The Kick-Ass Effect on Angourie Rice and The Nice Guys
Film: The Nice Guys (2016). Young Actress: Angourie Rice, age 13.
Set in 1970s Los Angeles, The Nice Guys follows Holland March (Ryan Gosling, Lost River), a private detective, and Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe), an enforcer, who unexpectedly join forces. They find out about a secret film, made by a group of environmental activists, exposing corruption and pollution among the Detroit auto industry. Detroit and the government are both trying to destroy all copies of the film before its release, and one group is killing off the people involved in making it, while Holland and Jackson race to save them. The film has a fun, fast pace and an enjoyable mix of action, mystery, and humor. It also creates a '70s atmosphere without the dated elements that plague actual movies from that time period.
Holly and her dad
Angourie has a large supporting role as Holland's daughter Holly, who, despite her dad's attempts to keep her safe and make her stay home, tags along with the duo and becomes something of a sidekick to them. In his first scene, Jackson follows a 13-year-old girl as she meets with her "winner," then later, after she leaves, beats the pervert to a pulp with the warning, "Stay away from little girls." This girl prefigures Holly's role in the film as a redeeming influence on Jackson; in one scene, her pleading moves him to simply injure a bad guy, rather than kill him.
Angourie is a decent actress, although she seems somewhat limited by her character. Holly is smart, brave, usually more mature than her dad, and almost reaches Mary Sue levels as the film goes on. Thirteen during filming, Angourie resembles Chloe Moretz at that age, and I think Holly was a little too influenced by the Kick-Ass Effect.
AWARDS
Critics Choice: Nominated for Best Comedy.
Set in 1970s Los Angeles, The Nice Guys follows Holland March (Ryan Gosling, Lost River), a private detective, and Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe), an enforcer, who unexpectedly join forces. They find out about a secret film, made by a group of environmental activists, exposing corruption and pollution among the Detroit auto industry. Detroit and the government are both trying to destroy all copies of the film before its release, and one group is killing off the people involved in making it, while Holland and Jackson race to save them. The film has a fun, fast pace and an enjoyable mix of action, mystery, and humor. It also creates a '70s atmosphere without the dated elements that plague actual movies from that time period.
Holly and her dad
Angourie has a large supporting role as Holland's daughter Holly, who, despite her dad's attempts to keep her safe and make her stay home, tags along with the duo and becomes something of a sidekick to them. In his first scene, Jackson follows a 13-year-old girl as she meets with her "winner," then later, after she leaves, beats the pervert to a pulp with the warning, "Stay away from little girls." This girl prefigures Holly's role in the film as a redeeming influence on Jackson; in one scene, her pleading moves him to simply injure a bad guy, rather than kill him.
Angourie is a decent actress, although she seems somewhat limited by her character. Holly is smart, brave, usually more mature than her dad, and almost reaches Mary Sue levels as the film goes on. Thirteen during filming, Angourie resembles Chloe Moretz at that age, and I think Holly was a little too influenced by the Kick-Ass Effect.
AWARDS
Critics Choice: Nominated for Best Comedy.