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Author:
Shantelle
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Date Posted: 14:31:15 05/16/02 Thu
In reply to:
Shantelle
's message, "Ryan's Hope" on 14:30:10 05/16/02 Thu
RedZone: Considering the characters you've played before this, why do you think you were right for this extremely dark role?
Ryan Gosling: This film just spoke to me on some level. I mean I had an overwhelming drive to do it. I had such respect for the project and I connected with it on a level that's hard to articulate. I'm so lucky to have gotten it because I didn't look the part. Actually, [director] Henry Bean had seen all these actors already and then I sent him some tape of me dancing to country music in REMEMBER THE TITANS. That was it. One scene of me dancing to country music and he said, "bring him in." Maybe he just thought I was ridiculous. [In actuality, Gosling had to audition several times, as bigger names were initially attached to the role]
RZ: Were you making a conscious effort to break out of the wholesome mold?
RG: I was making a conscious effort to stay in the wholesome mold (laughs). I think it's a pretty wholesome movie. I thought it was a really pretty love story. I'm not kidding. We all thought we were making different movies. Everyone was telling me it was about self-loathing and then I read it and I thought it was a story about love and a kid who just felt weak because he loved something too much. The thing that is interesting to me is that people are pinpointing the religious issue and it wasn't really about that. It could have been about anything. Anyone living in conflict. Anyone living two lives. Somebody once said to Henry, "I like this movie but I want to make a Catholic version." And that's really true about this movie. The religious aspect only became important to me just because I wanted to be Danny. The idea of a Jewish Nazi is a really powerful way of making that point. It's a very clear juxtaposition.
RZ: But you must have known after seeing the finished product that it would stir debate?
RG: I can't say I didn't think it would be controversial. I guess I did fear people would get the wrong idea.
RZ: Two of today's greatest actors, Russell Crowe and Ed Norton have taken on the skinhead role before - Crowe in ROMPER STOMPER and Norton in AMERICAN HISTORY X. Were you familiar with those performances and were they an inspiration for you?
RG: Being compared to Russell Crowe and Ed Norton in those roles were the two main things that terrified me about doing this movie. I didn't want to be put in a sentence with those two names. I could never compete. I said, the second I shave my head and I do a movie about this - although they're different journeys - somebody's gonna say our names together and that's such an insult to their performances. Somebody did say it once and I gave them a dirty look. I had to get over that though.
RZ: There were some frighteningly realistic scenes of violence in this picture. How were they to film?
RG: The tough thing about those scenes, especially the scene where I beat up the Yeshiva student coming off the subway, were the passersby. Everyone who was there to make the film knew why we were doing what we were doing, but the pedestrians didn't and they were horrified. And some of the extras didn't know what they were going to witness, so we started letting some go who couldn't handle it. Also, the boy whom I attack on the subway was actually a P.A. who had just joined the crew three days before. We couldn't find anyone to play that kid so we asked him to be in it, and that was hard because he wasn't an actor, but it was perfect for the scene because it made it all so real.
RZ: Are you concerned at all about your young fan base watching this movie and seeing you in a completely different light than they are used to?
RG: It's hard to wrap my head around the fact there may be a fan base out there beside my mother and the idea that some people will go see a movie because I'm in it. That being said, I really hope they see it. I think there's a really beautiful message in the film.
RZ: So you felt just as confident about doing this as any other project you've been involved with?
RG: I made the decision to do this the same way I have about any job I've accepted. I'm really proud of everything I've done as long as I had the right intentions. Just like I really wanted to be a part of THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, and I really wanted to do the kid shows I did. I felt just as good about doing those as THE BELIEVER.
RZ: People were talking about you at Sundance, Entertainment Weekly put you on their "It" list - how does it feel to all of the sudden have a performance under your belt that puts you on everyone's radar?
RG: I don't know. It was really the film that was getting the attention. It made me really happy because we worked so hard on it. Just having people respond to the movie was great. I don't know about the lists but I do love Entertainment Weekly. They've been so good to us from day one. They've had such wonderful things to say about the film.
RZ: How has your life changed since THE BELIEVER?
RG: My life has changed because now I read things like THE BELIEVER - they are more accessible to me now. The opportunity of being a part of something I am passionate about is more of an option to me now. The worst thing about being in L.A. and trying to be an actor is reading great projects and knowing no one will ever hear your words. Everything is happening to me for the right reasons. The film is getting attention because Henry made a good movie. It's not like I have lots of money now or anything. But the feeling of making something special is just so much more rewarding than financial rewards. I just feel lucky that I could buy my Mom a couch. I'm young, I have lots of time to do things because my kids need braces, but right now it really doesn't matter. As long as I have food for my dog.
RZ: In your next film MURDER BY NUMBERS you co-star with Sandra Bullock. Is it intimidating working with a movie star?
RG: Sandra is just such a person. She's only intimidating in that a 20-year-old boy is looking at a beautiful woman in a scene with him. The movie star thing never came to the set with her. I felt good about making this film. I'm glad I had a chance to do a big movie. Before this I had only made independent films.
RZ: You're on your way to being able to work with the best in the business. Who would be your dream co-stars?
RG: I have a list of top 5 actors and actresses I have to work with. Actors are Jeff Bridges, Geoffrey Wright, Bill Murray, Christopher Guest and David Morse. Benicio [Del Toro] is in there someplace too. Actresses are Frances McDormand, Meryl Streep, and Natalie Portman (she's not on this earth).
RZ: You got into the acting thing pretty young. Did you miss out on a lot of school?
RG: My mother home-schooled me and part of the curriculum was reading The Hobbit and watching PLANET OF THE APES and listening to Beatles records. Cool stuff. She's like, "here's what you need to know."
RZ: What's going on with your music? Did you have more musical or acting ambitions as a kid?
RG: All music. Acting came out of nowhere. I always wanted to make music and watch movies. I went to the Mouse Club to do music basically and I kind of had to act a little bit. And I thought "this is interesting," and I found myself doing it and enjoying it. Then I came to L.A. and said "wait a second, this is what I really want to do. I want to try and be good at this." Everything I did after that became important. The music is still in my life though. I have a studio in my room and make my own records. I play shows in L.A. It's something very personal for me and I'll always have it.
From Showtime
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