Ryan Gosling's Oscar-Nominated Performance in Barbie is Not His Only Highlight - Exploring his Lesser-Known Work in "Only God Forgives"

Ryan Gosling gave a remarkable performance as Ken in the movie Barbie and recently received an Oscar nomination for his role. Despite his numerous film credits, one of his lesser-known works is Only God Forgives, a 2013 action film written and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. The film, set in Bangkok and shot on location there, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the Palme d'Or.

Alongside Gosling, the movie also features Kristin Scott Thomas and Vithaya Pansringarm in key roles.The storyline of Only God Forgives centers around Julian (played by Gosling), a criminal who manages a Thai boxing gym with his brother Billy, which serves as a front for their drug operations. When Billy is murdered, Julian's mother Crystal (portrayed by Scott Thomas) arrives in Bangkok seeking vengeance.

She urges Julian to avenge his brother's death, leading to a showdown with Chang (played by Pansringarm), a corrupt police officer who takes justice into his own hands in the criminal underworld.Gosling initially entered negotiations for the film in 2011 after Luke Evans withdrew from the project due to scheduling conflicts. In preparation for the role, Gosling underwent Muay Thai training for several hours daily.

Julian's character is notably reserved with only 17 lines of dialogue throughout the film, allowing Gosling to focus more on the physical aspects of the role.Only God Forgives is acclaimed for its visually striking aesthetic, moody cinematography, and deliberate pacing in storytelling. While critics had mixed reactions to the film, praising its style and performances while critiquing its graphic violence and unconventional narrative structure, it delves into themes of family dynamics, redemption, and the repercussions of violence.

With a budget of $4.8 million, the film grossed $10 million at the box office.Drawing parallels to their previous collaboration Drive, Refn envisioned Only God Forgives as a thriller with western undertones set in the Far East and featuring a contemporary cowboy protagonist.

Initially planning to direct Only God Forgives following Valhalla Rising, Refn directed Drive first at Gosling's request. Gosling himself described the script for Only God Forgives as exceedingly bizarre and expected it to become even more surreal during filming. Like Drive, the film was shot in chronological order, and scenes were often edited on the same day of shooting.

Refn emphasized the thematic continuity between Only God Forgives and Drive, remarking that both films explore real emotions within a heightened, almost fantastical reality akin to a fairy tale. For viewers interested in experiencing Only God Forgives with Gosling's performance, the film is available for streaming on Prime Video.