OnlyOnAOL: That time Ryan Gosling geeked out over Russell Crowe

By: Donna Freydkin

In "The Nice Guys," Ryan Gosling plays a dim-witted private eye who partners up with an enforcer (Russell Crowe) to find a missing woman in 1970s' LA.

The role, says the actor, fit him like that proverbial glove. "It was very easy. It took about ten minutes. I took a good look in the mirror and went, 'I got this,'" jokes Gosling.

He describes his character thusly: "He's a schmuck, honestly."

He signed on to work with Crowe, whom he had idolized for years for one of his lesser-known performances. "It was actually Russell's work in the 'Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,'" he deadpans.

For Oscar winner Crowe, the appeal of the film lay not in the laughs, but in the story. "I have a particular type of sense of humor. You can't tell me something is funny," he says. "Every single decision I've ever made about a movie starts with the narrative. I only do it if I believe in it."

Screenwriter and director Shane Black, the action master who penned "Lethal Weapon" and "Iron Man 3," wants to give the cast props for something other than their acting: "These guys rock the clothes. We got the cool version of the '70s," he says.

Legendary producer Joel Silver first worked with Black after he graduated from UCLA, which led to a filmmaking relationship that's lasted longer than many marriages. "Shane and I have been together for 30 years," he says.

His advice to wannabe filmmakers is simple.

"You have to be passionate about an idea and try to get it done," he says. "Just go out and do it."

As for Matt Bomer, who has a stunning and unexpected arc in the movie, "I was so lucky to be along for the ride on this."