To The Moon and Back
From scaring the daylights out of us in The Place Beyond the Pines to making us roar with laughter in The Nice Guys, you can point to any of Ryan Gosling’s performances and find a reason to be enthralled. From the looks of things, his portrayal of Neal Armstrong looks to be one of painful realism as well as patriotic inspiration. Let’s hope that it can compare to some of these standpoint cinematic moments from Mr Gosling’s filmography.
#5: Elevator Make Out
“Drive†(2011)
This stylish thriller is peppered with incredible moments of heart-pumping action and tense, often silent standoffs between characters. However, it’s this scene, the one that takes place entirely in the confines of an elevator that makes us wish we could have Ryan Gosling all to ourselves. Confronted with the fact that any moment he is going to be attacked by a gun-toting thug, Gosling’s character gently pushes co-star Carey Mulligan into the corner of the elevator for a steamy make out session. The lights dim, the music slows, and our passions for the Canadian-born actor become increasingly unbridled. Sure, he smashes a guy’s face into pieces immediately after, but he was just protecting his girl!
#4: Ukulele Performance
“Blue Valentine†(2010)
Remember before when we said you’d need a box of tissues to make it through “Blue Valentine? Yeah, this is one of the few scenes where you can put them away. Gosling is an absolute delight to behold as he serenades co-star and on screen lover Michelle Williams while armed with nothing more than his strange singing voice and a ukulele. As he strums away and she tap dances in front of him, it’s almost impossible not to crack a smile. Something about this scene just feels totally genuine and spontaneous. Maybe it’s because we love people who have those qualities that we can’t get enough of Gosling in this scene!
#3: Final Montage
“La La Land†(2016)
Take those tissues back out! After nearly two hours of watching Gosling and Stone dance and sing their way across the screen, it’s almost too much to bear when the film’s stunning climax reminds us that the world is an imperfect place and oftentimes we don’t get what we truly desire. The film’s lengthy third act montage is an incredible combination of practical sets and brilliant editing. However, the centerpiece of the scene is the relationship between the two main characters. As the montage ends and we return to reality, our hearts break as we watch Gosling sitting alone at his piano, imagining a life that will never be. Thank god for that final smile!
#2: The “Dirty Dancing†Lift
“Crazy, Stupid, Love†(2011)
Has Ryan Gosling ever been hotter than when he took off his shirt in this scene? After successfully getting her to his jaw-droppingly beautiful home, Gosling’s Jacob pulls out all the stops in his attempts to woo Emma Stone’s Hannah. From making her an elaborate cocktail to dropping the needle on a classic piece of vinyl, it’s obvious that’s he’s going all-in. Of course Hannah sees right through his ploy… but that doesn’t stop her from demanding he take off his shirt. While Gosling’s ripped physique is impressive, it’s his ability to successfully pull off the “Dirty Dancing†lift that truly makes us swoon.
#1: 365 Letters
“The Notebook†(2004)
And you thought we forgot! What kind of list would this be if a scene from Gosling’s most swoon-worthy film didn’t appear? This film has no shortage of steamy scenes to choose from, but the one we’re going with is without a doubt the most classic. After their lovely afternoon is interrupted by a sudden storm, Allie confronts Noah about why he never wrote her while he was away. It’s the look of absolute heartbreak on Noah’s face as he realizes that the 365 letters he wrote never reached Allie that gets us every time. Thankfully, he has a short memory, pulling Allie in for one hell of a kiss!
Be sure to check out the video below to see our picks for the Top 10 Must-Watch Ryan Gosling Performances.Â
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