Ryan Gosling, known for his effortless good looks and cool demeanour, has stepped behind the camera to tackle a new, scary creative challenge: directing. Let’s face it, he’s collaborated with enough of Hollywood’s finest directors to have gleaned sufficient knowledge of how to craft a unique compelling original flick. Nicolas Winding Refn, Derek Cianfrance, Terrence Malick, George Clooney (alright so his last one was dirge) – are but a few of the masters with whom he’s had chance to study. According to the critic backlash at Cannes though, he didn’t study hard enough before churning out Lost River.
His directorial debut premiered at the festival last night, receiving critical confusion moreso than obvious negative jibes. Starring Doctor Who‘s Matt Smith and Gosling’s Drive co-star Christina Hendricks, the film has stirred up critics who caught it into a frenzy. The most common comparisons are to Refn and the brilliantly-bizarre David Lynch – citing both as clear influences on the first time director.
Taking place in “the surreal dreamscape of a vanishing city,” Lost River follows a single mum and her son, who discovers an entrance to an underwater world. “Surreal dreamscape” sounds definitely a smidgen Lynchian – but we already knew that, as star Matt Smith made the same comparison last year after reading the script. From what little footage is available online, there’s an undoubted sense of mood that harks back to Lynch’s Blue Velvet, and according to critics – it didn’t pay off.
Check out a selection of Tweets straight out of the press box at Cannes, and let us know: will you be lining up to see Lost River in theatres?
Lost River – Fairy tail-esque mind fuck unlike anything else. Another death of the American dream metaphor, like an unshakable nightmare.
— Alex Billington (@firstshowing) May 20, 2014
In all my years at Cannes, I’ve never been lost in a nightmare like this. So props to Gosling for originality, but it’s just too fucked up.
— Alex Billington (@firstshowing) May 20, 2014
Cannes so far lacks a film-maudit crapocalypse. LOST RIVER just supplied it. All Gosling’s pet Lynch films, filtered through Refnvision.
— Tim Robey (@trim_obey) May 20, 2014
Lost River: Ryan Gosling confuses ‘making film’ with ‘assembling Tumblr of David Lynch & Mario Bava gifs’. Dumb-foundingly poor #Cannes2014 — Robbie Collin (@robbiereviews) May 20, 2014
Gosling’s LOST RIVER a first-rate folie de grandeur. Echoes of Argento, Korine, Lynch, Malick in a tedious allegory of Detroit as ghost town
— Scott Foundas (@foundasonfilm) May 20, 2014
LOST RIVER: Unholy Motors. Gosling’s Motown fantasy blitzes eye & mind. Carax/Lynch honored, audience baffled, but that’s OK. #Cannes2014
— Peter Howell (@peterhowellfilm) May 20, 2014
LOST RIVER: Blue Velvet Of The Southern Wild. A pile-up of Gosling’s influences & ideas: not good, as such, but not boring #cannes
— olilyttelton (@olilyttelton) May 20, 2014
Cripes. Ryan Gosling’s Lost River is a lurid mash up of Lynch, Refn and Edward Hopper. In a bad way. #Cannes2014
— Kate Muir (@muirkate) May 20, 2014
NW Refn taught his padawan Ryan Gosling well. If you like that sort of thing you’ll like LOST RIVER. Personally, I’m mixed. #cannes2014
— Jordan Hoffman (@jhoffman) May 20, 2014
