Ryan Gosling: Taking a Break From Acting?

Hes not the first to talk retirement. What gives?

In an interview on Huffington Post this week, zeitgeisty actor Ryan Gosling had some pretty interesting things to say about the pace with which hes making movies lately.

"Ive been doing it too much," he says of acting. "Ive lost perspective on what Im doing. I think its good for me to take a break and reassess why Im doing it and how Im doing it. And I think this is probably a good way to learn about that. I need a break from myself as much as I imagine the audience does."

Since 2010, Gosling has made eight films, including the two set to open this spring: The Place Beyond the Pines with his Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance, and Only God Forgives, with his Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn. Eight movies in four years doesnt seem like overkill, exactly. But maybe its not the number of films but the work that goes into them? Really, of those eight films, only Crazy, Stupid, Love could be considered "light" fare (and even there Gosling undoubtedly had to work his ass off to get his body in such sick shape). But Valentine, Pines, even something as relatively mainstream as The Ides of March all played into Goslings trademark intensity. You could see him going down a Brando route, getting more and more method with edgier projects.



Gosling isnt the only one talking retirement lately. Steven Soderbergh is reportedly calling it quits now that Side Effects has debuted and Behind the Candelabra is headed to HBO. Renee Zellweger "took a break" from acting after she made Case 39 in 2009 (though shell be back with another Bridget Jones movie in the next year or so).

Obviously, "retirement" means less in the acting field than it does in most others. Nobodys locking a door behind you. Youre one whim away from being back in the game. So whats the point, then? Does it take some of the pressure off of the breakneck pace with which A-list actors (and directors) need to work in order to stay relevant? Are we working our moviemakers into the ground?

LINK:	http://www.tribecafilm.com/future-of-film/ryan-gosling-taking-a-bre...
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