Ryan Gosling is a rising young star in the movie world. Hes not rising in the way that James Van Der Beek or Luke Perry did, Gosling is actually quite the brilliant actor. With just a few starring roles in The Believer, Murder by Numbers and now The United States of Leland he has established himself as a powerful dramatic actor that WILL be the next Robert De Niro or Sean Penn.
In The United States of Leland, Gosling plays Leland the complex young man who is sent to juvenile prison for murdering the retarded brother of his ex-girlfriend. Gosling plays Leland as an extremely smart but very sad young man, very caring and sensitive but obviously with a strong capacity for violence.
Check out the website for the movie.
Daniel Robert Epstein: Are you growing that beard for anything special?
Ryan Gosling: You know us crazy kids. Well do anything crazy to our hair.
DRE: What was it like visiting the juvenile detention center for research?
RG: Yeah I went to the school that [writer/director] Matthew Ryan Hope taught at. I had a one on one with a couple of people. The most interesting thing I did was judge a talent competition there. That was just such a more intimate view than I expected to get out of the people there. I thought that was important.
DRE: You seem to heap layers of damage on the character of Leland. There is a certain way he carries himself. Is there more to him than we can even suspect?
RG: I thought a lot about him. With all of the little things, a lot of them are in the script and some Matt and I collaborated on. Then it took on a life of its own but when I watch it now it looks like somebody who is in shellshock a little bit. It looks like he is in physical pain even though he isnt.
DRE: What is your feeling about human beings committing this kind of crime?
RG: I think were very complicated and were capable of all kinds of things and movies dont reflect that. I think this is an example of the experiences Ive had with the people in the juvenile detention center. More importantly than the crime I think its more interesting to see people who dont feel appropriately. I relate to that because sometimes I dont feel anything at all for things Im supposed to and other times I feel too much. Its not always like it is in the movies. As far as Leland is concerned I feel its important to show that one thing that you do doesnt define you as a human being. It doesnt mean there arent ramifications or you shouldnt pay for that but its not who you are. If you do one good thing that doesnt define you either. Being around the kids in the juvenile center they were engaging, they made us laugh but they were there for doing something terrible. The film is interesting because it picks up where a newspaper leaves off. They say This kid is a monster and now hes in prison. So the film really examines that person and doesnt let you write him off.
DRE: Youre embarking on a very successful career right now. How did visiting that detention center put your life in perspective?
RG: After ten minutes you want to leave. You get out and you just feel that freedom is such a gift.
DRE: Youve done movies where you do many violent acts. Is that a release for you?
RG: You mean if I wasnt doing movies would I be in prison [laughs]. I didnt get there and feel like Home Sweet Home [laughs]. I felt a connection with those kids because were not very far apart in age but we obviously have different lives. I dont know that Im glad I have an outlet. I dont think I would put my aggression elsewhere but working on the projects I have worked on you tend to benefit personally from trying to wrap your head around the way other people look at the world.
DRE: Have you figured out why people might commit violent acts?
RG: Yeah I think have but that doesnt mean I would. I think that Lelands reasons are much more complicated than most of the people I met in the prison.
DRE: Has this inspired you to become a mentor or anything like that?
RG: Its probably more like it is a project that is now over. I dont feel like I would be a good mentor. I dont know what I have to offer in that respect. I do this for pretty selfish reasons.
DRE: What was the mood like on set? Did you feel the need to have some levity?
RG: Don [Cheadle] was great for that. Hes such a pro. He doesnt have to put himself there all day to get it right. He can just turn it on. I think he sensed when he came on that we needed something.
DRE: Was it tough to shake off the sadness that Leland had?
RG: No because I really liked Leland, I really liked playing him and I missed him when it was over. He had a sensitivity I really admired and that was a nice place to be. It wasnt a problem because I thought he was quite beautiful.
DRE: I read an article about you the other day where you were talking about how you were suicidal at one point.
RG: I think about death a lot like I think we all do. I dont think of suicide as an option but as fun. Its an interesting idea that you can control how you go. Its this thing thats looming and you can control it.
DRE: Youve done so many heavy movies. Do you have a comedy you want to do?
RG: I feel like those kinds of things are just for entertainment value and I dont like to be entertaining. I dont like the feeling of being entertaining. If there was a musical or a comedy that was not just for entertainment but was rooted in something I could relate to on a real level then I think I would do it. I try not to discriminate against genres. I did a film called The Notebook which was kind of a different genre. I think its important to explore those.
DRE: I read you were in The Mickey Mouse Club with Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christine Aguilera. Was it hard to escape that?
RG: It happened quickly. I was 11 and it was this brief thing that happened. I feel like everything has happened naturally. I dont remember it at all. Do you remember when you were 11?
DRE: If I was in The Mickey Mouse Club I would. Do you still have the ears?
RG: I dont recall having to wear the ears.
DRE: So you werent briefly married to Britney or anything.
RG: [laughs] Youll get nothing interesting out of me.
DRE: Do you see the movie as hopeful or depressing?
RG: I think it is very hopeful because anytime you make a deep connection the way Pearl and Leland do its an important feeling to have. The fact that Leland is able to do it is an amazing accomplishment for someone who is as guarded as he is.
DRE: Ryan how will you entertain us next?
RG: [laughs] A minstrel act [Ryan does jazz hands].I finished a movie called Stay that will be out this fall. Its very serious of course.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
In The United States of Leland, Gosling plays Leland the complex young man who is sent to juvenile prison for murdering the retarded brother of his ex-girlfriend. Gosling plays Leland as an extremely smart but very sad young man, very caring and sensitive but obviously with a strong capacity for violence.
Check out the website for the movie.
Daniel Robert Epstein: Are you growing that beard for anything special?
Ryan Gosling: You know us crazy kids. Well do anything crazy to our hair.
DRE: What was it like visiting the juvenile detention center for research?
RG: Yeah I went to the school that [writer/director] Matthew Ryan Hope taught at. I had a one on one with a couple of people. The most interesting thing I did was judge a talent competition there. That was just such a more intimate view than I expected to get out of the people there. I thought that was important.
DRE: You seem to heap layers of damage on the character of Leland. There is a certain way he carries himself. Is there more to him than we can even suspect?
RG: I thought a lot about him. With all of the little things, a lot of them are in the script and some Matt and I collaborated on. Then it took on a life of its own but when I watch it now it looks like somebody who is in shellshock a little bit. It looks like he is in physical pain even though he isnt.
DRE: What is your feeling about human beings committing this kind of crime?
RG: I think were very complicated and were capable of all kinds of things and movies dont reflect that. I think this is an example of the experiences Ive had with the people in the juvenile detention center. More importantly than the crime I think its more interesting to see people who dont feel appropriately. I relate to that because sometimes I dont feel anything at all for things Im supposed to and other times I feel too much. Its not always like it is in the movies. As far as Leland is concerned I feel its important to show that one thing that you do doesnt define you as a human being. It doesnt mean there arent ramifications or you shouldnt pay for that but its not who you are. If you do one good thing that doesnt define you either. Being around the kids in the juvenile center they were engaging, they made us laugh but they were there for doing something terrible. The film is interesting because it picks up where a newspaper leaves off. They say This kid is a monster and now hes in prison. So the film really examines that person and doesnt let you write him off.
DRE: Youre embarking on a very successful career right now. How did visiting that detention center put your life in perspective?
RG: After ten minutes you want to leave. You get out and you just feel that freedom is such a gift.
DRE: Youve done movies where you do many violent acts. Is that a release for you?
RG: You mean if I wasnt doing movies would I be in prison [laughs]. I didnt get there and feel like Home Sweet Home [laughs]. I felt a connection with those kids because were not very far apart in age but we obviously have different lives. I dont know that Im glad I have an outlet. I dont think I would put my aggression elsewhere but working on the projects I have worked on you tend to benefit personally from trying to wrap your head around the way other people look at the world.
DRE: Have you figured out why people might commit violent acts?
RG: Yeah I think have but that doesnt mean I would. I think that Lelands reasons are much more complicated than most of the people I met in the prison.
DRE: Has this inspired you to become a mentor or anything like that?
RG: Its probably more like it is a project that is now over. I dont feel like I would be a good mentor. I dont know what I have to offer in that respect. I do this for pretty selfish reasons.
DRE: What was the mood like on set? Did you feel the need to have some levity?
RG: Don [Cheadle] was great for that. Hes such a pro. He doesnt have to put himself there all day to get it right. He can just turn it on. I think he sensed when he came on that we needed something.
DRE: Was it tough to shake off the sadness that Leland had?
RG: No because I really liked Leland, I really liked playing him and I missed him when it was over. He had a sensitivity I really admired and that was a nice place to be. It wasnt a problem because I thought he was quite beautiful.
DRE: I read an article about you the other day where you were talking about how you were suicidal at one point.
RG: I think about death a lot like I think we all do. I dont think of suicide as an option but as fun. Its an interesting idea that you can control how you go. Its this thing thats looming and you can control it.
DRE: Youve done so many heavy movies. Do you have a comedy you want to do?
RG: I feel like those kinds of things are just for entertainment value and I dont like to be entertaining. I dont like the feeling of being entertaining. If there was a musical or a comedy that was not just for entertainment but was rooted in something I could relate to on a real level then I think I would do it. I try not to discriminate against genres. I did a film called The Notebook which was kind of a different genre. I think its important to explore those.
DRE: I read you were in The Mickey Mouse Club with Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christine Aguilera. Was it hard to escape that?
RG: It happened quickly. I was 11 and it was this brief thing that happened. I feel like everything has happened naturally. I dont remember it at all. Do you remember when you were 11?
DRE: If I was in The Mickey Mouse Club I would. Do you still have the ears?
RG: I dont recall having to wear the ears.
DRE: So you werent briefly married to Britney or anything.
RG: [laughs] Youll get nothing interesting out of me.
DRE: Do you see the movie as hopeful or depressing?
RG: I think it is very hopeful because anytime you make a deep connection the way Pearl and Leland do its an important feeling to have. The fact that Leland is able to do it is an amazing accomplishment for someone who is as guarded as he is.
DRE: Ryan how will you entertain us next?
RG: [laughs] A minstrel act [Ryan does jazz hands].I finished a movie called Stay that will be out this fall. Its very serious of course.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 16 of 16 COMMENTS
Other than him being really hot which is what most of these comments are about honestly this dude is really really talented. If he keeps progressing the way is he is now and choosing roles and showcase his talent I think he'll be huge one day.
I like that almost every role he's had he's played someone who is suffering and lost in one way or another. He always seems to pick characters who are a little out there and I really love that about him. Maybe that's because if I was an actress I would pick those types of roles too...whatever.
He's amazing though, cute and Canadian!!
Faye said:
Other than him being really hot which is what most of these comments are about honestly this dude is really really talented. If he keeps progressing the way is he is now and choosing roles and showcase his talent I think he'll be huge one day.
Half Nelson was a fantastic acting showcase for him (and Shareeka Epps). A million things about that role could have been played bombastically but he kept it subdued and nuanced.