I initially was hesitant about even watching this movie, but I have to say this is definitely one of my top favorite movies of the year so far. For one thing, I though the acting was excellent, notable performances in particular by Ryan Gosling and Emily Mortimer. Secondly, as someone who finds psychology and what motivates people to act the ways they do, I found here a virtual smorgasbord. And finally, this is a movie about a lot of people making difficult but good decisions -- it is about love, humility, acceptance without being judgmental, and loving even when it is uncomfortable. A trying but refreshing journey.
A strange, but great movie. It was not what I thought it was going to be. The back said what it was about but I just didn't process it through as the way it was read I guess.
Gosling still shows he can pull off many characters and I have yet to see him do something bad. He has talent and no one seems to notice it really. He really made Lars into the person everyone loves. Despite his 'flaws!'. Mortimer does an excellent job as well, being the sister in law concerned for his well being.
It is worth checking out and don't be surprised if it throws you off a little at first. Just stick with it.
One of the weirdest films i think i have ever seen. I did quite enjoy it and though Ryan Gosling was perfect in the role of Lars. The ending could of been better but all in all it was a decent film.
This movie is great! It will not be what you expect I'm sure. This movie is bitter sweet kind of like biting into peanut brittle candy. I really could relate to the characters in this film and there were many funny and touching scenes. I definitely recommend this one!
I just enjoyed watching this. It has endearing characters that you don't see everyday. The fact that a whole town would agree on helping a young man cope with his issues, though surreal in real life, is lovely to watch nevertheless.
First I should tell you that I'm a sucker for movies with people who have mental illnesses of any kind and I am now a fan of Ryan Gosling.
There are so many little things I loved about it. But espically how much the town grew to really love and understand Lars, and Bianca.
And that girl! She's my hero. Anyone who likes somebody that much and has to watch him be in love with a doll.....just the way she handled everything was inspirational to me. She was so patient and understanding.
Lars is one of those unbelievable loveable yet very strange characters. And the whole thing with his father and the fact that contact causes him such pain...was so heartbreaking and fascinating to watch. Then, when I watched him get so emotional worrying about his brother's wife and the fact that she could die in labor.... it was so endearing because you know he feels that way seeing that his mom died giviing birth to him. God, I couldn't imagine what that must have been like for him as a little kid living with an angry father. :(
The fact that Bianca had so much in common with him was so sad, because I could see deep down he wanted someone to love and understand him. He wanted someone who had been through the same pain he had gone through.
I just loved him so much! The ending was especially amazing.
Loved it! wonderfully touching and original. I honestly don't think it's possible to watch this movie and not like it. a lesson in the therapeutic effect of compassion as well as the complexities of life experience and the human brain.
a tearjerker of mediocre stature, most of the emotions expressed were stagnant as any disbelief held was lost with a sense of the obvious, gosling was the only bright spot in this otherwise melodramatic feature
One of the most intense and unusual movies I have seen in a long while. It was good through and through it has a plot I never even thought of and the acting is playfully understated. It is funny heart wrenching and all around entertaining. I'm glad I watched this film more then most and that to me makes a five star must see. It's the type of film you do your best not to set up before showing it to people you know will appreciate it's warmth and subtlety. A standing O from me to everyone involved.
The downside to the movie, is that is reallly slow moving. The upside is that it is really cute. As the town warms up to the idea of Bianca, you warm up with them. It was very quirky and cute, and charming. Other than that, I don't think I would buy it or anything. Ryan Gosling was real good in it it. :)
Brilliant, but certainly misunderstood by the audience I was sitting with - touching, lovely acting by all, but does take a little leap of faith to accept. Well worth the leap.
I cannot praise this movie enough. Laughable at times and heart breaking in others, this movie plays like a fantastic emotional rollercoaster. The acting was superb, especially Ryan Gosling. He blew me away with his portrayal of Lars, down to his little mannerisms. I truly felt that he became Lars and BELIEVED in him. The story was great. On paper it sounds a little strange (okay, A LOT strange) but it played out very well and once you were absorbed into the movie, everything that happened seemed natural. This movie is GREAT.
hahaha this movie is great man i couldnt stop laughing at how convincing Gosling was wit this girl and What and how the townsppl wud do 2 accommodate 4 gosling and his girl. I jus cudnt believe how nice every1 was. It was hilarious. such an odd premise but it worked out real well. i cudnt stop laffing, even at sad stuff. i loved it
Generally, I seek out movies that don't follow the Hollywood status quo, but when I originally saw the preview for this film, I thought the premise was ridiculous. If you're not familiar with it, Ryan Gosling (who delivers yet another outstanding performance-when is this guy going to win an Oscar, but I digress)is the socially akward protagonist incapable of forming meaningful relationships with other human beings. His way of dealing with his self-inflicted isolation is to initiate an intimate relationship with an ultra-realistic, life-size sex doll named Bianca. The film follows the life cycle of his relationship with Bianca and how the community comes to accept & even embrace the unorthodox arrangement. The film highlights the intrinsic goodness of people, something that's easy for a skeptic like myself to forget in a world filled with people committing atrocities against one another. In many ways, the inhuman sex doll helps Lars & his community demonstrate the depths of their humanity. Another aspect of the film I really appreciated was the concept of delusion. A delusion is considered a mental disorder and thus inherently negative. Lars, however, needs his delusion to fully develop his social skills, as well as his ability to experience love. His level of delusion is extreme in that he outwardly manifests it in Bianca, but the truth is, in the real world, people delude themselves everyday. We believe what we want to believe and see the world as we want it to be. It's a basic psychological mechanism for dealing with the fear, boredom & alienation we experience in our daily lives. So, my question is, is some level of delusion necessary for people to be happy (i.e. religion-sorry I just couldn't help myself)? I'd like to believe my view of the world is authentic, but, then again, maybe I'm just fooling myself.
I really thought this was going to be a comedy and it was a comedy but actually a serious one!!.. not only it was great but it had purpose not like a lot of movies out there it had a meaning and it went for it and they actually got it!! see it and don't judge!!
A delusional young guy strikes up an unconventional relationship with a doll he finds on the Internet.
Do not be fooled and judge this movie by its cover. This is not just a movie about a man and a lifesize doll. This is a movie about communication and relationships. This movie has it all... comedy, drama, sadness, heart... some parts are hard to watch and some are just incredibly touching. There are a number of great performances... Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Kelli Garner, and Patricia Clarkson. I definitely recommend checking out this quirky and unconventional film.
One of the most ridiculous premises constructed into one of the years best films. A movie about a loner turns into a movie about a community. Gosling further moves up the ladder towards greatness following Half Nelsen. He could easily be starring in any big budget crap film, but he's choosing these.
This isn't about a man falling for a doll. It is about a man's coping mechanisms to his fgear of abandonment. It's about how his community embraces him. It is a moving, beautiful piece of art. Well done!
Directed by: Craig Gillespie. Starring: Ryan Gosling, Kelli Garner, Patricia Clarkson, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider.
<< "See they're even fake so they'll never die." >>
The story follows Lars, a shy, delusion young man who lives in the garage alongside his brothers house. The brother and his wife clearly see that something is wrong with Lars when he shows a complete barrier from those around him. When one day a package arrives at his doorstep, things change when he introduces his girlfriend to the town...a sex doll ordered off the internet.
Yeah I know, the basic idea sounds fucked up and really resembles something that Will Ferrell might do...and I am glad that a film like that never got made. I was thinking this could have been a gimmicky film, playing like a one-note and trying to stretch its idea over a 90 minute runtime, but Lars and the Real Girl actually makes something unexpected...a great film.
The first act pretty much plays like a comedy, we learn Lars awkwardness and Ryan Gosling does so brilliantly (I'll get to that) and when the sex doll arrives and it is introduced to the town, you certainly can't help but have a laugh at the way that Craig Gillespie portrays the events, with the right awkward tone and incorrect nature of it all...but as soon as the second act hits, we learn the films true calling. Its a story about humanity, about the inner choices we make to become who we are in life, its handled with such a sweet and thoughtful tone and a real uplifting feeling, that even when the key characters are introduced and we know where the film is bound to go, your already in the film enough to care, no matter what.
The performances are giving everything by all. Kelli Garner is sweet and believable, giving her the edge when we want the film to end the way it does, as with Patricia Clarkson and Mortimer and Schneider are a great balance as the couple helping Lars out, where Mortimer is caring, Schneider is awkward and funny. But the man to be mentioning is Ryan Gosling, who continues to prove that he is the best actor of his generation. He injects the role with so much, that it really can be seen as 'method acting'. His condition is something real and his connection with Bianca is raw and life like. He nails the characters awkward, shy personality with such deft skill and when his character goes through the emotional changes, hes there the whole way, its a performance among others that is being overlooked.
Lars and the Real Girl is a real film that could have gone differently, had Hollywood really had its say. A brilliantly written tale and a perfect portrayal of a small Christian town and the strange event that hits them, but the changes that happen are thoughtful, funny, weird and ultimately uplifting and exactly the way you want them to be. Highly recommended.
MCT:July 5, 2008
MCT:July 5, 2008
MCT:July 5, 2008
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MCT:June 29, 2008
MCT:June 27, 2008
