Jarrel Montes’s review published on Letterboxd:
Safe to say that I don't recall ever hearing about this movie, not the type to be knowledgable about movies made after 2005; and I'm being super considerate by going that far. Either way it has Russell Crowe and Gosling, how can that duo be a bad thing.
Iron Man 3 is the only other film I've watched from Shane Black but it's safe to say this one is definitely on the raw and raunchy side; impressive to say the least that I lost myself in the storyline for the first act. The plot pulls you in as your eyes wander around old school Hollywood; all while we follow a disorganized detective and a mysterious muscle man. Crowe plays the part of Healy so well, channeling the same aura and persona from LA Confidential; this role is a refresh button to an already veteran actor with a talent that never seemed to waiver. Safe to say this is one of Crowe's best work and probably the most fun one he had making; he needs to take more less serious characters. Gosling on the other hand has the weaker but still solid performance of March, like a Sundae without the cherry; he has all the right elements to make this character work but is missing that final piece to complete it.
The pacing slows down a bit through the second act but the witty back and forth dialogue between the partners make up for it. The dark and dry humour is executed perfectly, carefully arranged words spoken with a sincere town or anger makes a good formula for laughter. The soundtrack is fun and appropriate for the era, late 70s funk alongside a catchy score that blends in well with every scene. The jackass is definitely the mother, and her introduction had ass written all over her face which brings me to my next point, all the bad guys are so visually blunt; everything from the looks to their tone of voice. Yet the protagonists can never get a clue, I had hoped for more subtlety. The action scenes have that classic late 70s shootout sprinkled with some modern techniques.
The amount of random dumb luck moments is insane and surprisingly doesn't take away the depth of the plotline. It really is about the smog situation that horrored Los Angeles, and I wouldnt have put that all together if I didn't binge watch donut media so much. Overall still a very enjoyable movie that definitely gets better with age. If there aren't any sequels made then I'm sure I'll rewatch this in 10 years.
Tl;dr The luckiest and unluckiest detectives ever. Crowe can definitely pass off as Filipino. Dope.
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