Does Ryan Gosling Belong In Hollywood's Elite?

Crazy Stupid Love, Drive and The Ides of March all released in 2011 and all three were highlighted by Ryan Gosling who played three very diverse characters. In Crazy Stupid Love, Gosling plays a playboy who can get any girl he desires, until he meets the girl of his dreams and settles down.

In Drive, he plays a stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway driver in his free time, but he also has a dark side as he's a very dangerous man who doesn't shy away from his violent side. Finally, in Ides of March, Gosling plays a deceitful campaign worker (without giving too much away).

The driving factor in all three of these movies is that Gosling is playing along some heavy hitters. George Clooney, who is a candidate for the Academy Award for Best Actor In A Leading Role for his work in The Descendants. Gosling also plays along Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who has won the best actor Oscar, Paul Giamatti, Steve Carell and Bryan Cranston; all very talented actors who have great reputations.

Gosling held his own in all three films. Obviously, he was the main star in Drive and in Ides of March, but it was his ability to take over the film that stood out the most. All three films were very different roles and he nailed them to a T.

Why is this such a surprise? Gosling has been doing this for years. He was unbelievable in The Notebook. He's the king of the indies with his works in Blue Valentine, All Good Things, Lars And The Real Girl and Half Nelson. He's a very talented actor and at just 31 years old, the sky is the limit for him.

Gosling has already experienced some notoriety. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his work in Half Nelson, but not a lot of people saw that film. He was brilliant in it. This is a guy who has honed his craft and has proven that he can be at the top of the list when it comes to the Hollywood Elite. Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Christian Bale and Johnny Depp have their seats reserved at the top of the chain. They are the elite actors now and Gosling deserves a place at their table.

Gosling has three more films coming out in 2012. The Place Beyond the Pines, The Gangster Squad and Only God Forgives. All three are major dramas and hopefully Gosling will get some Oscar nods.