NY Times Interview with Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling was the toast of Sundance in January 2001 when, at 20, he stunned the festival with his portrayal of a self-hating Yeshiva student who becomes a neo-Nazi in Henry Bean's independent feature "The Believer."

Apparently the independent film industry found "The Believer" too hot to handle, and the film was left to have its premiere on Showtime in March. It's finally opening theatrically today in Manhattan through Fireworks Pictures.

"Henry was asking a question on film that he didn't know the answer to," Mr. Gosling said during a recent visit to New York. "He was asking the audience what they thought. I think that's what hurt the film, which is what is so sad to me about the industry. I encourage anyone to hate this film if they want, but know why they hate it. It's up to you to take the information and decide what you think. And I think that's what a film should be."

Mr. Gosling has made three films since "The Believer," including the current "Murder by Numbers" in which he plays a smirking high school student with illusions of being a Nietzschean superman. Intriguingly, Mr. Gosling's first job was as a uniformed, marching member of television's "Mickey Mouse Club" during its revival in the early 90's. Did that experience help him create his later roles?

" 'The Mickey Mouse Club' gave me a good work ethic and taught me about focus but nothing about fascism," Mr. Gosling said. "And they taught me how to answer questions like that, too."

- Dave Kehr