Ryan Gosling‘s directorial debut, Lost River, was savaged by critics at the Cannes Film Festival. Now, after spending $3 million for domestic distribution rights, Warner Bros. is looking to shuffle it off to an indie distributor.
Among the commentary from critics, comparisons to David Lynch were the most frequently written, along with Beasts of the Southern Wild, Nicolas Winding Refn, Dario Argento and the list goes on and on. By the sound of it, Gosling was stretching his legs, exploring and seemingly attempting to mimic those he most admires. Personally it makes it sound like something work seeing, just to get a taste for his visual eye and word is the score from Johnny Jewel is worth hearing.
The film stars Christina Hendricks as Billy, a single mother swept into a dark underworld, while her teenage son discovers a road that leads him to a secret underwater town. Ben Mendelsohn, Eva Mendes and Saoirse Ronan co-star.
So who knows what will happen with this one. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it at more festivals throughout the year, hoping for better responses as it is sure to become an increasing curiosity. I also expect it to hit theaters or, at least, On Demand at some point. We’ll see. [Deadline]
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Ryan Gosling's directorial debut LOST RIVER is like the residue of a collision between GUMMO & TWIN PEAKS. No, really. #cannes
— erickohn (@erickohn) May 20, 2014
Gosling's LOST RIVER a first-rate folie de grandeur. Echoes of Argento, Korine, Lynch, Malick in a tedious allegory of Detroit as ghost town
— Scott Foundas (@foundasonfilm) May 20, 2014
https://twitter.com/robbiereviews/statuses/468751581148901376
LOST RIVER: Unholy Motors. Gosling's Motown fantasy blitzes eye & mind. Carax/Lynch honored, audience baffled, but that's OK. #Cannes2014
— Peter Howell ? (@peterhowellfilm) May 20, 2014
https://twitter.com/alisonwillmore/statuses/468756486026711040
If a $200 haircut and $900 shades were given lots of money to defecate on Detroit, the result would be Ryan Gosling's directing debut.
— Wesley Morris (@Wesley_Morris) May 20, 2014
