5 Awesome...
5. Jacob Palmer - Crazy, Stupid, Love
Okay, just hold it right there, how cliched is it that I'm listing a romantic comedy as one of Ryan Gosling's best performances? I mean, we're discussing the dude who was once voted the sexiest man alive (or at least should have been, if he wasn't), and I try to prove his greatness by talking about a Hollywood rom com. Normally I'd agree with the irony, but Crazy, Stupid, Love is different. Granted, it grossed well over $140 million at the box office, but it retains all the charm of an indie flick, perhaps thanks to the filmmaking duo, Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, who, with two films under their belts, seem to have a knack for blending solid comedy with honest characters. Even with a cast that includes Steve Carell, Julliane Moore, Emma Stone, Kevin Bacon, and Marisa Tomei, Gosling steals the show as Jacob, the charming ladies man who transforms Carell's Cal Weaver from bumbling, socially crippled man-child into, well, a charming ladies man. The real reason I'm listing this picture, though, is because it showcases the incredible range that Gosling has: there are a few actors who can do anything, whether it be independent or mainstream, and Ryan is one of them. As hateable as this character could have been, Gosling makes you wish the dude was your best friend. He also makes you wish you had his wardrobe, because Jacob Palmer knows how to dress.