Set in a snowy, sleepy Rockwellian town, Gosling's Lars is a shy loner who makes a point of avoiding interaction with his coworkers and even his brother and sister-in-law
NEW YORK -- Ryan Gosling has been turning in one great performance after another since his breakout role in 2001's “The Believer.” In that film he played a neo-Nazi skinhead who was hiding the secret that he was in fact Jewish. Watching him in that film, you couldn't help but think that you were watching a star being born.
Since then, Gosling has done his darnedest to stay away from rote Hollywood blockbusters and big-paycheck compromises. He seems to be constantly on the lookout for the strangest, quirkiest characters he can find. Take his latest film, “Lars and the Real Girl.” Set in a snowy, sleepy Rockwellian town, Gosling's Lars is a shy loner who makes a point of avoiding interaction with his coworkers and even his brother and sister-in-law (Paul Schneider and Emily Mortimer).
Then one day a crate arrives at Lars' home and the next thing he's introducing everyone to his new “girlfriend” – an inflatable doll he names Bianca.
It's never really spelled out if Lars is emotionally disturbed or mentally slow or just antisocial. Nevertheless, he seems to be liked by everyone in his small town. They want to protect him like a baby bird with a broken wing. Then one day a crate arrives at Lars' home and the next thing he's introducing everyone to his new “girlfriend” – an inflatable doll he names Bianca. Strangely, everyone is so happy to see Lars happy that they play along with his fiction. Even the town's shrink, played by Patricia Clarkson.
Some folks might find this part of the movie incredible and quirky and unbelievably silly. Me? I went with it just because Gosling sells it so totally. This great young actor has a way of doing that.
Now for a look at what else is new on DVD: in “Charlie Wilson's War,” Tom Hanks is a sizzled congressman who helps fund Afghan rebels on the sly; in “Cloverfield,” a bunch of good-looking kids battle a monster on a rampage in New York; and in “The Orphanage,” producer Guillermo Del Toro delivers scares from Spain.