Oliver Stone Slams Ryan Gosling’s Film Choices, Then Backtracks
Oliver Stone took aim at Ryan Gosling for picking roles in films like Barbie, arguing he should stick to more weighty projects. Stone later walked back his comments.
Ryan Gosling ticks a lot of boxes: he’s got the looks, a sharp sense of humour, plenty of talent, and he hails from Canada. For most, that’s a winning combo, but not everyone’s on board. While Gosling’s popularity seems almost universal, Oliver Stone sits on the other side of the fence. Stone, known for his uncompromising approach, has a reputation that splits opinion. He’s bagged three Oscars and directed some of the most talked-about films of the last century, but his outspoken views and dabbling in conspiracy theories have made him a divisive figure.
Stone’s take on cinema is just as strong as his political opinions. He’s built his career on tackling heavy topics—war, politics, the big issues facing America. Anything he sees as lightweight doesn’t get much respect from him. In a chat with City AM, Stone didn’t hold back when the subject of Barbie came up. He called the film “ridiculous” and didn’t mince words about its cast or the state of the industry.
“Ryan Gosling is wasting his time if he’s doing that shit for money,”
he said.
“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?”
Gosling’s Shifting Career and Public Perception
Stone’s not the only one to question Gosling’s choices. The bloke’s career has taken some interesting turns. He started out in romcoms and so-called ‘chick flicks’, then made a sharp pivot to roles the press labelled as more ‘serious’. Out went The Notebook, in came Drive. But after Barbie, Gosling seems to have found a sweet spot, mixing drama and comedy. His next project, The Fall Guy, blends both, and his calendar’s packed. Looks like we’re in for a new chapter in his career.
Stone’s comments tap into a bigger debate. What actually makes a film ‘serious’? Why does it matter if Gosling isn’t making films like The Place Beyond the Pines anymore? For ages, films with certain themes or a lighter touch haven’t been given the same respect as the more self-important stuff that usually gets Oscar nods. This attitude also hints at a deeper issue in film criticism—one that’s not too kind to films aimed at women. As soon as Gosling moved away from films marketed to female audiences, critics started taking him more seriously. When he returned to that crowd with Barbie, the jokes started flying again.
Stone’s Own Track Record and Changing Tune
It’s not as if Stone always sticks to his own rules. His filmography includes stories about rock bands, American football, and even the script for Evita. Would those count as ‘serious’ by his standards? Probably not. The fact that he ended up apologising for his remarks about Gosling and Barbie suggests he might not fully stand by what he said in the first place.