Stone Slams Gosling's Career Choices, Then Apologizes
Three-time Oscar winner Oliver Stone sparked controversy by criticizing Ryan Gosling's film choices, particularly his role in Barbie, before walking back his comments.
Ryan Gosling has it all. Good looks, comedic timing, acting chops, perfect hair, and Canadian charm. That combination should make him easy to resent, but somehow the guy remains universally beloved. Well, almost universally.
Oliver Stone doesn't share the sentiment. The controversial filmmaker, known for his uncompromising vision and polarizing opinions, recently took aim at Gosling's career trajectory in a scathing interview with City AM.
Stone's Harsh Words
When Barbie entered the conversation, Stone unleashed his frustration with modern Hollywood. He dismissed the blockbuster as "ridiculous" and didn't hold back on its leading man.
"Ryan Gosling is wasting his time if he's doing that shit for money," Stone declared. "He should be doing more serious films. He shouldn't be a part of this infantilisation of Hollywood. Now it's all fantasy, fantasy, fantasy, including all the war pictures: fantasy, fantasy. Even the Fast and Furious movies, which I used to enjoy, have become like Marvel movies. I mean, how many crashes can you see?"
The Double Standard Problem
Stone's criticism reveals a troubling pattern in Hollywood discourse. What exactly qualifies as "serious" cinema? Why should Gosling abandon projects like Barbie when his performance earned widespread praise and box office success?
The actor's career path tells an interesting story. He started in romantic comedies and films marketed primarily to women. Think The Notebook era. Then came the pivot to grittier fare like Drive, which suddenly earned him critical respect. Post-Barbie, he's found balance with projects like The Fall Guy, mixing drama and comedy.
This shift exposes the industry's deep-seated biases. Movies targeting female audiences get dismissed as frivolous. The moment Gosling returned to that space with Barbie, critics questioned his choices again.
Stone's Own Contradictions
The irony runs thick when examining Stone's own filmography. His resume includes The Doors, Any Given Sunday, and the Evita screenplay. Would those projects pass his "serious film" test? Doubtful.
Stone eventually apologized for his remarks, suggesting even he recognized the absurdity of his position. His backtrack reveals the hollowness of his original criticism and the arbitrary nature of what Hollywood deems worthy.