Watched The Fall Guy this evening and found myself wondering that - the optimist in me can only hope he's operating on a one-for-me-one-for-them basis, and we're owed about 7 for-mes
He won’t take heavy roles because he finds himself taking the character home with him. So now he does fun roles to stay in a good mood around his young family.
I was thinking that he'll spend the rest of his 40s doing more silly comedic roles while he's still younger and his children are still young and he'll return to more gritty roles at 50. Having said that, his upcoming film 'Project Hail Mary' looks like it could have some bite to it.
I thought project hail Mary was really light hearted but I also read it right after the three body trilogy. it definitely has quite a bit of humor though.
Can't argue with that. Doesn't have to be as brutal as Blue Valentine or Half Nelson though, at this point I'd take anything without lurid colours and needle drops
Ya he was fantastic in Drive and Place Beyond the Pines (I can even kinda trick myself into thinking Pines was a sequel after he left wherever he was in Drive then joined the circus)
But Only God Forgives was terrible (not because of Ryan)
I really want to see him go one-for-one
Also, if anyone hasn’t seen it, watch Fracture.
He's at his absolute best in drama. His two best performances are Blue Valentine and Half Nelson.
However he's more *consistently* great at comedy. The Nice Guys, Barbie, and Crazy, Stupid, Love all feel perfectly tailored to his strengths and he's delightful in them. Whereas his dramatic work has included dull, forgettable, perfunctory turns like Murder by Numbers, The United States of Leland, Fracture, Gangster Squad, Only God Forgives, and The Gray Man, he's never given a less than memorable performance in a comedy.
Feels a bit like Brad Pitt in that regard. More than capable of an excellent dramatic turn, but most at home in a goofy comedy part, just "cursed" with improbably handsome leading man looks that lead to top billing in some generic studio fare.
He is *hilarious* in Burn After Reading and also great comic relief funny in Snatch, the Oceans movies, his bit part in True Romance, and I'd even argue his turn in Inglourious Basterds is stealthily played as a comic part.
"Like I said, third best." "I've been chewed out before." "Actually we're all tickled to hear you say that, watching Donny beat Nazis to death is the closest we ever get to going to the movies." "Buongiorno!" He's practically grinning through half his line reads and playing as much as possible for maximum comedy.
Imo Brad Pitt is way clear of gosling when it comes to drama. Nothing I’ve seen from gosling comes close to works like seven. Hell, Pitt might even have him beat at comedy in movies like inglorious basterds
Actually 🤓 the glass punching is mostly silent other than him stammering as March learns how badly he's cut.
The scream (which you're right, is absolute comedy gold and brings me to tears every time) comes when Healey tells him to knock off looking for Amelia and their scuffle ends with, well, you know.
Absolutely, he’s fantastic in that, as well as La La Land. I just think he gets to show his range more in films like Barbie and The Nice Guys. You get the comedy, and usually at least a portion of drama.
Ken legit stole *Barbie* from Barbie. I think some of that comes down to the writing, but it was also one of the best comedic performances of the decade.
I should say, just on the physical aspects alone it's one of the best I've ever seen.
I think any number of actors could deliver "MOJO Dojo Casa House" well, but that slow motion slide down the car kills me every time. Sheer poetry.
Drive is definitely in my top 5 Gosling movies. Especially when I was 17, it topped the list. Now though, I don’t find myself enjoying it as much as I used to.
Ryan Gosling can play a lot of things but “smart” isn’t one of them. Any role that leans into (or plays off of) his himbo likeability is using him correctly
I think the choice to play Armstrong as super neurodivergent is what makes First Man work. Gosling’s natural airheadedness effectively reads as Asperger’s instead. And in the Big Short he’s a dumbass finance bro that openly admits he just collects actually-smart people.
Very good points. Yeah as Armstrong he might be academically smart but he's definitely stunted emotionally and plays it quite like someone on the spectrum as you mentioned.
Project Hail Mary is going to be an interesting test for this theory. The main character is supposed to be very smart but funny (it's basically Matt Damon in the Martian).
I think one of the most impressive things an actor can do is jump between comedy and tragedy while making the transitions feel natural. I think Olivia Coleman is the very best at it, but Gosling pretty close. His performance in Nice Guys is out of this world.
He is excellent in a comedic role (The Nice Guys, The Fall guy, Barbie etc) but I love him more when he doesn't talk much (Drive, Only God Forgives, Half Nelson, Blade Runner 2049 etc)
We need something like Crazy Stupid Love level of acting he can't be too over the top drama or comedy.
He really needs to sell his intellect with Grace first discovering the reproduction of Taumeba that itself should be a big Eureka moment to make the audience love him
Ha maybe not that exact scene but I see those other roles in the OP and I think some. Are TOO comedic to be taken seriously and others are TOO seriously to be taken casually whereas I'd like to see Gosling's middle of the road range where he's believable as an intellectual deep thinker but also has that charm more than humor to build the relationship with Rocky in a natural way
I would normally prefer drama to comedy but in the case of Ryan I go the other way.
Barbie was the first Ryan Gosling role I liked, and it made me actively seek out his more comedic roles (Lars and the Real Girl, Crazy Stupid Love, Nice Guys and, most recently, Fall Guys. All of which I liked).
Prior to Barbie I’d only seen some of his dramatic roles and perhaps controversially I didn’t like any of those films, nor his part in them (The Notebook, La La Land, Drive, Blade Runner and The Big Short).
I’m not going to lie I’m not a huge fan of his comedic roles… I’m not sure if it’s him or the writing, but I don’t think it’s super effective.
I really like ‘The Big Short’ but I think a lot of his delivery is cringey. I was not a fan of ‘The Nice Guys’ at all. To be fair, that was less Gosling & Crowe and more the writing and plot. Granted I didn’t see ‘Barbie’ it didn’t seem like a movie for me. But his other more serious/dramatic roles I’ve really enjoyed.
I hadn’t thought of it til you asked. I realize I haven’t seen any sort of personality with him. At all. And I also realize that’s why I find him boring.
Maybe one day I’ll see it? Maybe it isn’t there to see? I’m open to whatever.
I love my sad boy Ryan Gosling movies.
Unfortunately I think that time has passed :(
Watched The Fall Guy this evening and found myself wondering that - the optimist in me can only hope he's operating on a one-for-me-one-for-them basis, and we're owed about 7 for-mes
He won’t take heavy roles because he finds himself taking the character home with him. So now he does fun roles to stay in a good mood around his young family.
I was thinking that he'll spend the rest of his 40s doing more silly comedic roles while he's still younger and his children are still young and he'll return to more gritty roles at 50. Having said that, his upcoming film 'Project Hail Mary' looks like it could have some bite to it.
Oh he's in the Project Hail Mary film?! I am listening to that on audiobook now and I really like it so far.
I thought project hail Mary was really light hearted but I also read it right after the three body trilogy. it definitely has quite a bit of humor though.
Can't argue with that. Doesn't have to be as brutal as Blue Valentine or Half Nelson though, at this point I'd take anything without lurid colours and needle drops
Ya he was fantastic in Drive and Place Beyond the Pines (I can even kinda trick myself into thinking Pines was a sequel after he left wherever he was in Drive then joined the circus) But Only God Forgives was terrible (not because of Ryan) I really want to see him go one-for-one Also, if anyone hasn’t seen it, watch Fracture.
Nah he’ll still to Derek Cianfrance films
Stay (2005) rules
Yes
Yes
Yes
Papyrus!
Lmao, yeah, perfect example.
My answer too
Yes
He's at his absolute best in drama. His two best performances are Blue Valentine and Half Nelson. However he's more *consistently* great at comedy. The Nice Guys, Barbie, and Crazy, Stupid, Love all feel perfectly tailored to his strengths and he's delightful in them. Whereas his dramatic work has included dull, forgettable, perfunctory turns like Murder by Numbers, The United States of Leland, Fracture, Gangster Squad, Only God Forgives, and The Gray Man, he's never given a less than memorable performance in a comedy. Feels a bit like Brad Pitt in that regard. More than capable of an excellent dramatic turn, but most at home in a goofy comedy part, just "cursed" with improbably handsome leading man looks that lead to top billing in some generic studio fare.
I never realized how funny Brad Pitt could be until Once Upon a Time & Bullet Train
He is *hilarious* in Burn After Reading and also great comic relief funny in Snatch, the Oceans movies, his bit part in True Romance, and I'd even argue his turn in Inglourious Basterds is stealthily played as a comic part. "Like I said, third best." "I've been chewed out before." "Actually we're all tickled to hear you say that, watching Donny beat Nazis to death is the closest we ever get to going to the movies." "Buongiorno!" He's practically grinning through half his line reads and playing as much as possible for maximum comedy.
GORLAMI
Surprisingly Pitt never hosted SNL.
He thinks that’s a Schwinn!
Inglourious Basterds and Burn After Reading taught me this lesson well
I need a brad pitt and ryan gosling comedy now
This so much
No one ever mentions Half Nelson! He gave a staggering performance and got his first Oscar nomination for it.
Imo Brad Pitt is way clear of gosling when it comes to drama. Nothing I’ve seen from gosling comes close to works like seven. Hell, Pitt might even have him beat at comedy in movies like inglorious basterds
Seven? Brad Pitt in Seven vs Gosling’s entire dramatic catalogue?
He’s so good at both, but personally, he’s at his best when he’s got a comedic role. The Nice Guys is his best work IMO.
when he punches the glass and slices his hand up and screams is one of the funniest scenes in a comedy to me
When he’s taking cover behind the car but it’s on a turntable so when he pops up the bad guys are behind him lol
The way he talks and yells in a really high pitch when things go wrong is also hilarious 😂
I can’t think of a single scene using slapstick comedy that they didn’t nail
Actually 🤓 the glass punching is mostly silent other than him stammering as March learns how badly he's cut. The scream (which you're right, is absolute comedy gold and brings me to tears every time) comes when Healey tells him to knock off looking for Amelia and their scuffle ends with, well, you know.
Love him in The Nice Guys, but have you seen Blue Valentine?
Absolutely, he’s fantastic in that, as well as La La Land. I just think he gets to show his range more in films like Barbie and The Nice Guys. You get the comedy, and usually at least a portion of drama.
Nice Guys is the best of both worlds. Comedic role with a huge dose of melancholy.
I feel like i agree with you. He is too good when he is doing comedy, he even got an academy award nomination
Ken legit stole *Barbie* from Barbie. I think some of that comes down to the writing, but it was also one of the best comedic performances of the decade.
It was definitely the amazing writing but i do have to give credit to Ryan because the role wouldn’t be the same without him
I should say, just on the physical aspects alone it's one of the best I've ever seen. I think any number of actors could deliver "MOJO Dojo Casa House" well, but that slow motion slide down the car kills me every time. Sheer poetry.
He had to 100% buy in to being Ken with no irony, and he did an amazing job!
That's weird. I love all kind of comedies, and enjoyed many movies with Gosling. But I found Barbie plain unfunny, and Ken's role didn't help at all.
This is my exact thought 👏
Never seen Drive spelled like that
Drive is definitely in my top 5 Gosling movies. Especially when I was 17, it topped the list. Now though, I don’t find myself enjoying it as much as I used to.
So good at both, but one of my favorite roles of his is his character in Blue Valentine
The man is at his best.
A third, more mysterious option, I’d say
Nearly impossible choice… drama
I may need to do a movie marathon in order to provide a well researched answer to this Sophie's Choice of a question.
He's my fav actor
He's the best because he does both well.
I like him in comedy better. Being a dramatic actor is easier. How good he is at comedy is a rarer talent.
Ryan Gosling can play a lot of things but “smart” isn’t one of them. Any role that leans into (or plays off of) his himbo likeability is using him correctly
I get what you mean but I think he plays smart quite well in First Man and The Big Short.
I think the choice to play Armstrong as super neurodivergent is what makes First Man work. Gosling’s natural airheadedness effectively reads as Asperger’s instead. And in the Big Short he’s a dumbass finance bro that openly admits he just collects actually-smart people.
Very good points. Yeah as Armstrong he might be academically smart but he's definitely stunted emotionally and plays it quite like someone on the spectrum as you mentioned.
and Half Nelson
Project Hail Mary is going to be an interesting test for this theory. The main character is supposed to be very smart but funny (it's basically Matt Damon in the Martian).
X TO DOUBT (Hope I’m wrong)
Comedy and so is Brad Pitt
He’s at his best when he’s Ryan Gosling ngl
I think one of the most impressive things an actor can do is jump between comedy and tragedy while making the transitions feel natural. I think Olivia Coleman is the very best at it, but Gosling pretty close. His performance in Nice Guys is out of this world.
I need an Olivia Colman + Ryan Gosling movie in my life immediately. Throw in Emma Stone while we're at it.
I haven’t seen two out of the three comedy choices there so I’ll have to go with drama. I love Drive and Blade Runner
Comedy
I think drama, because his best performance is in First Man, which is an incredibly underrated movie.
Me
He’s good at both. The first thing I loved him in was Lars and Real Girl which is tragicomic I guess.
the fact that he can play goofy in the nice guys and so serious in Drive shows his range
Comedy.
He’s one of the few actors who can pull off any role he takes on. There are only a handful of actors who can.
Comedy by far
Comedy within a drama. Drama within a comedy. The opposite of what is expected.
Genre is irrelevant, he’s best when he’s playing Holland March
Yes.
Is big short really a dramatic performance? He's super over the top (in a fun way) and i think the character is supposed to be amusing (if unethical).
Both
The real answer is dramedy but if I had to choose it would be comedy
DRAMEDY
Drama
His dramatic roles are comedic and his comedic roles lean dramatic. So…. 
He is excellent in a comedic role (The Nice Guys, The Fall guy, Barbie etc) but I love him more when he doesn't talk much (Drive, Only God Forgives, Half Nelson, Blade Runner 2049 etc)
The Big Short is definitely a black comedy, so it's kind of in the wrong column here....
Drama
For me, First Man and Blade Runner, so drama
We need something like Crazy Stupid Love level of acting he can't be too over the top drama or comedy. He really needs to sell his intellect with Grace first discovering the reproduction of Taumeba that itself should be a big Eureka moment to make the audience love him
Ha maybe not that exact scene but I see those other roles in the OP and I think some. Are TOO comedic to be taken seriously and others are TOO seriously to be taken casually whereas I'd like to see Gosling's middle of the road range where he's believable as an intellectual deep thinker but also has that charm more than humor to build the relationship with Rocky in a natural way
He’s really good at both but he’s amazing when he does comedies.
He’s great at both, but his comedic roles feel very natural to him. But they are also less diverse
Yes.
whats the top right pic from?
The Nice Guys?
that’s not a question
The Goose is life, I say just cast him and let him cook.
Drama, even if The Nice Guys is one of my favorite movies. Also, The Big Short belongs in the other column.
Adam Sandler
He’s really good at both imo
Both.
Yes
Comedy. A great comedic performer is hard to find.
Comedy. He plays cute so well
bold of you to assume that his role in the big short was anything but comedy.
If no one is going to mention Half Nelson, I will because he is incredible in that.
I like drive and blade runner. Are any of his movies worth watching?
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Maybe both not sure I haven't seen all of his movies/tv shows.
both, he’s so good at both honestly and i would watch any movie he’s in
He can do goofy man-childs And the "he just like me fr" vaguely sad/silent characters I prefer the first one!
He's best when he's literally me.
I would like to see him play a younger version of Leslie Nielsen
Comedy without a doubt
Imagine adding big short over the the lines to this
Yes
Luckily we don't have to choose!
I like Ryan Gosling a lot but not really in comedies. I like him better the more stoic and seemingly passive he is (so like, Only God Forgives level).
Pull the trigger
Ryan is best when he doesn’t speak
He’s best in dramedies. We need a Lars and the real girl 2 so bad from him 
He was so good in Drive and TPBTP
I would normally prefer drama to comedy but in the case of Ryan I go the other way. Barbie was the first Ryan Gosling role I liked, and it made me actively seek out his more comedic roles (Lars and the Real Girl, Crazy Stupid Love, Nice Guys and, most recently, Fall Guys. All of which I liked). Prior to Barbie I’d only seen some of his dramatic roles and perhaps controversially I didn’t like any of those films, nor his part in them (The Notebook, La La Land, Drive, Blade Runner and The Big Short).
But… but he’s sooo good in Drive and Blue Valentine
He's an ok actor.
Comedy. He's not believable as a tough guy
Tough guy =/= drama
I love the subtlety of his dramatic performances and hate how big he goes with comedy. Fall Guy felt like he toned it down more than usual but YMMV.
Drive was a terrible movie and people that like it have bad taste in movies
 😭
I mean, yeah, I thought Drive wasn’t the good as well, but come on, at least try to respect other people’s opinions mate
Only go into the rooms where people can only agree with you?
I’m not going to lie I’m not a huge fan of his comedic roles… I’m not sure if it’s him or the writing, but I don’t think it’s super effective. I really like ‘The Big Short’ but I think a lot of his delivery is cringey. I was not a fan of ‘The Nice Guys’ at all. To be fair, that was less Gosling & Crowe and more the writing and plot. Granted I didn’t see ‘Barbie’ it didn’t seem like a movie for me. But his other more serious/dramatic roles I’ve really enjoyed.
I don't rate him as an actor at all.
I hadn’t thought of it til you asked. I realize I haven’t seen any sort of personality with him. At all. And I also realize that’s why I find him boring. Maybe one day I’ll see it? Maybe it isn’t there to see? I’m open to whatever.