I am sorry now that I skipped the screening at 2pm of Ryan Gosling’s debut film, Lost River. I may see it later at 10pm. Either way, in case you’re interested, here are some of the reactions, mostly dividing critics. Jeff Wells says it wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be and compared it, continually, to Beasts of the Southern Wild. I don’t see how this is possible given the very specific, very strong theme of Beasts, given the lead performance, and given the overall message of that film. I don’t see how, given what I know about Gosling’s casting, this could be anything like that. But that, along with David Lynch comparisons, is where the critics are going with it, meaning, they don’t see it as original but rather a replicant. I don’t mind them going there with Refn, have at it. But David Lynch is in a category all his own. No one can compare.
Some tried to boo, the applause were stronger. #LostRiver is enigmatic, poetic, simply beautiful. #Cannes2014
— Alexander Dunerfors (@dunerfors) May 20, 2014
Ryan Gosling's new film is a Lynchian fever-dream. Bizarre and gorgeous. An incredible debut film! #ryangosling #Cannes2014 #ACE #LostRiver
— AmericanCinemaEditor (@ACEFilmEditors) May 20, 2014
Ryan Gosling's Lost River is a conceited clunker – and yet there are great images and mad energy. Review up later #Cannes2014
— Peter Bradshaw (@PeterBradshaw1) May 20, 2014
If a $200 haircut and $900 shades were given lots of money to defecate on Detroit, the result would be Ryan Gosling’s directing debut.
— Wesley Morris (@Wesley_Morris) 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: Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut is a grimy urban fable equally indebted to Refn, Lynch and Hot Topic. #Cannes
— William Goss (@williambgoss) May 20, 2014
Yeah, LOST RIVER’s inchoate and indulgent, but at least Ryan Gosling’s interested in visuals and cribbing from edgier filmmakers. #cannes
— Alison Willmore (@alisonwillmore) 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
Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut LOST RIVER is like the residue of a collision between GUMMO & TWIN PEAKS. No, really. #cannes
— erickohn (@erickohn) May 20, 2014
Impressive impressionistic well-wrought debut for #RyanGosling with Lost River. Very @DAVID_LYNCH!
— Anne Thompson (@akstanwyck) 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
Anyone who loved Only God Forgives should love Ryan Gosling’s LOST DRIVER. Swap Bangkok for swampy America and it’s basically the same film.
— Dave Calhoun (@davecalhoun) 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
Who knew? His directorial debut Lost River suggests inside Ryan Gosling a new David Lynch has been waiting to get out.
— Gregg Kilday (@gkilday) May 20, 2014
Intriguing imagery/performances & bold influences, but one thing’s clear; Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut isn’t for the mainstream. #Cannes
— Total Film (@totalfilm) May 20, 2014
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Well, I guess ya gotta start somewhere. Maybe it’s going to turn out like Johnny Depp’s one and only directorial effort, but I don’t think he can be faulted for trying. Maybe he shouldn’t have started with something smaller. In any case, I guess the wider reception still remains to be seen.
yeah that’s strictly what i’m going off of….rotten tomatoes. it could definitely rebound and improve or become more balanced/divided. i know rotten tomatoes isn’t perfect but i trust it to weed people out and get an honest critical reaction a heck of a lot more than twitter reactions or applause at cannes–
Ok if you’re strictly going off the 5 reviews from RT and not the many more reactions Sasha posted, then yes Lost River is an absolute dud. But Sasha made a note on how split the reaction was from those who saw it, not the 5 critics who happened to post their reviews so quickly.
headline from “variety”… “Ryan Gosling Directorial Debut Leads to Critical Drubbing at Cannes”
that’s incorrect, Kane. “divided” would be be say 5 positive reviews and 5 negative reviews. all negative reviews means the movie is being panned… at least so far.
Dan, “divided” means split down the middle. Even if one of the critics felt divided (half liked it and half hated it) that still amounts to maybe a score of 50. That 50 translates to a “rotten” review on RT, which is why it’s a site I barely like to view anymore. Also judging from what Sasha and other bloggers have said, there were boos and cheers. 5 reviews from RT don’t make up the crowd that saw Gosling’s movie.
not sure about “divides critics” anymore. 0/5 on RT and they are very low scores.
I can understand why people would want to compare the style, not talent, to Lynch (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I really want to see this and I’m hoping it turns out great. There are many Lynch/Refn/Korine name drops and I’d rather read blurbs where they take his product as his own.
wow wild stuff both ways. i’m not always a fan but wesley’s comment cracked me up