Renowned director Oliver Stone takes a low blow at Ryan Gosling’s participation in Barbie. Stone is an Oscar-winning director, known for his work on films like Platoon, JFK, and Natural Born Killers. Gosling is also an acclaimed Hollywood talent, last year acting in Greta Geriwg’s box office record-setting movie Barbie.
Per CityAM, Stone disses Gosling for his role in Barbie. According to the director, Gosling is “wasting his time” and “should be doing more serious films” than Barbie. Stone warned Gosling against becoming “a part of this infantilization of Hollywood.” Check out the full quote from Stone below:
Ryan Gosling is wasting his time if he’s doing that sh*t for money. He should be doing more serious films. He shouldn’t be a part of this infantilization of Hollywood. Now it’s all fantasy, fantasy, fantasy, including all the war pictures: fantasy, fantasy.
Why Oliver Stone Is Wrong About Ryan Gosling in Barbie
Stone’s statement regarding Gosling’s role in Barbie is off base, Stone incorrectly lumps Barbie into this lesser category, assuming it is merely “fantasy, fantasy,” rather than the uniquely realized film that it is. While Barbie’s visage is neon pink and superfluous, the screenplay underneath it uses its campy lens to uncover truths about the patriarchy and modern-day feminism. Barbie may play up its extravagance, but it ultimately does so to service its themes rather than “infantilize” the art form with meaningless stylization.
Stone fails to recognize the skill with which Gosling handles his performance. In many ways, playing Ken is a difficult role for an actor, as they must play an over-the-top airhead without seeming disingenuous. From his performance of “I’m Just Ken” to his earnest presentation of Ken’s Mojo Dojo Casa House, Gosling manages to present a degree of sincerity playing Ken, while still playing the role hilariously.
Billie Eilish Winning Best Original Song For Barbie Would Make Oscars History
Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell’s likely win for Best Original Song at the 2024 Oscars for their song from Barbie would make Oscars history.
Gosling has made his fair share of “more serious films” throughout his career. He is a two-time Oscar nominee for Half Nelson and La La Land, and has been in several heavy drama films, including Blue Valentine and Drive. Barbie just further shows the actor’s range, for in his performance as the classic doll, Gosling equally if not outperforms some of his more conventionally acclaim-worthy parts.
Barbie
Barbie is a film adaptation of the generational iconic toy directed by Greta Gerwig, who co-wrote the script with Noah Baumbach. The film centers on Margot Robbie’s Barbie who is expelled from Barbieland and travels with Ken (Ryan Gosling) to the real world in search of happiness. The film also stars Simu Liu, Will Ferrell, and several other famous celebrities in cameo roles.
- Release Date
- July 21, 2023
- Director
- Greta Gerwig
- Cast
- Margot Robbie , Ryan Gosling , Simu Liu , Ariana Greenblatt , Helen Mirren , Nicola Coughlan , John Cena , Will Ferrell , Ritu Arya , Michael Cera , America Ferrera , Alexandra Shipp , Kate McKinnon
- Runtime
- 114 Minutes
- Writers
- Noah Baumbach , Greta Gerwig
- Budget
- $100 Million
- Studio(s)
- LuckyChap Entertainment , Mattel Films , Heyday Films
- Distributor(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
