Lost River

Warner Bros. | Release Date: April 10, 2015

6.8	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 76 Ratings

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LowbrowCinemaApr 12, 2015

Not at all the disaster claimed at Cannes, Ryan Gosling's directing debut LOST RIVER is actually quite captivating but it feels like a film from a sophomore at NYU. Too many missed ops that make you think of far better fillms esp from DavidNot at all the disaster claimed at Cannes, Ryan Gosling's directing debut LOST RIVER is actually quite captivating but it feels like a film from a sophomore at NYU. Too many missed ops that make you think of far better fillms esp from David Lynch. And like so many first time filmmakers, Gosling keeps cutting away from all his great scenes. Not much to write about.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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Eon2323Jun 15, 2015

You can easily see the influences from Nicolas Winding Refn and David Lynch in this film; it's so dreamy and airy, yet colorful while the film feels slow and almost a bit lifeless. While the story becomes a bit muddled and incoherent, theYou can easily see the influences from Nicolas Winding Refn and David Lynch in this film; it's so dreamy and airy, yet colorful while the film feels slow and almost a bit lifeless. While the story becomes a bit muddled and incoherent, the calibur of the cast's talent as well as the film's soundtrack leave me hopeful for Ryan Gosling's next project.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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beingryanjudeMay 16, 2015

Bizarre, disturbing and occasionally uncomfortable, yet Lost River isn't necessarily bad. It's well casted and explores a visually and thematically diverse environment. If anything else, it proves Ryan Gosling's promise--with potential forBizarre, disturbing and occasionally uncomfortable, yet Lost River isn't necessarily bad. It's well casted and explores a visually and thematically diverse environment. If anything else, it proves Ryan Gosling's promise--with potential for cinematic gold to come.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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wornoutspinesApr 15, 2015

Ryan Gosling’s first rodeo at the Writer/Director’s chair was something. The dramatic mystery-fantasy ride that Gosling is taking us on is enchanting but also disturbing.

Lost River first looks like a documentary or an old film but it getsRyan Gosling’s first rodeo at the Writer/Director’s chair was something. The dramatic mystery-fantasy ride that Gosling is taking us on is enchanting but also disturbing.

Lost River first looks like a documentary or an old film but it gets weird real fast. The documentary aspect of it comes from the debt crisis theme the movie has, people choking with debts leaving their homes, deserted neighborhoods and ghost towns but the film goes from a very grounded theme into a phantasmagorical world filled with disturbing dark metaphors with violent and/or dodgy characters.

The music is hypnotic and fits the surrealism atmosphere of the film but it gets annoying real fast. Although it mostly fits the movie, there’s almost too much of it, the music is not really helping in the cinematic experience of Lost River.

No matter how you may feel about the movie you can't deny that it's beautifully acted. Ryan Gosling knows how to pick his cast but the one I was most surprised about, was Iain De Caestecker, whose presence and performance was electric. Iain is impressive, from the second he appears on screen everything you need to know about his character is there, you can read it on his face, his attitude and hear it in his voice. He held his own next to Hendricks and Ronan, as it turns out he is incredibly talented.

I know Lost River must be - is - a metaphor but god I need help to figure it out. I may not be doing enough drugs to understand that film or I haven’t experience enough of life but it was difficult for me to decipher. A short version of the film would have been fine, great even, but a full feature film, wow that’s something.

Lost River is an experience, like any ride in an amusement park it will leave its mark but it doesn’t mean that you’ll enjoy it. @wornoutspines… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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MattBrady99Apr 10, 2015

Focus more on story more than visuals or your movie isn't going to make any sense or even going anywhere, just stuck in it's own tracks Gosling.

The story is about a single mother is swept into a dark underworld while her son discovers anFocus more on story more than visuals or your movie isn't going to make any sense or even going anywhere, just stuck in it's own tracks Gosling.

The story is about a single mother is swept into a dark underworld while her son discovers an underwater town.

I was interested in Lost River every since it's first teaser trailer by it's fairy tale imagery and with the repeating words of "Look at my muscles", by Matt Smith . But after hearing the negative reviews and the fact that this movie was booed at the Cannes film festival. After seeing the movie I can see what Ryan Gosling was trying to reach but it didn't really mash well on screen and the overall result is a mess of film and I'm not here to hate on Gosling as I had hope for him and maybe he can do a better directed movie in the future.

Ryan Gosling directing in the movie was meh, and the whole time I noticed he worked on the visuals and the look of the movie which by the looks great but still I felt the focus was only on that and not the whole film, I might be wrong or not. Ryan has worked with many directors in his career with the same style but I think he really took the style and version that Nicolas Winding Refn had with Only God Forgives and I wouldn't call it a bad thing as some critics are making it out to be, it's just a actor starting directing who wants to be like another director he worked with to get the directing career started.

Matt Smith (Or Doctor from Doctor Who to those who seen the show) is also in this movie and he was actually pretty good and honestly the best part of this movie for me.

The movie itself has this fair tale dream look to it with it's visual's and I think the perfect director who would have made this movie much better is David Lynch as his movies do have a dream like look to it which would worked more in Lost River, because to be honest the movie felt like a bore at times showing pretty imagery and no weight to it which still remains forgettable.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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LeZeeJun 14, 2016

Every city has its own history and hidden secrets.

It's not the first time the actors who reach a certain stage of their acting career to shift their gear to the direction mode. So this time it is none other than the Canadian import, RyanEvery city has its own history and hidden secrets.

It's not the first time the actors who reach a certain stage of their acting career to shift their gear to the direction mode. So this time it is none other than the Canadian import, Ryan Gosling. He produced, wrote and directed this fantasy-drama-mystery which looks like a semi apocalyptic film. Very interesting concept and the cast as well. Quite impressed by the narration with those suspenses, decent story as well, but kind of complicated to understand the mix its genre.

Actually, it was not a bad film, except the story won't go deeper into the characters to uncover them completely. Especially no details about the earlier years at the place where it sets in which what the title denoting. The rest of the developments are unpredictable yet created enough curiosity to hook with. The location was awesome, I mean it was kind of a wasteland, though perfectly matched to what script wanted. The overall idea of the film was like when 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' meets 'Goonies'.

The story did not deliver a satisfying ending after all those promises were made in the first two acts, but overall film was a much better than any fancy twist we would expect. So the film is not for everybody, only if you ready to accept any kind of turnover at any stage of the narration, even it is a very plain, then you can consider it. Not an ideal directional debut for Ryan, but definitely a fine first step to explore the field in the coming years. Surely he would come out with a masterpiece and I'm looking forward for that.

6/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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BITESCREENJun 22, 2017

Die nächste Stufe auf der Karriereleiter des aufstrebenden Schauspielers scheint der Platz auf dem Regiestuhl – so auch bei Ryan Gosling, der für den Mystery-Thriller Lost River erstmals hinter der Kamera agiert. Im verarmten Lost River –Die nächste Stufe auf der Karriereleiter des aufstrebenden Schauspielers scheint der Platz auf dem Regiestuhl – so auch bei Ryan Gosling, der für den Mystery-Thriller Lost River erstmals hinter der Kamera agiert. Im verarmten Lost River – authentisch verkörpert durch den trostlosen Part Echtwelt-Detroits – kämpfen die letzten Menschen um ihre Existenz: Wegen einer drohenden Hauspfändung schröpft der junge Bones unter Lebensgefahr Kupfer aus verlassenen Fabriken, während seine hübsche Mutter Billy an einen exklusiven Fetischclub mit blutig-morbider Varieté-Show gerät. Laut Nachbarin Ratte liegt die Rettung Aller im Brechen eines Fluchs – wozu Bones tief in die Ruinen einer einst gefluteten Stadt taucht. Kulisse und Kernplot sind die fantastische Steilvorlage für ein finsteres Kleinstadtmärchen – das Gosling leider ultraflach und ziemlich langweilig erzählt – da helfen auch die schicken, eindeutig Lynch-und-Refn-inspirierten Bilder und der abwechslungsreiche Elektro-Score nicht.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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JLuis_001Sep 6, 2017

Honestly my expectations were greater and they had a different approach to what I end up watching, I applaud Gosling's attempt to leave his comfort zone as an actor and try something as a director, unfortunately his film is a drawing ofHonestly my expectations were greater and they had a different approach to what I end up watching, I applaud Gosling's attempt to leave his comfort zone as an actor and try something as a director, unfortunately his film is a drawing of failed tributes to the directors that he admires and he also never manages to impose his voice as an author, coupled with the fact that the script is practically a mere excuse to create images trying to be a story.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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MahmusSep 25, 2020

Everything with Christina Hendricks and Ben Mendelsohn at the gore club is fantastic.

Unfortunately, everything with Iain De Caestecker and Saoirse Ronan, with the exception of one excellent scene in a convenience store, is pretty boring. IEverything with Christina Hendricks and Ben Mendelsohn at the gore club is fantastic.

Unfortunately, everything with Iain De Caestecker and Saoirse Ronan, with the exception of one excellent scene in a convenience store, is pretty boring.

I still have a lot of respect for this movie though, and I'm definitely glad I watched it. It definitely makes we want to see what Ryan Gosling will direct next.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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