Disc Reviews
The Nice Guys 4K Review
Shane Black’s 2016 detective noir comedy sees Ryan Gosling’s loser father, Holand March team up with more effective, but shady, detective Jackson Healy as they search for a missing young woman in 70’s L.A.
Black brings the same wit and unashamed glee he brought to Kiss Kiss Bang Bang back in 2005. Gosling and Crowe make for an effective team, and there’s a decent supporting cast along the likes of Matt Bomer (who plays a hit-man named John Boy) and Keith David as one of many assailants the two have to go up aginst, and Kim Basinger puts in a good effort as a not to be trusted employer. Gosling’s character has a teenage daughter who pretty much does what Penny did for Inspector Gadget, but thankfully, she’s not an annoyance.
There are twists and turns along the way, and there’s enough of a hit rate with the visual jokes than most films tend to muster these days. Gosling’s botched attempt at breaking the glass on a door is an early highlight, as is his bungling efforts to keep a toilet cubicle door open as he talks with Crowe’s character.
Second Sight are one of the prime UK based companies that deliver some of the best 4K transfers, and also usually provides a decent batch of extras. The Nice Guys joins that club. There are a few new interviews, including half an hour with Shane Black. Black also turns in a newly recorded commentary with his co-writer.
There is also a fairly interesting video essay on Black’s buddy movie script history, as well as the Buddy movie history outside of Black’s work. It’s a sub-genre he has helped define and redefine over and over. Let’s all hope he has another crack at it again soon.
Steven Hurst
Special Features
• Dual format edition including both UHD and Blu-ray with main feature and bonus features on both discs
• New 4K UHD master produced by Second Sight Films and presented in HDR Dolby Vision approved by director Shane Black
• New Dolby Atmos audio produced by Second Sight Films and original 5.1 audio mix
• New audio commentary with Shane Black and co-writer Anthony Bagarozzi moderated by writer Priscilla Page
• Knights in Tarnished Armour: a new interview with Shane Black
• Finding an Audience: a new interview with co-producer Ethan Erwin
• A Thousand Cuts: a new interview with director of photography Philippe Rousselot
• From Lethal Weapons to Nice Guys: a video essay by Leigh Singer
• Always Bet on Black: archive featurette
• Worst Detectives Ever: archive featurette
• Cast Interviews
• Trailers Limited Edition Contents
• Rigid slipcase with new artwork by OC Agency Group
• 150-page hardback book with new essays by Mitchell Beaupre, Barry Forshaw, Jamie Graham, Justin LaLiberty, Naomi Roper, Hannah Strong and Nadine Whitney
• Nine collectors’ art cards
The Nice Guys 4K is out on 16th June 2025