Ryan Gosling for Esquire Magazine

Posted on Aug 15, 2011 in Fashion

So Ryan Gosling’s on the cover of the September issue of Esquire and it’s making us feel a little … funny. And not really in a good way.

“The actor, fascinated by ghostly apparitions as a boy, told Esquire’s photographer, Perou, of his recent dreams. These pictures are their interpretation.”

“I think I was always bound to become two selves, if I wasn’t already. Now there’s this me, this public me, and I know that I have become two people. This is what I told the photographer before he took those photographs. Even my own name sounds like just someone I know.”

“It’s like being in a dream. You don’t know anybody, but everybody knows you, everybody reacts to you. You can be walking along in a dream, through a pretty normal world, and then bam, everything seems to be a response to your presence. Everything seems to be driven by you. And that’s notable at first, and you deal with it. And then – and it happens every time – you become aware it’s a dream. Right about then, when you think you have it figured, and that acknowledging that will make it easier, it inevitably becomes a nightmare.”

“I went through puberty in a theme park. I’m grateful. That place was a landscape to me. I had adventures every day….Backstage at Disney World, there are stories. Mickey Mouse with his head off, drinking coffee on break. Pirates on the phone. Ghosts in line for food. It just made me see things.”

He seems like a thoughtful, sensitive, interesting guy.

Okay, enough of that. Let’s see him in a tight shirt.

Dude, what the fuck?!? This is so not hot! Leave that shit for your therapist and go put on a pair of skinny pants and a polo shirt, pronto!

[Photo Credit: esquire.com]

Tags:

Rachel Philip

Artistic necrophilia?
- Anonymous
  
  I know. Ewww.
Rand Ortega

LOL! This cray-cray is only worth it for your hilarious commentary!
Anonymous

this was weird
Jo Miller

It’s disturbing.
http://profiles.google.com/trashilove { edi } ilovetrash

oh, it’s a girl.
i wanted to see mickey mouse w/ his head off.
- Anonymous
  
  Hey, I was hoping for pirates on the phone. The very least they could do is put the girl in a food line. I’m pretty sure she needs a basket of sandwiches.
- http://twitter.com/vintagegoddess just julie
  
  Now that would have been disturbing….
Anonymous

The concept isn’t really working. It comes across as kind of amateurish to me.
- Anonymous
  
  Agree. If this were PR and Tim Gunn were present he’d say it was student work.
- Anonymous
  
  Agree as well, and the woodenness of the female model isn’t helping – maybe she was coached to be that way or she’s worried about the paint, but its not clicking.
http://profiles.google.com/sara.e.munoz Sara Munoz

The only thing better than one Ryan Gosling is two Ryan Goslings. Bring it on. That is one lucky ghost.
http://twitter.com/wrenaria Kimmy Hescock

wtf. O_o
- Anonymous
  
  It’s very good when he smiles. I’m a sentimental old fart, but i loved Crazy, Stupid, Love. He was delightful in it. Who knew…?
http://twitter.com/#!/Space_Kitty Space Kitty

Not feeling it, and frankly, this boy worries me some.
Anonymous

Ewww….. boobies. With paint. Ewwwww………
http://www.facebook.com/WendyLKaufman Wendy Kaufman

Not. Working.
Anonymous

i kinda like it.
Anonymous

I liked him more before the self-indulgence. Yuck. You’re a famous actor, dude, a situation YOU pursued. Deal. He does have a great smile though.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1033387282 Beverly Bethard DeFabio

i STILL love him…what makes a great actor ???? weird shit.
http://random.world-building.net Melanie S.

Trust Esquire to fill photos with totally unnecessary naked women. *grumps*

(not that I have anything against naked women! just, you know, naked women AS PROPS.)
- Anonymous
  
  I agree. It doesn’t even make any sense or express much of anything.
http://random.world-building.net Melanie S.

Trust Esquire to fill photos with totally unnecessary naked women. *grumps*

(not that I have anything against naked women! just, you know, naked women AS PROPS.)
Anonymous

Disturbing…and please shave!!!!!
Anonymous

Disturbing…and please shave!!!!!
Anonymous

Do you guys write for South Park? Funny!
Anonymous

OMG, death and sex are interrelated desires/fears! That is SO DEEP!
- Anonymous
  
  /snerk/
- Anonymous
  
  /snerk/
Anonymous

Ghosts are not finger-painted skeletons!
- Anonymous
  
  …NAKED finger-painted skeletons!!!
  - Anonymous
    
    The horror!!!
MilaXX

During his last round of talk shows I heard way too much of him speaking and it really completely turned me off him. He still wears clothes well, but I can’t get rid of the douche vibe I get from him now. This is not helping change any of that.
- Anonymous
  
  Yes, the douche vibe is unmistakable which is one of the reasons I couldn’t understand all the hoopla over his looks. Though I admit the boy can rock the clothes.
http://profiles.google.com/insertbrackets Tory Adkisson

I like it because it’s weird and different. It wouldn’t work all the time…but as a fan of absurd, strange, and dark things, this really appealed to me. I do agree his shirt could have been tighter though.
- muzan-e
  
  Quite agreed. Ordinarily he bores me. So do his films. But this… The girls alone would be dull. Him alone.. well, we’ve seen plenty of that already. But they captured something interesting here.
  
  Then again, I though Kanye West’s “Monster” video was also pretty fantastic. It’s possible that I’m just a traitor to my gender.
Anonymous

Whatever it is, it’s not working for me. Maybe it’s the end of the day and I’m cranky, but I just want to tell him to lighten up.
Elena

LOL that cover. And those just pictures. I just can’t even.
http://chupatinja.wordpress.com Santa

Love it! Interesting, emotional, and he looks great
http://chupatinja.wordpress.com Santa

Love it! Interesting, emotional, and he looks great
Anonymous

If they’re going to go this off-the-wall, he needs some fantastic clothes to show off (plaid suit, anyone?). He looks hot in that second shot of the grey pinstripe, with the collar up…but in the rest, he just kind of looks like the guy from IT who comes when the printer’s broken.

And the concept comes off a little too art-school for me.
Anonymous

“Dude, what the fuck?!? This is so not hot! Leave that shit for your
therapist and go put on a pair of skinny pants and a polo shirt, pronto!”

That is the funniest thing I’ve read in a long time.

Yeah, either he’s pulling everyone’s leg here or he needs to spend some quality time with a really good therapist. And given that shit-eating grin on the cover, I’m betting it’s the former.
dawn mefford

i dunno…as a lady with a vagina, this works for me; ryan gosling, death personified, AND boobies?! yeah, you’ve got me.
Anonymous

Ryan Gosling and Ryan Reynolds are interchangable to me.
- Anonymous
  
  Gosling is the one who can act. Reynolds is the tall one.
- http://profiles.google.com/sara.e.munoz Sara Munoz
  
  You are all dead to me now. Ryan Reynolds is useless.
Anonymous

I’m…not sure how to feel. I’m just going to pretend none of this ever happened.
Anonymous

hmmm, ok then
http://vhanna26.typepad.com Vera

Don’t know what it says about me, but I’m kinda digging it.
http://www.kittenmasks.com/ kittenmasks

I like Ryan in a certain way: naked.
This version of Ryan is too “Lars and the Real Girl” for me.
Anonymous

There’s something about his narrative that I’m not getting. Not that I want to know, but seriously, if you go to Disneyland/Disney World you’re not going to see pirates on cell phones unless you are also employed there. Soooo, did he work there? At an age where he would be going through puberty? And if so, what did he do? Was he a Mousketeer?

You can tell how fascinating the photo shoot is to me …..
- Anonymous
  
  Yeah, I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about either.
  - http://www.tomandorenzo.com Tom and Lorenzo
    
    He was a Mouseketeer.
    - http://profiles.google.com/sara.e.munoz Sara Munoz
      
      At the same time as Timberlake. You must google and find their hilarious musical performances.
    - Anonymous
      
      Well, that does explain how he would have seen Headless Mickey Mouse. Now let’s see a little of the Gosling song and dance man, eh?
    - Anonymous
      
      Thank you. I’m going to blame my lack of understanding on the early hour and an insufficient amount of coffee and cigarettes.
Anonymous

Yet further confirmation that early fame warps a person.

Plus, he looks so much like my brother it creeps me out. And that was before all this ghost stuff!
Patricia Biswanger

Just plain creepy.
Anonymous

Saw Blue Valentine last night. Cannot. Get. Enough. Of Ryan.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_HBS4KWJ6XTPDEL2JMD37ZS5YHA Ben

The fuck? Where is the shirtless/underwear photoshoot? What is this fuckery?
Anonymous

what the hell does a naked chick done up like a sugar skull have to do with anything? oh. right. BOOBS.
Anonymous

Too deep for me…is she suppose to be death??? Ahhh, ok * as she grabs her bra and panties and quickly leaves the room*.
Anonymous

Ryan, it’s just not that serious. Really.
http://profiles.google.com/thisiscelia Celia

Hahahaaa! It doesn’t work for me at all (two high-minded concepts at once = fail on both counts) but I’m loving it, if only for the amusement!
muzan-e

Okay, most of this is uncanny-valley bordering on high-octane nightmare fuel, but -

the horror-fan in the corner who doesn’t usually appreciate Ryan Gosling? Really loves that fourth shot.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3AJ237ND3GAHDQJZ4TLCO4WLRA Emily

it’s kinda freaky, but he’s still smoldering in some of the shots.
Anonymous

i liked it, it was weird and unusual, and in its own way, still pretty….
http://twitter.com/democracydiva Democracy Diva

You kittens crack me up.
http://twitter.com/democracydiva Democracy Diva

You kittens crack me up.
Anonymous

I want to see this movie. Writers? Get on it.
Anonymous

I don’t know. I’m a Scorpio. I kinda like it.
Judy_J

Kinda digging the Dia de los Muertos vibe.
http://tigergray.blogspot.com/ Tiger Gray

I kind of love that last picture.
http://twitter.com/TMamBo Therese Bohn

Yeeech!
Anonymous

Oh, well, death has a great rack.
Anonymous

lol, white boys trying to be deep with cultural appropriation. Sorry, Gosling (and photog) but this wasn’t anywhere near what it could have been, which might have been amazing.
Sarah Thomas

Heck no, that’s awesome!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Joseph-Guarino/13902216 Joseph Guarino

I’m going to have nightmares.
Anonymous

OMG, where’s Ingemar Bergman when you need him? I was honestly waiting for a photo of him playing chess with death.
Anonymous

Lol, I don’t know, I think it’s kind of awesome. Certainly a hell of a lot more interesting than most male celebrity fashion spreads. And I actually think the second to last one is kind of hot (probably because the really stylized calavera body paint doesn’t read as “actual dead girl” to me), but I guess I’m alone.
Anonymous

It works for me. I like it.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_T53WBEPGJZ7MMMZC4O563YU5HA Observer

Is he that guy with bunch of kids and and had a reality show until he and his wife split? I haven’t gotten accustomed to seeing men in suits with no socks; it makes me think of homeless guys that are lucky to have clothes. Hate the photoshoot especially if he is supposed to be displaying the merchandise (no, not that merchandise). This is no incentive to go buy this Esquire issue.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_T53WBEPGJZ7MMMZC4O563YU5HA Observer

Is he that guy with bunch of kids and and had a reality show until he and his wife split? I haven’t gotten accustomed to seeing men in suits with no socks; it makes me think of homeless guys that are lucky to have clothes. Hate the photoshoot especially if he is supposed to be displaying the merchandise (no, not that merchandise). This is no incentive to go buy this Esquire issue.
- Anonymous
  
  I think you’re thinking of Jon Gosselin, of “Jon & Kate Plus Eight”.
  - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_T53WBEPGJZ7MMMZC4O563YU5HA Observer
    
    Thanks, that what I get for not having a TV , small sacrifice however!
    - Anonymous
      
      A tragic mix-up, just tragic.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_T53WBEPGJZ7MMMZC4O563YU5HA Observer

Is he that guy with bunch of kids and and had a reality show until he and his wife split? I haven’t gotten accustomed to seeing men in suits with no socks; it makes me think of homeless guys that are lucky to have clothes. Hate the photoshoot especially if he is supposed to be displaying the merchandise (no, not that merchandise). This is no incentive to go buy this Esquire issue.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_T53WBEPGJZ7MMMZC4O563YU5HA Observer

Is he that guy with bunch of kids and and had a reality show until he and his wife split? I haven’t gotten accustomed to seeing men in suits with no socks; it makes me think of homeless guys that are lucky to have clothes. Hate the photoshoot especially if he is supposed to be displaying the merchandise (no, not that merchandise). This is no incentive to go buy this Esquire issue.
Anonymous

I’ve never seen even a minute of any of Gosling’ss movies, so maybe that’s why I don’t get his appeal. He could be one of those guys who lights up in front of the camera. I mean, he’s cute and all, and his appeal isn’t as much of a mystery to me as 12 year old Shia LaBeef’s is. But he just seems like another cute guy.

That said, I like this layout. I agree that, as a whole, it seems rather like an art school project, but some of the photos are pretty cool, especially the last one.

I believe Blue Valentine is available through On Demand. I think I’ll watch it. Maybe it will change my mind about Gosling.
- Anonymous
  
  He has an extraordinary stage presence… try watching “Fracture” and of course his most recent, “Crazy, Stupid Love”…You might just change your mind!
  - Anonymous
    
    Oh, thanks. I’ve been wanting to see “Crazy, Stupid Love” anyway.
- http://profiles.google.com/sara.e.munoz Sara Munoz
  
  DO watch “Blue Valentine”!
  - Anonymous
    
    I will, and I’ll be going in with an open mind.
Anonymous

“Be better than the Gap!” Greatest movie line in a long long time!!
Anonymous

I read this last night and laughed out loud. So much that I had to come back and re-read it this morning for another laugh.
http://badkittyknits.blogspot.com KittyKnits

They’re fascinating photographs, especially the first one with “all three” of them. But this: “I think I was always bound to become two
selves, if I wasn’t already. Now there’s this me, this public me, and I
know that I have become two people. This is what I told the
photographer before he took those photographs. Even my own name sounds
like just someone I know.” makes me say it’s time to up the meds, Ryan.
Jennifer Coleman

Dude’s hot and all, but ever since he popped up on in Hollywood, I’ve been getting an oddball vibe from him. Even his style, seems a bit left of center, in an impeccable way. I just hope in 10-15 years he doesn’t go all Nic Cage on us.
Amanda in Austin

Hee hee! You made me laugh out loud, TLo!

Side note: I saw “Crazy Stupid Love” last night, and it was AWESOME. One of the best movies I have seen in quite a while. Loved, loved, loved it. And it doesn’t hurt one iota that Ryan takes his shirt off in the movie.
Anonymous

Oh, T Lo, you guys crack me up. Thank you so much!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jessica-TallGirl-Freeman/1043623567 Jessica TallGirl Freeman

LOL LOL LOL!!! Perfect start to my morning TLo!
Alice Ormsbee

I dunno, guys, straight lady over here thinks it’s hot. It plays to that whole sensitive, torn, suffering artist thing. Which is HOT! I like sexy lady death and him watching himself. I thought it was eye catching and it pulled me in, so success on that front, too.
Anonymous

I knew you both were going to hate this.
http://twitter.com/ashinyoconnor Aisling O’Connor

Honey, that skeleton body paint is giving you line-backer shoulders.
http://twitter.com/Snickleboom Snickleboom

What the what?
oohsparkley!

You guys make me laugh.
oohsparkley!

You guys make me laugh.
Anonymous

Obviously I like it.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=720742723 Sarah Winningham

I love it!

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Ryan Gosling for Esquire Magazine

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