Ryan and I

Overheard on an ad for a reality show: “I love Ryan, but Ken touches my soul.”

I’m a retired university professor in the School of Education at a midwestern university. I teach a class on the Barbie movie for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and have taught classes on dreams and science fiction. I also write fan fiction. Ryan Gosling is a talented actor, singer, musician, dancer, and producer. He is also easy on the eyes (see above). Ryan received the 16th Annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film on January 13, 2024. I became a huge fan of his when I saw him as Ken in the Barbie movie. But I have also enjoyed since then many of his other movies. Here is a list of my favorite Ryan movies.

    1. Barbie – Ken and Barbie discover toxic masculinity in the Real World. Barbie becomes human. Ken is left to find himself. Ryan was nominated for an Academy Award for this role. He was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award. The song “I’m Just Ken” won a Critics Choice Award. Ryan won the following awards for this role as Ken: Atlanta Film Critics Circle Award, Michigan Movie Critics Guild award, Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award, Toronto Film Critics Association award, St. Louis Film Critics Association award, the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, and the UK Film Critics Association award. 

    1. La La Land – Ryan is a jazz pianist who wants to form a jazz club. Emma Stone is an aspiring actress. They have a romance. Ryan won a Golden Globe award and was nominated for an Academy Award. The film won a Critics Choice award. 

    1. The Fall Guy – Ryan plays a movie stuntman who must find a disappearing actor but risk his own life while trying to rekindle a romance with Emily Blunt.

    1. Drive – Ryan drives a getaway car from bank robberies. He falls in love but cannot have the girl of his dreams. He must protect her from hitmen. This film received a Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Ryan received a Critics Choice nomination.

    1.  Song to Song – Not much plot or characterization, but this movie is extremely beautiful visually and has a great musical soundtrack. Ryan looks terrific.

    1. Crazy Stupid Love – Ryan is a womanizer but to his surprise falls in love – yes, it’s Emma Stone again.

    1. Fracture – Ryan is an assistant district attorney who knows a man killed his wife but is having a hard time proving it.

    1. Lars and the Real Girl – Ryan is a shy man who falls in love with a life-sized sex doll. Ryan was nominated for a Golden Globe award. 

    1. The Ides of March – A political thriller where Ryan becomes disillusioned.

    1. First Man – Ryan is Neil Armstrong. Grieving the loss of his little girl, he does not expect to survive going to the moon but does. Ryan received a Critics Choice Award nomination.

    1. Stay – A psychological thriller. I love films about dreams.

    1. Blade Runner 2029 – This film looks at the meaning of being human. Ryan sacrifices himself for Harrison Ford.
    2. Half Nelson – Ryan is an inner city social studies high school teacher who is addicted to crack cocaine. He was nominated for an Academy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. 

    1. The Notebook – sentimental romance. Ryan gets the girl after four years of being separated.
    2. The Gray Man – Ryan discovers corruption in a government agency and as a result international hit men are after him. 

Movies to Avoid:

The Nice Guys – a lot of critics loved the comedy and the buddy relationship in this one, but I can’t stand all the nude pornographic movie models. Also Ryan smokes up a storm. 

Only God Forgives – There is not a single redeeming feature of this excessively violent movie, unless you enjoy watching Ryan get badly beaten up.

Gangster Squad – A lot of violence and not much else. Ryan and Emma Stone are cute together as always, though.

All Good Things – Ryan drags his wife by the hair and then kills her. He does some primal screaming.

The Place Beyond the Pines – the problem with this movie: Ryan is barely in it. He gets killed off after the first third. You may not like his tattoos , especially the teardrop one on his face. He met Eva doing this film. Ryan received a Satellite Award nomination.

Blue Valentine – the most depressing movie you will ever see about a marriage that is falling apart. Also contains pornographic content. Ryan was nominated for a Golden Globe award. His acting is excellent. 

Overheard on an ad for a reality show: “I love Ryan, but Ken touches my soul.”

I’m a retired university professor in the School of Education at a midwestern university. I teach a class on the Barbie movie for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and have taught classes on dreams and science fiction. I also write fan fiction. Ryan Gosling is a talented actor, singer, musician, dancer, and producer. He is also easy on the eyes (see above). Ryan received the 16th Annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film on January 13, 2024. I became a huge fan of his when I saw him as Ken in the Barbie movie. But I have also enjoyed since then many of his other movies. Here is a list of my favorite Ryan movies.

    1. Barbie – Ken and Barbie discover toxic masculinity in the Real World. Barbie becomes human. Ken is left to find himself. Ryan was nominated for an Academy Award for this role. The song “I’m Just Ken” won a Critics Choice Award. Ryan won the following awards for this role as Ken: Atlanta Film Critics Circle Award, Michigan Movie Critics Guild award, Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award, Toronto Film Critics Association award, St. Louis Film Critics Association award, and the UK Film Critics Association award. 

    1. La La Land – Ryan is a jazz pianist who wants to form a jazz club. Emma Stone is an aspiring actress. They have a romance. Ryan won a Golden Globe award and was nominated for an Academy Award. The film won a Critics Choice award. 

    1. The Fall Guy – Ryan plays a movie stuntman who must find a disappearing actor but risk his own life while trying to rekindle a romance with Emily Blunt.

    1. Drive – Ryan drives a getaway car from bank robberies. He falls in love but cannot have the girl of his dreams. He must protect her from hitmen. This film received a Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Ryan received a Critics Choice nomination.

    1. Song to Song – Not much plot or characterization, but this movie is extremely beautiful visually and has a great musical soundtrack. Ryan looks terrific.

    1. Crazy Stupid Love – Ryan is a womanizer but to his surprise falls in love – yes, it’s Emma Stone again.

    1. Fracture – Ryan is an assistant district attorney who knows a man killed his wife but is having a hard time proving it.

    1. Lars and the Real Girl – Ryan is a shy man who falls in love with a life-sized sex doll. Ryan was nominated for a Golden Globe award. 

    1. The Ides of March – A political thriller where Ryan becomes disillusioned.

    1. First Man – Ryan is Neil Armstrong. Grieving the loss of his little girl, he does not expect to survive going to the moon but does. Ryan received a Critics Choice Award nomination.

    1. Stay – A psychological thriller. I love films about dreams.

    1. Blade Runner 2029 – This film looks at the meaning of being human. Ryan sacrifices himself for Harrison Ford.
    2. Half Nelson – Ryan is an inner city social studies high school teacher who is addicted to crack cocaine. He was nominated for an Academy Award. 

    1. The Notebook – sentimental romance. Ryan gets the girl after four years of being separated.
    2. The Gray Man – Ryan discovers corruption in a government agency and as a result international hit men are after him. 

Movies to Avoid:

The Nice Guys – a lot of critics loved the comedy and the buddy relationship in this one, but I can’t stand all the nude pornographic movie models. Also Ryan smokes up a storm. 

Only God Forgives – There is not a single redeeming feature of this excessively violent movie, unless you enjoy watching Ryan get badly beaten up.

Gangster Squad – A lot of violence and not much else. Ryan and Emma Stone are cute together as always, though.

All Good Things – Ryan drags his wife by the hair and then kills her. He does some primal screaming.

The Place Beyond the Pines – the problem with this movie: Ryan is barely in it. He gets killed off after the first third. You may not like his tattoos , especially the teardrop one on his face. He met Eva doing this film. Ryan received a Satellite Award nomination.

Blue Valentine – the most depressing movie you will ever see about a marriage that is falling apart. Also contains pornographic content. Ryan was nominated for a Golden Globe award. His acting is excellent.