Before I begin, you should know that Ryan Gosling is my boyfriend. Sure, my fictional boyfriend, but we're pretty tight nonetheless. And I happen to believe that Lars and the Real Girl
was one of the best films of 2007. It was a little gem of cinematic perfection. And the
simple story worked so magnificently that I was simultaneously charmed
and intimidated by director Craig Gillespie.
And now my two favorite film people (Gosling and Gillespie) are reteaming for "The Dallas Buyers Club," the true story of Texan electrician Ron Woodroof who was diagnosed with AIDS in 1986, and pursued alternative drugs (setting up a lucrative drug-smuggling business in the process) that ended up prolonging his life far beyond his original diagnosis.
Unsurprisingly, I think the casting and directing choices are brilliant. Producer David Bushell tells Variety what many of us already know:
"Ron was this hard-drinking, carousing outlaw who got ticked off when told to go home and die," Bushell said. "This is about one man's enduring spirit to live and the effect his actions had on others, even if his actions didn't start out entirely as altruistic." 'Lars and the Real Girl' showed Craig's ability to take offbeat, almost dangerous characters and make you want to bring them home for dinner, and Ryan stirs the deepest emotions with every performance."
I highly recommend an evening with "Lars and the Real Girl." Prepare to laugh. Out loud. And bring Kleenex.
One day, Gosling's Oscar will come....
Nadine Bells
on her toes
**Read more articles by Nadine Bells**
