Simply the Best Movie of 2016

Rating: 10/10 (21 June 2016)

The beauty of this cinematic masterpiece lies within two frank elements. Shane Blacks incredible script and direction. The second element is the cast - equally as superb. Equally as enigmatic!
This buddy, noir, almost comic book representation encapsulates the perfect science of making a movie well. Shane Black has an incredible edge when it comes to producing a script that has you screaming for more. The wit is second to none, the shocks are timed well and the dialogue is simply sublime.
Mix this with a master class in direction and you have a movie that will etch its way into the "favourite" category within that film library in your mind.
I was overwhelmed with gratitude for this film. It was fresh and a change from the normal daliances with overweight ties to super hero flicks that seem to dominate the screen at the moment. Sometimes, simple, catchy, energetic dialogue and good, well rounded acting is all you need to make a film special.
Gosling and Crowe are splendid. Crowe stands out as the "chequered past" investigative partner of Gosling. He is rough and ready, humorous and big on screen. His portrayal of Jackson Healy is one of the best I have seen of Crowe of late. Black seemed to bring the life back to Crowe as he slung his whiskey soured voice around the movie without breaking a sweat. He is endearing and captures the performance with an ease of timing and purpose that makes you hungry.
Equally, Gosling is frenetic and brilliant. His character portrayal is beautifully and mercilessly flawed. This gives an added extra as Gosling seems to perfect his portrayal of Holland March with a methodical flow. You become sympathetic and angry at the character. A testament to the brialliance of Gosling.
The combination works and it works well. At first I was uneasy about Crowe and Gosling being able to pull off this buddy team. However, your mind is at ease as soon as they hit the screen together.
There is another who makes this films cast stand out. Screen starlet Angourie Rice (who plays Goslings daughter Holly March) - tempers the relationship between Crowe and Gosling. This is not her only attribute as she stands firm in her own shameless portrayal. She is quite the actress. Her humour and movement give her, easily the break away performance of this movie.
There is quite a support cast (look it up).
This movie is a gem. I don't need or want to say too much because I genuinely want people to watch it.
My faith in good, old fashioned, simple, well put together screen plays have been restored. This movie shows that there is not always a need to spend 12.3 billion dollars on an ensemble cast with heavy special effects. It is simple and beautiful. It is irreverent and conclusive. The only bitter pill to swallow was that it ended....