Ryan Gosling Is a Complicated Heartthrob

When you think of Ryan Gosling, you probably think of the smooth and charming heartthrob that is the handsome lead in sappy romantic dramas. But why do you think that? Because of The Notebook, right? But what else? The Notebook certainly put Gosling on the map, but when it comes down to it, it was a rather isolated role for the Canadian-born actor. Gosling seems to have been typecast after just one “defining” role. With films like Drive, Only God Forgives, Gangster Squad, and Blade Runner 2049, he has actually portrayed more stoic tough guys than romantic leads, especially in the films of Nicolas Winding Refn. And his other “romantic” films actually aren’t all that romantic: Blue Valentine, for example, takes a brutal and scathing view of its central relationship, and we all know about the gut-punch at the end of Damien Chazelle’s La La Land. But regardless of how you view him, one thing is for sure: He remains one of the most versatile and talented actors working today.
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