Archived: Oct 29, 2007

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Lars and the real good movie

Ryan Gosling résumé expands

By Sinclaire Joyce

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Ryan Gosling may be the most talented to emerge from the New Mickey Mouse Club and with and Oscar nomination before he was 30 and another one on the way (wink wink).

Seeing good films makes my job very easy. But, seeing incredible films make my job a tad tougher. Why you ask? Because, then I have to come up with all the little details in the film that make it incredible.

This is the case for “Lars and the Real Girl.” Starring Ryan Gosling, the film is about a lonely man who lives in his brother’s garage and avoids his sister-in-law’s attempts to integrate him with the world.

Lars then buys an anatomically correct sex doll, named Bianca, not to be use for sexual purposes but rather to find something to have a deep meaningful relationship with. He introduces his sex doll to his brother and sister-in-law and then to the whole town. The town then tricks themselves into believing that she is real as well.

Gosling may be the most talented to emerge from the New Mickey Mouse Club and with and Oscar nomination before he was 30 and another one on the way (wink wink).

He is quickly rising to the top of one the greatest actors of our generation. His portrayal of Lars is absolutely astonishing. He becomes this character is every way.

His facial expressions, mannerisms and speech create this character and you forget that Ryan Gosling is the guy from “The Notebook.” He doesn’t exist anymore. He is now Lars. Every time he spoke to “Bianca,” you saw on his face that he truly believed she was real and he had affectionate feelings for her.

Even his reactions to her static nature and responses were believable. And it made me wonder, is the doll real? No the doll wasn’t real but I could have

Sworn that her expression changed or seemed to. I have since come to the conclusion that my mind was creating images to fit what normally would be on screen, had this doll been an actual person.

Reactions are what make this film work. When his brother and sister-in-law, Gus and Karin, played by Emily Mortimer and Paul Schneider, are introduced to “Bianca,” the looks on their faces are absolutely priceless. It is disbelief, confusion, worry and anger all rolled into one face, into one simple expression.

Then the transition from disbelief and worry that Lars has gone insane, to worry and concern over Bianca and her well-being was interesting to see. The people trick themselves into believing Bianca is real and are constantly reacting to her as if she is. Reacting to something that is completely nonhuman and manufactured in a factory and making it believable is something not all actors are able to do. This cast excelled in it.

More films must be made this way. Films that focus on the human aspect of life. Films that is rational and made to be narrative rather to make money. They should be relatable and people should be able to walk out of them and have a conversation about them. This film creates a connection with the viewer and makes you want to befriend Lars… and “Bianca” too.

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