FILM INTERVIEW: RYAN GOSLING

The Obviously Driven, Talented Actor Joins George Clooney in Drama 'The Ides of March'

By: Team Buzzine

October 7, 2011

It seems Ryan Gosling is everywhere these days, and that's because he is. On the heels of the release of his new action crime drama, Drive, he now teams up with George Clooney, Paul Giamatti, and Philip Seymour Hoffman in political drama The Ides of March. He sat down down with Buzzine to talk about working with George Clooney as a director, being Canadian, and his favorite chick flick.

Tim Wassberg: From your perspective, what type of director is (George) Clooney in how you deal with him?

Ryan Gosling: I don’t know how to define him. I guess he’s kind of like a… I wouldn’t want to define him.

TW: Did you learn some stuff from him, seeing how he can do both things – in front and behind the camera?

RG: Yeah, it was impressive to watch somebody wear so many hats, but at the end of the day, you start to feel like, well I can’t learn how to do this. This person is just superhuman somehow and can do all of these things. I don’t think I could ever multi-task like he does. And what’s so interesting is that he’s doing so many jobs – he’s the writer, director, producer, star…he’s politically involved, he’s got practical jokes going on all the time… He’s just always up to ten things at once, and at the same time, I’m sure it’s very stressful to be then, and yet he very actively tries to make sure that you don’t feel any of that stress, so he tries to create an environment on set that’s very light.

TW: You were talking about all these different things – the aspect of politics. How was your vision or point of view? Has it been changed by the movie, or what is your vision right now of American politics and how you see it, versus perhaps what the movie shows?

RG: It’s weird because the film is not political – it has no political message. George never had any intentions of communicating his political ideas, I don’t think. I think what he wanted to do was just start a dialogue, especially as these elections are approaching. But I think he just wanted to start a dialogue about them. In terms of my own political views, I did this film to become more informed. I didn’t feel informed enough; and one of the benefits of this job is that you can you have an allotment of time for pre-production, and that time is just dedicated to informing yourself, so it was great for me. Also, because George was involved, I got access to people I never would have had any access to before, so it was a real learning experience for me.

TW: The one thing you brought up before – being the maelstrom – I was in Toronto and I saw when you came up for Drive as well as this – it’s just insane, the reaction now to you by a lot of fans and a lot of people. How can you keep yourself grounded on that?

RG: Well I’m Canadian. Canadians are always happy to see someone Canadian. They can’t get enough. It doesn’t matter who you are. If you’re Canadian, you get a hero’s welcome.

TW: It seems like you like a lot of different types of movies, between Blue Valentine, this, Drive… What kind of movies and scenes are your favorite, in terms of: wow, if that comes on TV, I’ve got to watch that? What scenes really inspire you?

RG: I just saw Bridesmaids again last night. If that movie is on, I have to watch. That movie is so funny. All those girls are the best. Melissa McCarthy has a blog called Marbles. She’s incredible. She’s my Marlon Brando. Kristen Wiig…all of them. I think that’s a great film.

Columbia Pictures' 'The Ides of March' is released on October 7, 2011.