So. I originally wanted to have three films with a private detectice being female but I couldn't find one film. There are shows where women are detectives but no private eyes. Just sexy CIA agents, or sexy spys or sexy police officers. Ugh. If I'm wrong about this, please send me titles of FILMS where the private eye is a woman and isn't one of the previously named cliches.
These are all California set, two of them set in the 70s and two are directed by Shane Black.
Inherent Vice
As a huge fan of Joaquin Phoenix, I of course loved this long hauled story about a private eye who is high, drunk or neither and gets called a 'damn hippy' all the time. The mystery involves his ex-girlfriend going missing as well as a whole other heap of trouble and weirdness. In fact, his ex-girlfriend, who shows up for one of the most uncomfortable and irriting reunions scenes becomes a redherring and an anti-climatic moment. Its all about Larry "Doc" Sportello and his being, as well as three cases that all linked. Not loved by all, but I do love a detective story.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Fantastic opening credits that rival 'Catch Me If You Can' and follows through with one of the best Robert Downey Jr roles ever. A thief escapes the police after a robbery gone wrong by busting into an audition. Giving such a 'real' performance, he is offered a role to star in a Hollywood film but has to have 'private investigator' lessons first. Val Kilmer is Gay Perry, a gay P.I (and that's literally his name) who takes RDJr out on a job BUT it all goes wrong and they end up involved with a high profile murder case. Making up the team is Michelle Monaghan as RDJr's childhood crush who works with Perry while aspiring to be an actress. Broken down into chapter, each one is pleasingly named after a classic film noir/detective novel, all which are relevent to the main case. Such a great film, at times I wish that had been a sequel, but I know it would have been bad if made.
The Nice Guys
Another day, another dollar, another duo with a blend of comedy gold and murder mystery. At first glance, the pairing of Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling is odd but as soon as the action begins, everything falls into place. Things are made far better with Gosling being the ridiculous one with responsibility (a sassy tween daughter) and Crowe is calm, cool loner. Its not what you'd expect BUT the plot that thickens is, involving, in true 70s style, a porn actress' death, a high ranking official of the Justice department's wayward daughter and something about car and the environment. It looks amazing, the story is fun and threatening in equal measures and I loked it far more than I thought I would.
