Why Roger Ebert Praised Ryan Gosling’s ‘Lars and the Real Girl’ Performance

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Before taking on the role of the solitary astronaut Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary, Ryan Gosling played a uniquely eccentric character that showcased his ability to portray loneliness. This performance, which came a year after his Oscar nomination for Half Nelson, impressed renowned film critic Roger Ebert, who praised Gosling’s moving and heartfelt portrayal.

Directed by Craig Gillespie (known for I, Tonya) and written by Nancy Oliver (Six Feet Under), Lars and the Real Girl showcases a particularly strong and unique performance from Ryan Gosling. This charming independent film explores themes of love, self-discovery, and the meaning of family. Gosling plays a kind but lonely young man who develops a connection with an inflatable doll he orders online. Despite the unusual premise, the film’s genuine emotional depth is what makes it truly special.

‘Lars and the Real Girl’ is a High-Wire Act That Gosling Walks With Aplomb

Despite a potentially silly idea, Lars and the Real Girl is a genuinely sweet and heartfelt romantic comedy – one of the best indie films of the last two decades. The movie explores the theme of loneliness through the story of Lars Lindstrom (Ryan Gosling), a shy and kind young man still grieving the loss of his mother and feeling neglected by his emotionally distant father. After becoming afraid of being touched, Lars finds comfort in his brother Gus (Paul Schneider) and Gus’s wife, Karin (Emily Mortimer).

Karin encourages Lars to be more open and social, and he responds by bringing home Bianca – a very realistic doll he ordered online. He begins treating Bianca as if she were a real person, even a romantic partner, but without any sexual aspect. This behavior increasingly worries his friends, Paul and Karin, who are concerned about his mental health.

Instead of making fun of Lars, the people in his town play along and treat Bianca as if she’s a real person. Even his therapist, Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson), supports his fantasy, believing it’s helpful. This kindness and understanding help Lars gain confidence, improve his self-esteem, and gradually overcome his fear of being touched.

Wow, Ryan Gosling really showed his acting chops with this one, especially considering how different it was from his role in Half Nelson just a year before. He played Lars with such genuine sweetness and a kind of naive innocence that you instantly find yourself hoping things work out for him, even though he’s clearly living in a bit of a fantasy world. It’s a really endearing performance.

Roger Ebert Heaped Praise on Gosling in ‘Lars and the Real Girl’

Despite not being a financial success in theaters, Lars and the Real Girl received widespread critical acclaim. It currently has an 81% ‘Certified Fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the late film critic Roger Ebert being a major champion of the movie. He gave it a 3.5 out of 4-star review, praising the film’s sensitive direction and Ryan Gosling’s nuanced acting.

The film is remarkably tasteful and avoids anything exploitative or disrespectful. It could easily have fallen into predictable traps, but it skillfully avoids them by being completely genuine. There’s a refreshing innocence and honesty to its approach.

Ebert also extolled Gosling’s daring, perfectly modulated performance, adding:

Most actors would have reasonably rejected this role, fearing it would be a disaster. Ryan Gosling’s performance is remarkable for its perfect balance. He avoids being overly sad, weird, distant, or overly serious. His strangely calm behavior is what makes it work, and the final result is genuinely rewarding.

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2026-04-11 19:18