Why Are People So Obsessed With Ryan Gosling?

Sep. 27, 2011
Ryan O’Connell is a 25 year-old writer based in the East Village, New York.

Somewhere in The Congo, where he’s researching his latest role as a chimp-loving transvestite, James Franco is weeping silently. Tears are flooding down his pristine face and staining the pages of his debut short story collection, Palo Alto. Why? Because his title is being revoked as Fringe Male Celebrity Who Can Do No Wrong Because He’s So Attractive and being awarded to Ryan Gosling.

Here’s the deal. I like Ryan Gosling. A lot. I think he’s an important actor who’s doing good things. Half Nelson, Lars and the Real Girl, All Good Things — these were all interesting roles he took in solid films. I respect the arc of his career tremendously. Gosling starred in The Notebook and became an overnight household name but instead of signing on to ten different projects, he only starred in like four movies over the next five years. This sort of choosiness was what cemented Leonardo DiCaprio as a movie star rather than a heartthrob. After Titanic blew up, Leo chilled out and only starred in two projects — The Man In The Iron Mask and The Beach — because he knew it was the wisest decision he could make. So, yeah, Gosling is taking a page from Leo’s playbook and is on track to becoming an endangered species AKA a true movie star. But I still don’t understand people’s obsession with him.

He’s cute — no, hot — and he kind of reminds you of the most attractive person at a hipster bar. He’s not so out of reach — you could probably bag him on a good night — and this approachability might be what makes him so desirable, I guess, but I still don’t really get it. I’ve seen more babe-y babes. Why has everyone decided to collectively lose their minds over Gosling?

That’s what I actually attribute this Gosling craze to: the power of the collective. I swear, when we’re all sleeping, we must secretly congregate in some secret room of our subconscious and not leave until we decide who we’re going to universally adore. Ryan Gosling is the latest addition to a pretty small list. Regardless of differing tastes and interests, we can all pretty much agree that he is the bee’s knees. Whatever. I mean, there could be worse men to fawn over — a lot worse — so perhaps it’s just best to count my blessings that we’re not all losing it over someone douchey like Channing Tatum. Phew! TC mark

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  • Holly

    It’s because he chose the right film roles.. in real life he’s a brain dead douche..

  • Anonymous

    Because he is HUSBAND MATERIAL.

  • TomatoQueen

    I love the way you think.  Yeah, he’s kinda hot, now.  The first time I saw him, in a film called The Believer, his acting chops blew my mind, but I never thought he’d become the New Thing.  I’m glad for him though because it seems like he’s making cool choices.  

    If you haven’t seen The Believer, rent it.  Just close your eyes during the scene where the girl kisses the puke off his lip.

  • TomatoQueen

    You know this, how?

  • http://twitter.com/recessional ko•ko•ro

    i’ve personally only ever seen him in this tv series called breaker high, so i find it very difficult to take this fascination with him seriously. other than that, i’m pretty indifferent to him.

  • http://profiles.google.com/mcblaloc Meghan Blalock

    canada

  • Vicky Shazam

    i’ve been in love with him since i was kid, and i think he’s still pretty wonderful.
    and i really like his voice, and he’s in some of my favorite movies.
    and yeah.
    some reasons why.

  • Theyearofyou

    Blame it on Tumblr. 

  • Charlotte

    He’s intelligent, articulate, AND he’s a feminist. Hot.

  • Annie

    It’s because he says things like this, “I mean, God bless The Notebook, it introduced me to one
    of the great loves of my life. But people do Rachel and me a disservice
    by assuming we were anything like the people in that movie. Rachel and
    my love story is a hell of a lot more romantic than that.”

    more reasons here: http://hellogiggles.com/dear-ryan-gosling

  • Tayeli

    BECAUSE WHY WOULDN’T WE BE?!

  • Anonymous

    It has gone a bit mad, but i honestly did fall for him when he did half nelson, and have been half expecting him to suddenly blow up like this. Basically i think it comes down to empathy and likeability. There is something about the way he puts himself in character that makes you believe he can truly walk in someone elses’ shoes and that is a rare gift. He also oozes charm and intelligence and seems very comfortable in his own skin which is always attractive.

    He also makes really interesting public statements e.g his contribution to the furore over the blue valentine certification. It may well have been written by  a studio exec, but it is credited to ryan and women everywhere love him for it.

    I could go on, but am already sounding like deranged fangirl so will stop there

  • StephenTPM

    Because he breaks up street fights in NYC! and a couple more reasons… http://philomousike.blogspot.com/2011/08/ryan-gosling-as-urban-hero.html

  • Casper

    remember the titans.  of course.

  • Anonymous

    Also – he’s an actor who astonishingly has put out music which isn’t shit!

  • Objector

    Um, EXCUSE ME! Some of us are not obsessed with Ryan Gosling. Granted, I’ve only seen him in Half Nelson, but I didn’t see what the fuss was all about.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1362420023 Jessica Poolt

    Young Hercules 

  • notthatdifferent

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8n9M-Hkddg

    Ryan and I just aren’t that different.

  • devin

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25Cem12Ydy8

    Charm. Charisma. Gosling. :) 

  • tricamer

    Because of  his awesome sex scene in The Believer.  Hawt.

  • http://kumquatparadise.tumblr.com aaron nicholas

    ryan gosling has a beautiful penis
    a penis unlike any other
    a penis so fleshy
    so strong
    so handsome
    so classically american
    but so wholly new, attractive, and beautiful

  • GUEST

    I’m obsessed with him and have ONLY seen him in Half Nelson.

  • http://twitter.com/3thanschmidt Ethan Schmidt

    Not that this has anything to do with anything, but have you seen The Beach? God that movie was terrible.

  • Dani

    obviously written by someone who has never visited
    http://fuckyeahryangosling.tumblr.com/

  • TomatoQueen

    No, you actually sound lucid and quite sane, and you are right about his penis.

    Oh, sorry, I meant, his TALENT.  Yes, he has enormous TALENT.

  • Anonymous

    I have no doubt that his penis is as impressive as his talent. 

  • gulia

    he is so hot, not at all normal. have you seen him without a shirt…hello. 

  • Arthur

    well I took the subway in paris (france) with him, on year ago. He was sitting in front of me, no one talk to him he was in peace. after 5 stations 4 girls, around 15 years old, enter the subway and start looking at him. they didn’t talk to him and he didn’t move. When his station came, he stand up walk out the subway and while one girl ask him if he is ryan, he looked at her and simply said yes.

    he was nice looking but not extraordinary looking, the average buddy you can hang with.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10036647 Aimee Vondrak

    You are an emerging Ryan Gosling fan. It’s fine. You still have time to jump on the band wagon with us! Once you see The Notebook and Drive you will understand.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10036647 Aimee Vondrak

    PRECISELY WHY. #preach

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10036647 Aimee Vondrak

    OMG Ryan Gosling! He’s humble, he’s talented, he is a man’s man, but he is romantic. I presume these things based off the flexibility in his roles. Drive vs. Crazy, Stupid, Love. Both very new, both incredible films (Drive of course being the more Oscar-worthy of the two). He is dynamic in both his roles and his eye for fashion. He loves animals. Women have seen him in realistic, sentimental, love-riddled roles that give us this small glimmer of hope there is a man in real life like him for us, not just the ones, the #bros, who want to “chill” and never call us again.

  • http://twitter.com/bethanie_m Bethanie Marshall

    Don’t forget the Young Hercules series he was on. 

  • http://www.nosexcity.com NoSexCity

    So you’ve watched ‘The Notebook’ one too many times too, eh?

    It’s okay girl, we have meetings for that. (After which we gush to our
    Tiger Beat posters & troll the East Village for that someday-maybe-dream man.

  • Anonymous

    It’s currently a fad, because he’s got about 5 movies out this year. He’s come to the forefront of the Hollywood machine because of that. The guy is brilliant, totally in line with the Leo DiCaprio thing, but this obsession will eventually blow over the same way it did with other heartthrobs and sex symbols past.
    But for those of us who are interested in the films as well as the really good looking people starring in them, Ryan Gosling will remain on the ever-dwindling list of people worth watching :)

  • http://www.twitter.com/mexifrida Frida

    Ryan Gosling, Zach Condon, Conor Oberst, I will happily marry one of you.

  • http://www.twitter.com/mexifrida Frida

    He just seems so genuine and like he would care about feelings as much as you for once.
    And so comfortable in life, but with the complex thoughts that would make your conversations interesting.
    Like you wouldn’t have to pretend to be accepted by him.
    Seeing Zach Condon last night also gave me the same vibe.

  • http://www.facebook.com/kevinmichaelgallagher Kevin M. Gallagher

    you fail to account for that Ryan was prepped and groomed for this role since Mickey Mouse Club

  • Ornella_299

    because he’s a scorpio! and so is Leo ;-)

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10036647 Aimee Vondrak

    I watch the Notebook at least once a month :) but have you seen Drive? He’s rather good. And rather mysterious. And… sexy. Don’t forget that.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10036647 Aimee Vondrak

    Some are saying he will be the next George Clooney. And umm.. George Clooney has been around a while.

  • Ohyaknow

    Isn’t Channing Tatum bisexual?

  • ANG

    Juuuust checked out his band – AMAZING

  • TheTruth

    what in the ACTUAL fuck was this article…? 

  • Guest

    WHY ARE PEOPLE SO OBSESSED WITH ANYONE???!
    ..
    because they are stupid.

  • Anonymous

    this mickey mouse club performance is what really sealed the deal for me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEgGWHtVIhQ#t=1m30s

  • http://vickyalways.blogspot.com vl

    You left out childhood nostalgia : when he was Young Hercules on FOX Kids and we were home for the summer with nothing to do but watch this show. Plus, that he is now in films we like. And don’t forget DEAD MAN’S BONES.

  • http://kylelamar.com/ Kyle LaMar

    Drive.

  • http://twitter.com/tannnyaya Tanya Salyers

    so, so, sooooo sexy.  

  • space mountain

    MY MUM WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS LAST NIGHT

  • LoShow

    Dear Ryan O’Connell,

    Are you copying us? http://loshow.tumblr.com/post/10734321404/lobsession

    Maybe?!?!

    (Say yes, pretty please)

    -Lo

  • LoShow

    Dear Ryan O’Connell,

    Are you copying us? http://loshow.tumblr.com/post/10734321404/lobsession

    Maybe?!?!

    (Say yes, pretty please)

    -Lo

  • lithead

    because Half Nelson was awesome. 

  • Ryan’s Boyfriend

    I mean, you pretty much answered your own question in this post.

  • Ryan’s Boyfriend

    I mean, you pretty much answered your own question in this post.

  • N>K

    HEY I LIKE CHANNING TATUM!

    But the answer to your question is- he’s AWESOME

  • Image

    Oh man :(

  • Len Yeh

    I now have to find another twist on Ryan Gosling to write about. 

  • kait

    No. Ryan’s is well written.

  • NikkiO

    I’m obsessed with him since Half Nelson. He is extremely talented and that makes him sexy.
    BTW I hated the Notebook, it’s his worst film by far.

  • MM

    Did you see him in Crazy, Stupid, Love?

    he can freakin’  work a suit baby! 

  • Je suis en Afrique du Sud

    i liked the soundrack though especially the track by the All Saints

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1736029444 Marie Jessie

    He is hot…did you see him in Drive, Half Nelson, Blue Valentine? I love watching him.

  • lauraaaaa

    I felt exactly the same way until I watched Drive. I just didn’t get the hype. He seemed so average. But in this movie, he glows.  He’s got something. I just hope the world doesn’t stomp it out of him.

  • kate

    omg ikr its ma fave movie….. hes gots abs

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