Pleasantly surprised

Rating: Null/10 (25 September 2011)

I've never been a huge Ryan Gosling fan, and upon learning the basic plot and storyline of this film, I was kind of expecting a 'Gone in 60 Seconds' meets 'The Transporter' with an overly mellow Gosling twist to it. The movie, however, couldn't have been more different than what I expected. In fact this screenplay is a perfect fit for Gosling's usual flat affect on camera. The characters are perfectly set and portrayed, making every bit of it very believable.
From the very start of this film you are pushed to the edge of your seat, and then thrust into the very human, very conceivable personal life of Gosling's character. His private, mellow and introspective manner is hypnotic, both to the other characters in the story, but to you as the spectator. It's that slight quietness in his gait that makes the brutal scenes in this movie even more intense and moving.
I must admit, I have a new respect for Gosling after viewing this film, as it seems he has finally stepped out of the "Chick-flick" typecast left in the wake of 'The Notebook' and proved he has some depth. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see this win an academy award, and it was well worth the time.