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Ryan Gosling

Written by Jed Medina

Saturday, 09 June 2007

The Believer
Ryan Gosling was awesome in Half Nelson, terrific in Lars and the Real Girl- now what's next for this talented Canadian?
by Jed Medina

Ryan Gosling was once asked what it takes to be an actor. He replied:

"Acting isn't that hard, really. I mean, I think that people make a big deal about it, but you just kind of try to say your lines naturally. You try to make them sound like you're saying them for the first time, but that's about it. I think that it's an interesting job. I think that you can sort of have your own personal journey and you know, you can just kind of apply that to whatever characters you're playing."

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I can picture him as Henry Latham in Marc Forster's Stay, where he played a disturbed suicidal teen and in the recently acclaimed film Half Nelson where he played a teacher with a drug habit and I can easily understand why he's such a good actor.

With the nomination for Best Actor in this year's Oscar, it is but another testament to his growing reputation as an actor to be reckoned with.

A Personal Agenda: What makes him different and in a class of his own, aside from his acting, is his desire to be heard- in some of today's important social issues. Here we have a good looking actor who knows how to act and has a conscience. There is this inner anger, not with himself but the way the world has taken its course. He wanted to make a difference and if being an actor can do it, then he is determined to make his mark.

"It was reported that Gosling is very much involved in PETA and is considered an animal activist. He also made his presence and has participated in the ONE campaign, to make a difference for people overcome poverty and be aware of the danger of AIDS."

But let's go back to how he started.

Launching an Acting Career: After a successful stint as part of the new Mickey Mouse club, where he was cast together with Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, Gosling concentrated more on acting, unlike his peers who now are some of the most acclaimed musical performers.
Working on his acting resume, he went to perform some notable roles in television, including a starring role for The Young Hercules.

After that, he went on to take roles in the movies. He got his first break on the big screen playing one of the squad of players coping with the integration of the football team in the 1970s-set true-life drama "Remember the Titans". That was in 2000.

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The Believer: A turning point: A year after that, he performed as an articulate and impressionable young Jewish teen who becomes involved with a neo-Nazi group in "The Believer". The film was a success at Sundance and allowed Gosling to received acclaim as an up and coming actor. His performance for this film was considered a turning point for the young actor. Gosling, who was not so well known back then, said in an interview about his role- excerpt follows:

How did you hear about the role of Danny Balint, the character you play in "The Believer"?

A couple of my friends were auditioning for it, and I was helping one of them with his lines. As I read it, I realized I wanted to play Danny real bad. So I begged to get an audition. I was lucky that Henry [Bean, the writer/director] fitted me in as his last appointment, and then I got the role.

What was the appeal of this character, a Jewish man who becomes a rabid neo-Nazi?

My friends were talking about this being such a great part - and it clearly is - but it's an obvious contradiction. I didn't know at the time that it was based on a true story. More than anything I felt the film had such a reverence for a faith that I had such respect for. I wanted to meet the guy who wrote it.

Making it Big: Next in line for Gosling were The Slaughter Rule and the high-profile Murder by Numbers where he was casted with Sandra Bullock and Michael Pitt.

But it was in the film The Notebook that moviegoers really went gaga over him. Considered as his breakthrough performance in mainstream cinema, he played the young romantic lead opposite Rachel McAdams. It was a big success and the two young actors capitalized on the frenzy by an amusing performance at the MTV awards.

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“I had a really great time doing it but this felt like something that I should do as a character that is a very different character than what I’ve played. I just try to play as many characters as I can. You know how department stores will have those things where if you win, you get ten minutes and you get to go in and take whatever you want from the store? That’s what I’m doing. I’m just trying to grab as many characters as possible before they pull the plug on me. I don’t know if I’ll do this again.” says Gosling after doing the film.

While some critics panned the 2005 film Stay where he pitted acting talents with Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts, there is simply no stopping Gosling from becoming the promising young actor that he is. As Henry Latham, Gosling portrayed his role to perfection. He can be manipulative and dangerous, fragile and on the verge of a breakdown, charming and confused. His screen presence is very strong and the camera loves him. The intensity of his acting remains high throughout the film.

Half Nelson: But in Half-Nelson he delivered the best performance of his young career to date. Gosling is Don Dune, a charming and brilliant young man whose increasing dissatisfaction with his life forced him to turn to drugs. As an idealistic high school history teacher, he believed that in order to enlighten his young students, he needs to veer off the school’s mandated lesson plan and discuss history from his personal perspective. Equating history to being man’s collective set of actions and reactions, he is trying to send a message that the subject is best appreciated when issues as explosive and as sensitive as the Civil rights movements are discussed, dissected and argued about. He wants them to think for themselves and question facts.

He could have kept his drug habit away from the classroom where he is dynamic and inspiring but he was caught doing it by one of his most promising students, Drey (Shareeka Epps). Instead of reporting him, Drey sort of entered into an unwritten agreement with him, made them closer to each other and in many ways, allow both to realize that not all is lost.

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There is this under-current between Gosling and Epps’ characters. Its not really sexual, but sometimes there is a hint to it.

‘No students bother me like you.’ says Dune resting in his car, after a night of drug-induced frenzy.

‘Asshole!’ says Drey, leaving abruptly.

‘Bitch!’ was Dune’s curt reply as he goes back to sleep.

While Gosling did not win for his amazing performance, Epps was not even nominated for her role.

What to expect: Gosling will next be pitting talents with Anthony Hopkins in Fracture, where he played a young District Attorney out to get Hopkins’ character for murder. Expect some fireworks, with such a taut, fast-paced thriller. Also stars Rosamund Pike (Pride and Prejudice).

Mr. Gosling is also making his directorial debut, for a film about Africa and the plight of child soldiers.

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Ryan Gosling: What Would His Mother Say?: When Ryan Gosling's mother, Donna, sat down with her son to watch his first leading role in film - as the ferocious Jewish neo-Nazi in The Believer - she lasted only 10 minutes before bursting into tears and locking herself in the bathroom. Watching her son so plausibly embody a desolate soul who feels nothing but furious contempt for his own heritage, she felt that she'd failed him and that he was channelling his own emotions. It took Gosling an hour to coax her out. [ read more ]

Ryan Gosling: Meet The Star Of 'Lars and the Real Girl': Ryan Gosling's attitude got him fired by Disney when he was just 12 years old. Today it's made him one of the most terrifyingly intense actors in Hollywood, capable of making even an on-screen romance with a rubber doll seem believable. Will Lawrence meets the one-man talent pool [ read more ]

GOSLING WATCH: The latest news on Ryan Gosling: If there is any news about Ryan Gosling, expect tMF to be one of the first to put it on the headlines. After the buzz surrounding his exit from the new Peter Jackson film, The Lovely Bones, Gosling is the subject of an interview for GQ Magazine and an awesome article about the young actor was recently launched. [ read more ]

GQ Feature and Film Controversies : Ryan Gosling is definitely on the spotlight! A few days ago, people were talking about Jake Gyllenhaal, another tMF favorite and one of today's most popular young actors. but now Gosling steals his thunder with an upcoming GQ spread! [ read more ]

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Comments (5)

LATEST UPDATES ON RYAN GOSLING!

Thought I would put these 2 latest project updates about Ryan here in his profile.

New movie stills (2 stills) of Ryan in his upcoming film, Lars and the Real Girl have been released. Please click on the link below, to view them. As you may notice, supposedly, Ryan gained some weight to do this role. This movie sounds like such a charming and sweet story, I can't wait to hopefully get to see it.

CHECK OUT NEW STILLS OF RYAN GOSLING IN LARS AND THE REAL GIRL

Source: MovieWeb.com

The latest news on Ryan's music career, is that Ryan and his band, Dead Man's Bones, has just released their very first song on the band's MySpace page! I'm very interested, and I look forward in keeping up with all the new developments with Ryan's band.

Please take a listen to their self titled first song. They have a very unique sound indeed! Let us know your thoughts.

TAKE A LISTEN TO THE FIRST SONG FROM DEAD MAN'S BONES ON THEIR MYSPACE PAGE

Jan , July 21, 2007

The Lovely Bones update

As usual it is Cinematical that posted the latest on this highly-anticipated film by Peter Jackson. tMF will soon launch a special feature for this film.

Says Kim of that amazing site:

I warmed up to Jackson when he cast Ryan Gosling and Rachel Weisz as Jack and Abigail Salmon, the parents of Susie Salmon, the murdered girl;

More here!

Admin , July 23, 2007

More Cast For The Lovely Bones

Thanks Jed, I will certainly look forward to tMF launching a feature on this great sounding film. Here are the latest updates from Cinematical on more cast that has been added to the much anticipated film, The Lovely Bones.

*Rachel Weisz - Abigail Salmon (mother of murdered young girl)

*Ryan Gosling - Jack Salmon
(father of murdered young girl)

*Irish actress Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon (the young murdered girl). Ronan will also be in the upcoming film Atonement.

*Stanley Tucci - George Harvey
(the young girl's killer)

*Susan Sarandon - Grandma Lynn
(the young girl's grandmother)

*Michael Imperioli - Len Fenerman
(the detective in charge of investigating the young girl's death). Imperioli was also from the A&E show, The Sopranos.

Source: Cinematical - The Lovely Bones Cast & News

I have not read the book, but it is my understanding that Susie's sister has not been cast yet. She supposedly is an important character in the book.

I happen to notice recently on the IMDb message board for The Lovely Bones, some were surprised of the cast choice to play the killer. It caught my eye when someone suggested that perhaps Peter Sarsgaard would have made a good cast choice to play the killer....and I think he would have as well. Peter can play menacing, but at the same time, not look or sound menacing. Of course, I look forward to seeing Tucci's portrayal as the killer, and especially the rest of the cast as well.

Jan , August 11, 2007

Lars and the Real Girl Trailer!

Recently released trailer and movie poster for Ryan's upcoming film, Lars and the Real Girl. This is a comedy, but supposedly also a very heartwarming story as well. Ryan picks such interesting choices in films, and this one is certainly unique as far as a romantic story! I will certainly be following this movie, when it premieres at TIFF next month. This may be difficult to get to see in theatres for some, since this is suppose to be in limited release.

Check out the trailer below, and please give us your thoughts, and if your interested in seeing this.

HIGH DEFINITION TRAILER FOR LARS AND THE REAL GIRL

LARS AND THE REAL GIRL MOVIE POSTER FROM WORST PREVIEWS

Jan , August 11, 2007

Gosling Not Doing The Lovely Bones!!

I was quite shocked to come upon this news, that Ryan Gosling supposedly pulled out of playing the lead role as the grieving father in the upcoming The Lovely Bones just one day before they were to start shooting! Variety say's that Mark Wahlberg will step in to play the lead role. The reason being given, is creative differences. As you know, many thought that Ryan was too young to play the lead role.

I must admit, I was disappointed to hear that Ryan won't be doing this, cause I trusted that once again, he would have given an amazing performance! :sigh

Variety is a pretty reliable source so, this appears to be true.

Wahlberg Replaces Gosling In The Lovely Bones

Jan , October 22, 2007

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