Archive for ryan gosling

Finding Meaning in a Meaningless World: Blade Runner and 2049

Posted in Whatever, You've Gotta See This with tags , , , , , , , on 06/30/2021 by Taylor Holt

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!

Released in 2017, Blade Runner 2049 appears to have had a largely similar effect as its 1982 predecessor: a financial disappointment that divided audiences. The difference this time around is that critics were all on board; something that can’t be said for the original at the time it released. But there are much deeper connections between the two than that; even deeper than the average sequel cash-in that simply didn’t have the attention paid to it so it would stand on its own.

As any sequel worth its salt, 2049 expands upon the central theme to the original film. Director Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner asks the question, “What makes us human?” Director Denis Villenueve’s sequel asks something that takes that question a step further with “What gives us meaning?”

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You Gotta See This: Only God Forgives

Posted in You've Gotta See This with tags , , , on 11/21/2013 by Taylor Holt

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Spoilers!

Stars: Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas, Vithaya Pansringarm

Rated R for strong bloody violence including grisly images, sexual content and language , Running time 90 minutes, 2013, Crime/Drama/Thriller

Compare to: The American (2010), I Saw The Devil (2010)

Now, I use this title with caution. Most of the movies in this category are things that you may have to jump a mental hurdle or two to get out of what may be your normal movie-watching headspace; if you do that, you should love just about everything on this list. Continue reading →

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Movie Review: Gangster Squad

Posted in Reviews! with tags , , , , on 01/23/2013 by Taylor Holt

gangster-squad

Stars: Josh Brolin, Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Giovanni Ribisi, Nick Nolte, Anthony Mackie, Robert Patrick, Michael Michael Pena

Rated R for for strong violence and language, Running time 92 minutes, Action/Crime/Drama

Compare to: The Untouchables (1987), Tombstone (1993)

It’s funny how attracted people are to the lifestyle of gangsters and killers. No matter what they’ve been exposed for doing, people never tire of the old school ways of suits, guns, cars, and basically just doing whatever you want, regardless of what side of the law you’re on. Continue reading →

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You Gotta See This: Drive

Posted in You've Gotta See This with tags , , , on 05/10/2012 by Taylor Holt

Stars: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Bryan Cranston

Rated R for strong, brutal, bloody violence, language and some nudity 2011, Drama/Action/ Noir

Compare to: Payback (1999), Brick (2005)

On one hand, Drive has already received enough critical praise as well as making five times it’s fairly low budget (profit of $75 million on a $15 million budget). On the other hand, much of the less vocal movie-going audience weren’t satisfied and so much so that it feels reasonable to add this to You Gotta See This. It’s also part 2 to my “Movies from 2011 that didn’t get as much attention as they should have,” the first being the Fright Night remake. Drive is like that meal you eat that isn’t light, but it doesn’t make you want to throw up everything you just ate from being too heavy. It’s just right. Continue reading →

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