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LARS AND THE REAL GIRL: OUR AWARDS PROFILE

Real buzz surrounds the release of Ryan Gosling's offbeat comedy 'Lars and the Real Girl"

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By Joey Magidson

Would a better title for this film be Lars and the Real Chance at a Nomination? Probably not, as it would make no sense in relation to the story but when it comes to Ryan Gosling, the actor in the title role, that is a different case. Gosling may be on his way to a second consecutive Oscar nod for this decidedly unconventional part.

The decidedly quirky nature of this flick may be a double edged sword. On the one hand, it's separating itself from the other movies out in release by being somewhat lighter than most of the "prestige" fare currently out, and more mature than the current comedies available to filmgoers. On the other hand however, this film about a recluse who falls in love with a sex doll may not be of any interest to the older members of the Academy.

One thing that the film has going for it is strong reviews. Almost everyone mentions this as being "Capra-like". Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus is that it is "One of the sweetest films of the year". Any movie about a sex toy that is called sweet has to be something special. Joe Morgenstern of the Wall Street Journal states that "It's nothing less than a miracle that the director, Craig Gillespie and the writer Nancy Oliver, have been able to make such an endearing, intelligent and tender comedy from a premise that, in other hands, might sustain a five-minute sketch on TV." Lou Lumenick of the New York Post and Jack Matthews of the New York Daily News also agree, with Lumenick writing that the film eschews cheap laughs for character-driven humanist comedy", and Matthews calls it "infectiously whimsical". He also praises Gosling's performance, saying that "working with a doll can't be easy but Gosling makes it feel emotionally real".

Praise like that for Ryan Gosling may yield him another nomination this year. He is singled out in just about every article on the film as being terrific. He takes a character that could come off as being creepy or dumb, and gives him real life. In his favor as well is that this is a role far different from the brooding parts that he has come to be known for in the past (The Notebook being the notable exception). Combine that with the fact that this could end up being the real Little Miss Sunshine of this year (Instead of Juno), and he can't be discounted in this race.

The year so far is shaping up to be an interesting one for the Best Actor race. The race is going to be rather crowded, but most of the performances are of the dramatic and dark nature. This lighter approach may be of some benefit to Gosling (and to differing extents, Emile Hirsch of Into the Wild and Tom Hanks of Charlie Wilson's War¯). If one or more of the top contenders for the 5 slots falter, Ryan Gosling could easily slip in with this touching portrait of an emotionally crippled man-child.

Possible Nominations

Best Actor
Best Original Screenplay

Is Gosling back, so soon, in the Oscar® race?

Discuss his Awards Potential in our Blog!

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