Ryan Gosling is on quite a roll, having established himself as one of the top leading men in Hollywood. He has the looks and the acting chops to succeed in Hollywood, but also brings the charisma needed for stardom.
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Gosling as born and raised in Canada and started acting when he was 13. He landed a number of roles in independent films and then broke out with his performance in “The Notebook” in 2004. He then got a Best Actor nomination for “Half Nelson” in 2006 and then delivered a nuanced and compelling performance in the quirky “Lars and the Real Girl” in 2007.
His career took off in 2011 with roles in “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” “The Ides of March” and “Drive.”
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Bullz-Eye.com Interview with Ryan Gosling
We interviewed Ryan in 2011 in connection with the release of “Drive.” He offered up a fascinating quote about how he viewed himself: “I’m not that good looking. I’m a pretty weird looking guy. I know that, but that’s the magic of movies. If you play somebody who is a romantic lead it casts that spell and people believe that about you, but it’s not true. Every role I ever got until I played in ‘The Notebook’ was the weirdo, freak, psychopath, nerd, outsider character guy.” It would be interesting to hear of his view of himself has changed over the years.
Ryan Gosling Performances
“Crazy, Stupid, Love” (2011)
Ryan Gosling plays a ladies man in this excellent rom-com starring Steve Carell and Julianne Moore as a couple going through a divorce. Carell plays Cal, a guy in his forties who is ill-equipped to enter into the single life. Gosling’s character Jacob takes pity on him and takes him on as a reclamation project. It’s the perfect role for Gosling, making it clear to Hollywood he has the goods to be a leading man. He also has great chemistry with the beautiful Emma Stone which won’t be forgotten by casting directors.
“Drive” (2011)
This film generated a huge buzz with the opening car scene. Gosling stars as the unnamed protagonist referred to simply as Driver in the film’s credits, a Hollywood stuntman and mechanic who moonlights as a getaway driver to make some extra cash. Film critic Jason Zingale notes in his review that Gosling is essential to the film’s success, “[E]ven though he barely speaks, Gosling’s modern day Man With No Name is instantly likeable thanks to the actor’s ability to ooze charm and Steve McQueen-like coolness without batting an eye.”
“The Place Beyond the Pines” (2013)
Gosling stars in this solid crime drama opposite Eva Mendes and Bradley Cooper. Jason Zingale notes Gosling magnetic performance as the tattoo-covered, bleach blonde bad boy, “Gosling’s segment is the standout, not only because it lays the groundwork for the rest of the film, but because it provides the best balance of drama, action, and even a little comedy thanks to an entertaining turn from Ben Mendelsohn, who’s fast becoming one of the best character actors in Hollywood.”
“The Big Short” (2015)
Director Adam McKay is known for his comedies, but he does a brilliant job with the serious topic of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The story of the mortgage crisis is brilliantly told in this film based on the bestselling book by Michael Lewis. Gosling is part of an excellent ensemble cast featuring Steve Carell, Brad Pitt and Christian Bale. Gosling shines as a cocky investment banker looking to bet against the mortgage market.
“The Nice Guys” (2016)
This buddy cop film stars Gosling opposite Russell Crowe. “[The] dialogue crackles with wit and humor, while the chemistry between Gosling and Crowe is outstanding. The two actors form one of the best double acts in recent memory, and although Crowe is quite good as the sardonic straight man, Gosling is the real standout, delivering a side-splittingly funny physical performance that makes great use of his comedic abilities, whether he’s screaming like a little girl or cartoonishly paralyzed by fear.”
“La La Land” (2016)
This film from Damien Chazelle is a loving homage to the big, bold and colorful musicals of Hollywood’s Golden Age featuring two of Hollywood’s brightest stars in Gosling and Emma Stone who reunite in this film. Jason Zingale notes that “both actors have playful, down-to-earth personalities that make them extremely likeable, as well as an old-school glamour that feeds into the film’s nostalgic spirit.”
“Blade Runner 2049” (2017)
This sequel to Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic, “Blade Runner” by filmmaker Denis Villeneuve comes 35 years after the release of the original film. Harrison Ford returns as Rick Deckard, and Gosling stars as Officer K who is sent out to find him. Film critic Jack Giroux notes, “The world of “Blade Runner 2049” is grand, but so is its lead character, who struggles with conflicts that are beautifully expressed by Gosling, often through silence. Villeneuve and the writers tell the story primarily from his point of view, which in some ways helps make this familiar world feel new again.”
“First Man” (2018)
Director Damien Chazelle’s third film is a classic Hollywood biopic covering the life of astronaut Neil Armstrong. Gosling handles the lead role as Armstrong nicely here, capturing the quiet dignity of the man.
“The Gray Man” (2022)
Gosling plays the lead character Sierra Six who is recruited out of prison to become a ‘gray man’ for the CIA — a disavowed agent used to kill enemies of the state that the United States can’t officially dispatch. The cast also includes Billy Bob Thorton, Chris Evans and Ana de Armas. It will be interesting to see if Netflix can turn this big-budget action film into a franchise.