknamed "Older Guy". However, I nearly fell off my seat, while laughing at one scene in which he expressed dismay to Holland for allowing young Holly's presence in the case. Speaking of Holly, the filmmakers cast young Australian actress Angourie Rice to portray Holland's pragmatic and brainy daughter, who also served as the leads' conscience. Not only did she give a first-rate performance, Rice managed to keep up with the likes of Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling with ease.
Russell Crowe's Jackson Healey more or less played straight man to Ryan Gosling's zany Holland March; and I have to give him kudos for being up to the task. It is not an easy job playing straight man to the clown, considering that people are more inclined to pay attention to the latter. But Crowe not only did his job, he also beautifully brought alive a very interesting character in his own right, enforcer Jackson Healey, a dependable guy who has this little penchant for unnecessarily using excessive violence to solve certain situations. And he really clicked with Ryan Gosling, who had the good luck to portray the hapless and alcoholic private investigator Holland March. The interesting thing about Holland is that he is not dumb at all. In fact, he is actually a perceptive investigator who is good at his job, when he is not inebriated, not trying to cheat his clients, wallowing in his infatuation of the mysterious Tally or too intent on saving his own skin. I have to say that Holland March has become one of my favorite Ryan Gosling roles of all time. And one of the funniest I have ever viewed on the silver screen. What else is there to say?
What a shame that the public did not embrace "THE NICE GUYS". But it does not matter in the end. At least for me. I can think of numerous films that I loved, but were not exactly box office hits. Right now, "THE NICE GUYS" has become one of those films. It is sooooo fun to watch, thanks to a great, but not perfect script; sharp direction by Shane Black; and a marvelous cast led by a very talented duo, Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. This movie will go down as one of my favorites from 2016.
"THE BUTLER" (2013) Review
When I first saw the trailer for "THE BUTLER", I resisted the urge to see it. I have nothing against films about the African-American experience. I could not wait to see Quentin Tarantino's pre-Civil War opus, "DJANGO UNCHAINED". But there was something about the trailer for "THE BUTLER" that turned me off. It had that dignified, pretentious aura that marred"THE KING'S SPEECH" and "NORTH AND SOUTH: BOOK II" for me. I was determined to avoid it. But thanks to my family, I could not avoid it in the end.
Directed by Lee Daniels and written by Danny Strong, "THE BUTLER" was loosely inspired by the life of former White House butler, Eugene Alley. Now, when I say "loosely inspired", I meant it. Contrary to what many have claimed, the movie was not based upon Allen's life. Actor-turned-screenwriter Danny Strong read an article in the The Washington Post called "A Butler Well Served by This Election" by Will Haygood. Inspired by Allen's 34 years as a White House butler, Strong created the character of Georgia-born Cecil Gaines, who witnessed the murder of his sharecropper father by the plantation owner who also raped his mother. The estate owner's elderly mother reassigns Cecil to being a house servant. Another decade pass before Cecil decides its time to leave the cotton plantation. He makes his way for parts unknown, but the Great Depression in the form of hunger and unemployment leads him to break into a pastry shop for food. The shop's servant, Maynard, helps him get a job and later, recommends him for a job at a Washington D.C. hotel. During his two decades at the hotel, Cecil marries a woman named Gloria and they conceive two sons, Louis and Charlie. Then in 1957, Cecil is hired for a butler position at the White House and spends the next three decades working there. His job not only gives Cecil the opportunity to meet seven U.S. presidents, but also threatens his marriage to Gloria and creates tension between him and his activist older son, Louis.
In the end, I am glad that I saw "THE BUTLER". It turned out to be a lot better than I had assumed. I have to give kudos to Danny Strong for creating a fascinating story that mingled history with personal drama. And Lee Daniels did a fabulous job of transforming Strong's tale to the screen. More importantly, "THE BUTLER" managed to avoid that annoying and pretentious air that have tainted a good number of historical dramas in the past. Except in perhaps two scenes. Watching"THE BUTLER" reminded me of an old NBC miniseries that aired back in 1979 called "BACKSTAIRS AT THE WHITE HOUSE", which told the story of a mother/daughter pair named Margaret Rogers and Lillian Rogers Parks, who worked as White House housemaids between 1909 and 1961.
What really impressed me about the plot for "THE BUTLER" is how Cecil's past and profession had such an impact upon his adult life. Witnessing his mother's rape and his father's death seemed to have an impact upon Cecil's psyche. In a way, these events led him to develop an obsequious personality that served him well,professionally. But his obsequiousness also led him to fear and oppose his son Louis' participation in the Civil Rights movement for many years. I must admit that those sequences featuring Louis' involvement with the Freedom Riders during the early and mid 1960s struck me as both fascinating and harrowing. Cecil and Louis' estrangement deepened when younger son Charlie was killed during the Vietnam War . . . and Louis failed to appear at the funeral for personal reasons. And as I had earlier pointed out, Cecil's job also had an impact on his marriage to Gloria. She resented how his profession kept him away for long hours, leading her to contemplate an adulterous affair with a neighbor.
As much as Daniels and Strong emphasized the impact of Cecil's job upon his private life, they allowed the audiences glimpses of his interactions with not only the presidents who occupied the White House during his tenure, but also with his fellow servants - especially Carter Wilson and James Holloway. The movie featured interactions between Cecil and five U.S. presidents - Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon and Ronald Reagan. If I had to select my favorite presidential segment, it would have to be Cecil's interactions with Johnson, whose penchant for the occasional racial slur I had learned about, years ago. I found those scenes hilarious and sardonic - especially Carter's sarcastic reaction to Johnson's announcement about the Civil Rights bills. There were three scenes I found particularly interesting - Cecil's eavesdropping of Reagan's discussion with GOP politicians regarding South Africa's apartheid policy, Kennedy's revelation of his knowledge regarding Louis' arrests and involvement in the Civil Rights Movement; and Nixon's appearance (when he was Vice-President) in the servants' work room in an effort to recruit their votes during the 1960 Presidential Election. I also enjoyed the private moments between Cecil and his two colleagues that eventually spread to his home, when they began spending off hours with him and his family.
Production-wise, "THE BUTLER" is a beautiful movie to behold. Andrew Dunn's photography provided sharp and colorful images of Cecil's life throughout the 20th century. Tim Galvin's production designs certainly benefited from Dunn's work. Then again, Galvin did a superb job in recapturing those 80-odd years of Cecil's life with great accuracy. This was especially apparent in the period featuring Cecil's first decade as a butler for the White House - between the late 1950s and early 1970s. I can also say the same about Ruth E. Carter's work as the film's costume designer. Not only were they beautiful to look at, I was also impressed by how she recaptured the fashion styles of each period featured in the movie. Here are a few examples of Carter's designs:
As much as I had enjoyed "THE BUTLER", I cannot deny that it had its share of flaws. Earlier, I had complimented the movie for its lack of pretentiousness - except in two scenes. One of those scenes that seemed to reek of pretentiousness featured Cecil's interaction with President Eisenhower. The scene began with Eisenhower ordering the U.S. Army troops to protect the lives and rights of a group of African-American high students integrating a Little Rock, Arkansas high school. The scene eventually segued into Eisenhower reminiscing about his late father to Cecil. And although the scene's drama was portrayed in a straightforward manner by Forest Whitaker and Robin Williams, it seemed to reek of sentimentality and pretentiousness that I found annoying. Another scene that I found off-putting proved to be Cecil's encounter with President Nixon in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal. The entire scene seemed to have come straight from Cinematic Nixon 101. It featured a slightly drunk Nixon, lounging on a White House sofa, while spouting self doubts about his political abilities and integrity. I found the scene boring, pretentious and very unoriginal. In fact, I would swear I had seen similar views of Nixon in at least two other films.
I would even go as far to say that the movie's main weakness seemed to be its portrayals of the U.S. Presidents featured. For some reason, most of the actors who portrayed those presidents in the movie seemed to be miscast. I had nothing against Robin Williams' performance as Dwight D. Eisenhower. But I took one look at him and was reminded of the character's predecessor - Harry S. Truman. Really. Liev Schreiber struck me as being at least ten to fifteen years too young to be portraying Lyndon B. Johnson. And yet . . . he did such as great job as Johnson that I am willing to allow the issue of his age to slide. John Cusak was not only too young, but also too slender for his role as Richard M. Nixon. In my opinion, he was definitely the wrong actor for the job. As for Alan Rickman . . . hmmm. Well, if I must be honest, I found his portrayal of Ronald Reagan very effective in a subtle way. The only other piece of casting that seemed to be spot on proved to be James Marsden as John F. Kennedy. Not only did he give a pretty good performance, but his Boston accent seemed decent. "THE BUTLER" also featured the appearances of two First Ladies - Minka Kelly as Jacqueline Kennedy and Jane Fonda as Nancy Reagan. Kelly did a solid job as Jackie Kennedy, especially in one scene that featured the First Lady's return to the White House after the death of her husband. And Fonda gave a very entertaining performance as the ambitious and slightly controlling Nancy Reagan.
Since I am on the subject of acting, I might as express my views on those performances by the main cast. "THE BUTLER" featured some solid work from cast members such as Colman Domingo, who portrayed the White House maitre d that hired Cecil in a rather funny scene; Clarence Williams III, who gave a poignant portrayal of an elderly man who first trained Cecil to become a professional waiter; Yaya DaCosta, who did an excellent job of developing the character of Carol Hammie (Louis' girlfriend) from a college student to a hardened activist; Vanessa Redgrave, who gave a brief, yet memorable performance as the elderly mother of the elderly plantation owner who caused havoc within the Gaines family during the 1920s; Alex Pettyfer, as the temperamental landowner, who managed to be effectively scary with very little dialogue; and Mariah Carey, who was surprisingly effective as Cecil's victimized mother. It was great to see Cuba Gooding Jr., who gave a very entertaining performance as the fast-talking White House head butler Carter Wilson, who becomes a long-time friend of Cecil's. Lenny Kravitz gave a subtle performance as Cecil's other White House colleague, the more educated James Holloway. And Terrence Howard gave an excellent performance as the Gaines' somewhat sleazy neighbor, Howard, who becomes interested in Gloria. He was especially brilliant in one scene in which his attempts to seduce Gloria into having an affair with him.
But in my opinion, the best performances came from the movie's three leads - Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey and David Oyelowo. This is the third or fourth time I have seen British-born Oyelowo portray an American character. And I am still amazed at his grasp of an American accent. More importantly, he did a wonderful job in his portrayal of Louis Gaines, Cecil's older son who becomes hardcore activist over the years, aging from 17 years old to a man in his late 60s. While watching "THE BUTLER", I found myself wondering how many years have passed since Oprah Winfrey had a major role in a movie. The last major role I could recall was her performance in the 1998 drama, "BELOVED". Watching her portray Cecil's strong-minded wife, Gloria, reminded me how much of a superb actress she really is. There were two scenes that reminded me how skillful she really is - her bedroom rant against the demands of Cecil's job and her angry response to Louis and Carol's derogatory comments about actor Sidney Poitier. I really do not know what to say about Forest Whitaker's performance in the title role. Personally, I feel that if went on about Whitaker's performance in this movie, this article would stretch even longer. The man was brilliant. He really was. Whitaker did a superb job in developing Cecil from the 35-40 something obsequious butler to the 90 year-old man, looking back on his life and career. And I believe that Cecil Gaines is one of the best roles of his career. It would be a crime if he never receive an Academy Award for his performance.
I have noticed that "THE BUTLER" has received some mixed reviews from the movie critics. And most of these reviews seemed to be in the extreme from high praise to accusations of clumsy direction from Lee Daniels or equally clumsy writing from Danny Strong. I am not going to pretend that "THE BUTLER" is a perfect movie. It has its flaws. But I feel that its virtues more than outweighed its flaws. And thanks to Daniels' direction, Strong's screenplay and a superb cast led by Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey, I feel that "THE BUTLER" is one of the best historical dramas I have seen in years.
