You learn a lot about a noir character by their coffee: sugar? cream? more whiskey than caffeine?
As more of my film and TV analysis migrates to Shot Zero, I’m here cataloging coffee-making scenes in noir — two things I love to make and consume, both involving rote and ritual, which I take soul-dark and no sugar, machinations evolving over the years while base ingredients and effects remain the same.
The Nice Guys is period neo-noir which throws back to classic noir, and literally throws back to The Big Heat’s famous coffee assault . . . with somewhat different results.
It’s funny, yes, but who does the coffee-hurling is crucial — it’s not just more easily accepted Holly would bring coffee to a gun fight, but that she wouldn’t think about the liquid’s temperature, since she doesn’t drink the hard stuff yet.
Then after just enough banter you think the ‘bit’ is over . . . it works!
Extra round of applause for the great props touch which coordinates the 70s teal colour of the carafe with Holland’s shirt.