England, Are You Ready For Ryan Gosling's 'Only God Forgives?' [Movie Clips + Pictures]

When Only God Forgives – one of Ryan Gosling’s moody thrillers – debuted at Cannes Film Festival, opinion was polarized. Some critics were sucked in by Nicolas Winding Refn slick style while others labelled his efforts as dull. If Gosling is more popular anywhere but America, though, it’s in England, and it’s in England that the film next lands.

Only God Forgives, coming to a cinema near you, August 2nd

We expect audiences to arrive at box offices in their droves to catch the latest glimpse of the pin up hero, who’s forging somewhat of a reputation for grumpy violence these days.

Movie clip: Hotel Reception

The film sees him play Julian - a drug-smuggler working and working successfully in Bangkok's criminal underworld. Things change, though – it’s what writers call conflict - when his mother convinces him find and kill the people/persons responsible for his brother's recent death.

Movie Clip: It's a Little More Complicated

Gosling’s name is being talked about in franchise circles, now, which could see the actor reluctantly sign his life away to a blockbuster movie. He’s already spoken on how he doesn’t like that style of working, but could a lucrative deal prise him and his principles apart? They don’t get more franchise-esque than Star Wars or Batman, but then again, they don’t get much more lucrative, either.

Movie Clip: Dressing on The Side

Here’s a prediction: British moviegoers are going to ignore the following reviews and see Gosling beat people up anyway, even if he only has a measly seventeen lines in the film.

The Washington Post did call it “fatally dull”. It was also “just about the worst ... thing I've ever seen” according to Vulture’s reviewer, and The Toronto Star said it’s “the least glamorous and also least interesting role Gosling has ever had.”

But you guys love Gosling, don’t you, so you’ll go see it anyway. It’ll be opening up alongside new Anime, From Up On Poppy Hill, The Conjuring, Red 2 and Paradise: Hope on August 2nd. Here's some more stills to further whet that appetite.

Can this face save the film?

Ryan Gosling and Yayaying Rhatha Phongam

Ryan Gosling and Yayaying Rhatha Phongam... again

Kristen Scott Thomas is in trouble

And he's gonna save her