Ryan Gosling reveals the logic behind the new crime thriller 'Murder by Numbers'
By Jennifer Prestigiacomo (Daily Texan Staff)
April 19, 2002
Not to mention being able to order a drink, 21-year-old Ryan Gosling can now order up some tall roles in Hollywood. Since playing a Jew-turned-neo-Nazi in the controversial film The Believer, which took Sundance by storm, winning the Grand Jury Prize and earning Gosling an Independent Spirit Award nomination, he's been able to take on just about any role he wants. Though The Believer has yet to be released in theaters because of its contentious subject matter, his latest role in the Barbet Schroeder thriller, Murder By Numbers, is already creating buzz.
Gosling broke into the biz the same way as many of his peers. Gosling, Christina Aguilera, Brittney Spears, JC and Justin from 'N Sync all sang and danced on the seventh and final season of The All New Mickey Mouse Club. After his exposure with the Mouse, Gosling landed various TV stints that included Breaker High and Young Hercules. About two years later, Gosling was cast in his first film: Remember the Titans.
In Murder By Numbers, Gosling stars with the equally talented Michael Pitt (Hedwig and the Angry Inch). The two portray cunning high school killers who play mind games with local cop Cassie Mayweather (Sandra Bullock).
Gosling took some time out of his now burgeoning film schedule to talk with the Texan via conference call about his new films, his edgy career choices and his secret passion for jazz guitar.
1. Q: What was it like to work with Michael Pitt, your co-conspirator in the film?
Ryan Gosling: I'm proud of the film because the work I did with Michael Pitt was really sort of an interesting thing for me. It was really great to work with him because we challenged each other. I think Ben and Sandra gave really solid performances too.
2. Q: During the film, I felt this homoerotic vibe between your character and Michael Pitt's character. Was that in the screenplay or did you improvise? Also, why wasn't it played out to its full extent and why wasn't it resolved in the film?
RG: It wasn't in the screenplay. And I think it comes across as homoerotic, but I don't think that's what we were going for. What we wanted was a sense that these two people were halves of each other; when they were in the same room they completed each other.
It was like Richard (Gosling) was a bullet, and Justin (Pitt) was a gun, and they became dangerous when they were in the same room. And from that, just one of the choices when you make as a character, there is a closeness to you when you feel someone is complete to you, when you get into a room with them that is the physical manifestation.
3. Q: Kind of like the hybrid-love child that is produced when the two characters make a guy from their faces melded together.
RG: If that person does complete you when you're with them, then you want to be closer to them and you find
5. Q: In reviews, some critics say that Sandra Bullock's executive producer title led to her stealing the show and having the movie focus on her character more than your and Michael Pitt's roles.
RG: I felt very taken care of because of the fact that Sandy was a co-producer. Sandy is just the type of person that puts herself last and puts everyone and the film first. We always got more of a voice in the film because she was producing it. She always made sure our opinions and ideas were heard and considered seriously. She really becomes the biggest cheerleader for you and the film and then seamlessly gets across this beautifully subtle performance.
6. Q: What contemporary actor do you admire the most?
RG: I just think Christopher Walken is ridiculously talented. I love all his films, and yeah, I like his choices a lot. The thing I like about Christopher Walken is that no matter what film he's in and no matter what he does - not that I know what to expect because he's always doing something different - I know what I am getting into, and he never lets me down.
It's sort of like when I go see a David Lynch movie. Even though all his films are different, I can depend on him as an artist. It's definitely true, I love Christopher Walken.
7. Q: Filmmaking is a long, arduous process. At what point do you stand back and just love what you're doing?
RG: Really, the research. The research is for me the most interesting part. The fact that sometimes I don't know much about the subject matter or the people I am playing. I just try to get in their heads and research them to see what makes them tick. You take ideas that you don't understand, and then you plant that seed in your head, and then they eventually become your own ideas over the course of filming. I think it's my favorite part of the process.
8. Q: Lately, you've embarked on some edgier roles, playing neo-Nazis and murderers. Are you strategically seeking these roles out to break away from your past wholesome roles in Remember the Titans and Breaker High?
RG: Certain opportunities provide other options. I've been just going with whatever feels right. I started on that show (The Mickey Mouse Show) as an introduction to the entertainment business and to television. From that I figured I didn't want to do anymore TV, so I went to film. I went and did Young Hercules, and after that I figured out it was film that I loved. Then this film called The Believer came along and scared the hell out of me. And I thought it was so beautiful, and I don't know why I thought it was beautiful. I wanted to work on it, and after working on something like that, then you get more options and more films that you want to do. At this point, I just try to pick the best film that I have at the moment. I don't make a conscious choice to play murderers, but the material is more compelling than I was offered beforehand.
9. Q: Your next film is The United States of Leland, in which you play a murderer as well. What kind of research did you do for these murderous roles?
RG: For Leland I went to a juvenile detention center and spent a lot of time there. I interviewed a lot of kids and a lot of my research came from that.
10. Q: Tell me a little more about the film.
RG: The United States of Leland is in the can. We finished it three weeks ago, and now they're cutting it. I am so excited about that film. I got to work with Kevin Spacey and Don Cheadle and Lena Olin and Martin Donovan and Jena Malone. It was a really great experience. After an experience like that I have been kind of spoiled. Now I am looking for the next thing. It's an interesting day because after I get off the phone with you, I am trying to decide what the next thing is.
11. Q: So, I hear you're an accomplished jazz guitarist...
RG: That's a lie.
12. Q: But you did contribute to the Roomies soundtrack, or is that a lie as well?
RG: No, that's not a lie. My friend was in that movie, and they needed a song, so I wrote a song for it. But that was just because he was my friend, and I am not accomplished in any way. They needed a big song for the end, not because it was any good, but because they needed it.
13. Q: Well, do you have any future musical aspirations?
RG: I am focusing on films right now. I think if music comes along, then it will come along in a little while. I am not really searching out musical projects or think that I should.
14. Q: Some say acting is an addiction that they can't get enough of, what do you think?
RG: Oh, I can get enough of it. I think the addiction really is work. A lot of times actors don't know what to do with themselves when they're not working on a project. They tend to get themselves involved in a lot of projects just because they're addicted to it, and I think their work actually suffers because of it. You have to hold the reins of your addiction to work and just work on projects that will help you grow.
THE GOSLING FILMOGRAPHY:
The United States of Leland (2002) Murder By Numbers (2002) The Slaughter Rule (2002) The Believer (2001) Remember the Titans (2000) The Unbelievables (1999) (TV) Young Hercules (1998) (TV) Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy (1998) (TV) Breaker High (1997) (TV) Frankenstein and Me (1996) The Mickey Mouse Club (1989) (TV)
