DVD Talk

DVD Talk Logo
URL	dvdtalk.com
Type of site	Film review / Online community
Available language(s)	English
Owner	Internet Brands
Launched	1999
Alexa rank	16,580 (June 2012[update])[1]

DVD Talk is a website for DVD enthusiasts founded in January 1999 by Geoffrey Kleinman when DVDs and DVD players were first beginning to hit the market.^[2]

The site started as an online forum, an email newsletter, and a page of DVD news and reviews. As it grew, it expanded to include a review database as well as regular columns including Glenn Erickson's The DVD Savant and Anime Talk. The site has over 50 writers and contributors who write reviews, interviews, features, and columns; its database holds over 14,000 reviews for Region 1 DVDs.^{[citation needed]}

In September 2007, the site was sold to Internet Brands.^[3] The adult section of the website was spun off and became XCritic.^[4]

References[link]

External links[link]

• DVD Talk
• DVD Talk Radio
• XCritic
• On the Web, Price Tags Blur (Washington Post article about the DVD Talk community)
• DVDs Don't Be Duped - Star Tribune (Star Tribune article recommending DVD Talk as a source for checking availability of DVDs.)

This article's lead section may not adequately summarize its contents. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of the article's key points. (March 2012)

DVD

DVD-R read/write side
Media type	Optical disc
Capacity	4.7 GB (single-sided, single-layer – common) 8.5–8.7 GB (single-sided, double-layer) 9.4 GB (double-sided, single-layer) 17.08 GB (double-sided, double-layer – rare)
Read mechanism	650 nm laser, 10.5 Mbit/s (1×)
Write mechanism	10.5 Mbit/s (1×)
Standard	DVD Forum's DVD Books[1][2][3] and DVD+RW Alliance specifications

DVD is an optical disc storage format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions.

Pre-recorded DVDs are mass-produced using molding machines that physically stamp data onto the DVD. Such discs are known as DVD-ROM, because data can only be read and not written nor erased. Blank recordable DVD discs (DVD-R and DVD+R) can be recorded once using a DVD recorder and then function as a DVD-ROM. Rewritable DVDs (DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM) can be recorded and erased multiple times.

DVDs are used in DVD-Video consumer digital video format and in DVD-Audio consumer digital audio format, as well as for authoring AVCHD discs. DVDs containing other types of information may be referred to as DVD data discs.

History[link]

Before the advent of DVD, Video CD (VCD) became the first format for distributing digitally encoded films on standard 120 mm optical discs. (Its predecessor, CD Video, used analog video encoding.) VCD was on the market in 1993.^[4] In the same year, two new optical disc storage formats were being developed. One was the Multimedia Compact Disc (MMCD), backed by Philips and Sony, and the other was the Super Density (SD) disc, supported by Toshiba, Time Warner, Matsushita Electric, Hitachi, Mitsubishi Electric, Pioneer, Thomson, and JVC.

Representatives of the SD camp approached IBM, asking for advice on the file system to use for their disc as well as seeking support for their format for storing computer data. Alan E. Bell, a researcher from IBM's Almaden Research Center got that request and also learned of the MMCD development project. Wary of being caught in a repeat of the costly videotape format war between VHS and Betamax in the 1980s, he convened a group of computer industry experts, including representatives from Apple, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Dell, and many others. This group was referred to as the Technical Working Group, or TWG.

The TWG voted to boycott both formats unless the two camps agreed on a single, converged standard.^[5] Lou Gerstner, president of IBM, was recruited to apply pressure on the executives of the warring factions. Eventually, the computer companies won the day, and a single format, now called DVD, was agreed upon. The TWG also collaborated with the Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA) on the use of their implementation of the ISO-13346 file system (known as Universal Disc Format) for use on the new DVDs.

Philips and Sony decided that it was in their best interests to avoid another format war over their Multimedia Compact Disc, and agreed to unify with companies backing the Super Density Disc to release a single format with technologies from both. The specification was mostly similar to Toshiba and Matsushita's Super Density Disc, except for the dual-layer option (MMCD was single-sided and optionally dual-layer, whereas SD was single-layer but optionally double-sided) and EFMPlus modulation.

EFMPlus was chosen because of its great resilience to disc damage, such as scratches and fingerprints. EFMPlus, created by Kees Immink (who also designed EFM), is 6% less efficient than the modulation technique originally used by Toshiba, which resulted in a capacity of 4.7 GB, as opposed to the original 5 GB. The result was the DVD specification, finalized for the DVD movie player and DVD-ROM computer applications in December 1995.

The DVD Video format was first introduced by Toshiba in Japan in November 1996, in the United States in March 1997 (test marketed),^[6] in Europe in October 1998, and in Australia in February 1999.

In May 1997, the DVD Consortium was replaced by the DVD Forum, which is open to all other companies.^[6]

Specifications[link]

DVD specifications created and updated by the DVD Forum are published as so-called DVD Books (e.g. DVD-ROM Book, DVD-Audio Book, DVD-Video Book, DVD-R Book, DVD-RW Book, DVD-RAM Book, DVD-AR Book, DVD-VR Book, etc.).^[1][2][3]

Some specifications for mechanical, physical and optical characteristics of DVD optical discs can be downloaded as freely available standards from the ISO website.^[7] Also, the DVD+RW Alliance publishes competing DVD specifications such as DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD+RW or DVD+RW DL. These DVD formats are also ISO standards.^{[8][9][10][11]}

Some of DVD specifications (e.g. for DVD-Video) are not publicly available and can be obtained only from the DVD Format/Logo Licensing Corporation for a fee of US $5000.^[12][13] Every subscriber must sign a non-disclosure agreement as certain information in the DVD Book is proprietary and confidential.^[12]

Etymology[link]

The official DVD charter documents specify that the basis of the DVD name stems from the term digital versatile disc.^[14] Usage in the present day varies, with Digital Versatile Disc,^[15] Digital Video Disc, and DVD being the most common.

DVD was originally used as an initialism for the unofficial term digital videodisc.^[16]

A newsgroup FAQ written by Jim Taylor (a prominent figure in the industry) claims that four years later, in 1999, the DVD Forum stated that the format name was simply the three letters "DVD" and did not stand for anything.^[17]

The DVD Forum website has a section called "DVD Primer" in which the answer to the question, "What does DVD mean?" reads, "The keyword is 'versatile.' Digital Versatile Discs provide superb video, audio and data storage and access—all on one disc."^[18]

Identification (MID)[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

This section appears to be written like an advertisement. Please help improve it by rewriting promotional content from a neutral point of view and removing any inappropriate external links. (January 2012)

The DVD is made of a spiral groove read or written starting at the center. The form of the groove encodes unalterable identification data known as the Media Identification Code (MID). The MID contains prerecorded information indicating the disc's original manufacturer, apart from any visible branding on the disc itself. Also included is the byte capacity and permitted burning speeds (dependent on both the recorder, or burner, as well as what the disc can handle). This information can be read on many disc authoring software products.

A MID code is generally seen to be more reassuring for individuals whose priority is the long-term storage of their data than just buying for the sake of a brand name. For example, members of the Internet community Club MyCE, which specialises in disc burning, maintain that anything not produced by Japanese disc manufacturers Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden will be of inferior burning quality and offer shorter longevity.

Verbatim and Taiyo Yuden have high-quality standards to ensure their discs are excellent, (and anything that fails their strict quality tests may be destroyed) whilst other famous disc manufacturers, such as CMC Magnetics Corporation or Ritek Corporation, tend to produce batches with varying quality, resulting in inconsistency and poor burning results. Another reason is the burner's firmware, a set of instructions as to how to interact with the disc, varies from burner to burner. They determine how well a burn will be, or even if it will finish at all. A burn that fails to record during burning or verifying, is referred to as a "coaster" - or an unusable disc. Several errors as such may be encountered when trying to play back the disc.

Additionally, it is the firmware that determines how well it supports the MID code. Samsung and BenQ burners for example tend to be more tolerant of less well-known MID codes, whilst a LG and a Matsushita burner (made by parent company Panasonic) might be a little pickier over what it can handle.

As a result, many disc producers have turned to "faking" MID codes in order to obtain better firmware support. UmeDisc, which produces discs on behalf of AOne, Tesco, Signellex, etc., may turn to faking a Taiyo Yuden MID or a Mitsubishi MKM MID (manufacturer for Verbatim) so the burner can interpret it better. An AOne 8x DVD-R disc uses a Taiyo Yuden MID (TYG02), although its real MID code should be UME01.

The cheaper brand of discs may turn to "outsourcing" their products. This is where a brand name of disc changes the manufacturer depending on who will sell them a batch of discs at the lowest price. Memorex is notable for changing their manufacturers frequently (one spindle of DVD blanks may be produced by one manufacturer whilst another spindle may be produced by another). Brands that outsource tend to obtain the lowest quality batches, and making them inconsistent for burning and long-term storage.

However, some brands of discs remain loyal to their supplier. Traxdata and Arita are Ritek-only brands, whilst Datasafe and Datawrite are supplied exclusively by CMC Magnetics.

Design[link]

Comparison of several forms of disk storage showing tracks (not-to-scale); green denotes start and red denotes end.
* Some CD-R(W) and DVD-R(W)/DVD+R(W) recorders operate in ZCLV, CAA or CAV modes, but most work in Constant linear velocity (CLV) mode.

As a movie delivery medium[link]

DVD was adopted by movie and home entertainment distributors to replace the ubiquitous VHS tape as the primary means of distributing films to consumers in the home entertainment marketplace. DVD was chosen for its superior ability to reproduce moving pictures and sound, for its superior durability, and for its interactivity. Interactivity had proven to be a feature which consumers, especially collectors, favored when the movie studios released their films on LaserDisc. When the price point for a LaserDisc at approximately $100 per disc moved to $20 per disc at retail, this luxury feature became available for mass consumption. Simultaneously, the movie studios decided to change their home entertainment release model from a rental model to a for purchase model, and large numbers of DVDs were sold.

At the same time, a demand for interactive design talent and services was created. Movies in the past had uniquely designed title sequences. Suddenly every movie being released required information architecture and interactive design components that matched the film's tone and were at the quality level that Hollywood demanded for its product.

As an interactive medium[link]

DVD as a format had two qualities at the time that were not available in any other interactive medium: enough capacity and speed to provide high quality, full motion video and sound, and low cost delivery mechanism provided by consumer products retailers. Retailers would quickly move to sell their players for under $200, and eventually for under $50 at retail. In addition, the medium itself was small enough and light enough to mail using general first class postage. Almost overnight, this created a new business opportunity and model for business innovators, such as Netflix, to re-invent the home entertainment distribution model. It also opened up the opportunity for business and product information to be inexpensively provided on full motion video through direct mail.

Capacity[link]

The basic types of DVD (12 cm diameter, single-sided or homogeneous double-sided) are referred to by a rough approximation of their capacity in gigabytes. In draft versions of the specification, DVD-5 indeed held five gigabytes, but some parameters were changed later on as explained above, so the capacity decreased. Other formats, those with 8 cm diameter and hybrid variants, acquired similar numeric names with even larger deviation.

The 12 cm type is a standard DVD, and the 8 cm variety is known as a MiniDVD. These are the same sizes as a standard CD and a mini-CD, respectively. The capacity by surface (MiB/cm²) varies from 6.92 MiB/cm² in the DVD-1 to 18.0 MiB/cm² in the DVD-18.

As with hard disk drives, in the DVD realm, gigabyte and the symbol GB are usually used in the SI sense (i.e., 10⁹, or 1,000,000,000 bytes). For distinction, gibibyte (with symbol GiB) is used (i.e., 1024³ (2³⁰), or 1,073,741,824 bytes).

Size comparison: a 12 cm DVD+RW and a 19 cm pencil.

Each DVD sector contains 2,418 bytes of data, 2,048 bytes of which are user data. There is a small difference in storage space between + and - (hyphen) formats:

Technology[link]

DVD-RW Drive operating with the protective cover removed.

DVD uses 650 nm wavelength laser diode light as opposed to 780 nm for CD. This permits a smaller pit to be etched on the media surface compared to CDs (0.74 µm for DVD versus 1.5 µm for CD), allowing in part for DVD's increased storage capacity.

In comparison, Blu-ray Disc, the successor to the DVD format, uses a wavelength of 405 nm, and one dual-layer disc has a 50 GB storage capacity.

Writing speeds for DVD were 1×, that is, 1,385 kB/s (1,353 KiB/s), in the first drives and media models. More recent models, at 18× or 20×, have 18 or 20 times that speed. Note that for CD drives, 1× means 153.6 kB/s (150 KiB/s), about one-ninth as swift.^[21][23]

Internal mechanism of a drive[link]

This mechanism is shown right side up; the disc would sit on top of it. The laser and optical system scans the underside of the disc.

With reference to the photo, just to the right of image center is the disc spin motor, a gray cylinder, with its gray centering hub and black resilient drive ring on top. There is a disc-shaped round clamp, loosely held inside the cover and free to rotate; it's not in the photo. After the disc tray stops moving inward, as the motor and its attached parts rise, a magnet near the top of the rotating assembly contacts and strongly attracts the clamp to hold and center the disc. This motor has an external rotor – every visible part of it spins.

The gray metal chassis is shock-mounted at its four corners to reduce sensitivity to external shocks, and to reduce drive noise from residual imbalance when running fast. The soft shock mount grommets are just below the brass-colored washers at the four corners (the left one is obscured). Running through those grommets are screws to fasten them to the black plastic frame that's underneath.

Two parallel precision guide rods that run between upper left and lower right in the photo carry the "sled", the moving optical read-write head. As shown, this "sled" is close to, or at the position where it reads or writes at the edge of the disc.

A dark gray disc with two holes on opposite sides has a blue lens surrounded by silver-colored metal. This is the lens that's closest to the disc; it serves to both read and write by focusing the laser light to a very small spot. Under the disc is an ingenious actuator comprising permanent magnets and coils that move the lens up and down to maintain focus on the data layer. As well, the actuator moves the lens slightly toward and away from the spin-motor spindle to keep the spot on track. Both focus and tracking are relatively quite fast and very precise. These servos are comparatively wideband.

To select tracks (or files) as well as advancing the "sled" during continuous read or write operations, a motor (it could be a stepping motor; one would hear it if it were) rotates a coarse-pitch leadscrew to move the "sled" throughout its total travel range. The motor, itself, is the gray cylinder just to the left of the most-distant shock mount; its shaft is parallel to the support rods. The leadscrew is the rod with evenly-spaced darker details; these are the helical groove that engages a pin on the "sled".

The irregular orange material is flexible etched copper foil supported by thin sheet plastic; these are "flexible printed circuits" that connect everything to the electronics (which is not shown).

DVD recordable and rewritable[link]

Sony DVD Read & Rewritable

HP initially developed recordable DVD media from the need to store data for backup and transport.

DVD recordables are now also used for consumer audio and video recording. Three formats were developed: DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW (plus), and DVD-RAM. DVD-R is available in two formats, General (650 nm) and Authoring (635 nm), where Authoring discs may be recorded with CSS encrypted video content but General discs may not.^[25]

Although most DVD writers can nowadays write the DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW formats (usually denoted by "DVD±RW" and/or the existence of both the DVD Forum logo and the DVD+RW Alliance logo), the "plus" and the "dash" formats use different writing specifications. Most DVD readers and players will play both kinds of discs, although older models can have trouble with the "plus" variants.

Some first generation DVD players would cause damage to DVD±R/RW/DL when attempting to read them.

Dual-layer recording[link]

Dual-layer recording (sometimes also known as double-layer recording) allows DVD-R and DVD+R discs to store significantly more data—up to 8.5 gigabytes per disc, compared with 4.7 gigabytes for single-layer discs. Along with this, DVD-DLs have slower write speeds as compared to ordinary DVDs. When played, a slight transition can sometimes be seen in the playback when the player changes layers. DVD-R DL was developed for the DVD Forum by Pioneer Corporation; DVD+R DL was developed for the DVD+RW Alliance by Philips and Mitsubishi Kagaku Media (MKM).^[26]

A dual-layer disc differs from its usual DVD counterpart by employing a second physical layer within the disc itself. The drive with dual-layer capability accesses the second layer by shining the laser through the first semitransparent layer. In some DVD players, the layer change can exhibit a noticeable pause, up to several seconds.^[27] This caused some viewers to worry that their dual-layer discs were damaged or defective, with the end result that studios began listing a standard message explaining the dual-layer pausing effect on all dual-layer disc packaging.

DVD recordable discs supporting this technology are backward-compatible with some existing DVD players and DVD-ROM drives.^[26] Many current DVD recorders support dual-layer technology, and the price is now comparable to that of single-layer drives, although the blank media remain more expensive. The recording speeds reached by dual-layer media are still well below those of single-layer media. A potential reason is how Dual Layer discs are not as well matured compared to the Single Layer discs, as well as consumers, on a whole, have no desire for increased burning speeds.

There are two modes for dual-layer orientation. With Parallel Track Path (PTP), used on DVD-ROM, both layers start at the inside diameter (ID) and end at the outside diameter (OD) with the lead-out. With Opposite Track Path (OTP), used on many Digital Video Discs, the lower layer starts at the ID and the upper layer starts at the OD, where the other layer ends; they share one lead-in and one lead-out.

DVD-Video[link]

DVD-Video is a standard for storing and distributing video/audio content on DVD media. The format went on sale in Japan in 1996, in the United States in 1997, in Europe in 1998 and in Australia in 1999.^[28] DVD-Video became the dominant form of home video distribution in Japan when it first went on sale in 1996, but did not become the dominant form of home video distribution in the United States until June 15, 2003, when weekly DVD-Video in the United States rentals began outnumbering weekly VHS cassette rentals, reflecting the rapid adoption rate of the technology in the U.S. marketplace.^[5][29] Currently, DVD-Video is the dominant form of home video distribution worldwide, although in Japan it was surpassed by Blu-ray Disc when Blu-ray first went on sale in Japan on March 31, 2006.

Security[link]

The Content Scramble System (CSS) is a Digital Rights Management (DRM) and encryption system employed on almost all commercially produced DVD-video discs. CSS utilizes a proprietary 40-bit stream cipher algorithm. The system was introduced around 1996 and was first compromised in 1999.

The purpose of CSS is twofold:

1. CSS prevents byte-for-byte copies of an MPEG (digital video) stream from being playable since such copies do not include the keys that are hidden on the lead-in area of the restricted DVD.
2. CSS provides a reason for manufacturers to make their devices compliant with an industry-controlled standard, since CSS scrambled discs cannot in principle be played on noncompliant devices; anyone wishing to build compliant devices must obtain a license, which contains the requirement that the rest of the DRM system (region codes, Macrovision, and user operation prohibition) be implemented.^[30]

While most CSS-decrypting software is used to play DVD videos, other pieces of software (such as DVD Decrypter, AnyDVD, DVD43, Smartripper, and DVD Shrink) can copy a DVD to a hard drive and remove Macrovision, CSS encryption, region codes and user operation prohibition.

Consumer restrictions[link]

The rise of filesharing and "piracy" has prompted many copyright holders to display notices on DVD packaging or displayed on screen when the content is played that warn consumers of the illegality of certain uses of the DVD. It is commonplace to include a 90 second advert warning that most forms of copying the contents are illegal. Many DVDs prevent skipping past or fast-forwarding through this warning.

Arrangements for renting and lending differ by geography. In the U.S., the right to re-sell, rent, or lend out bought DVDs is protected by the first-sale doctrine under the Copyright Act of 1976. In Europe, rental and lending rights are more limited, under a 1992 European Directive that gives copyright holders broader powers to restrict the commercial renting and public lending of DVD copies of their work.

DVD-Audio[link]

DVD-Audio is a format for delivering high fidelity audio content on a DVD. It offers many channel configuration options (from mono to 5.1 surround sound) at various sampling frequencies (up to 24-bits/192 kHz versus CDDA's 16-bits/44.1 kHz). Compared with the CD format, the much higher-capacity DVD format enables the inclusion of considerably more music (with respect to total running time and quantity of songs) and/or far higher audio quality (reflected by higher sampling rates and greater sample resolution, and/or additional channels for spatial sound reproduction). This DVD-Audio technique was first used by the brothers Lagkind.^{[citation needed]}

Despite DVD-Audio's superior technical specifications, there is debate as to whether the resulting audio enhancements are distinguishable in typical listening environments. DVD-Audio currently forms a niche market, probably due to the very sort of format war with rival standard SACD that DVD-Video avoided.

Security[link]

DVD-Audio discs employ a DRM mechanism, called Content Protection for Prerecorded Media (CPPM), developed by the 4C group (IBM, Intel, Matsushita, and Toshiba).

Although CPPM was supposed to be much harder to crack than DVD-Video's CSS, it too was eventually cracked in 2007 with the release of the dvdcpxm tool. The subsequent release of the libdvdcpxm library (which is based on dvdcpxm) allowed for the development of open source DVD-Audio players and ripping software, such as DVD-Audio Explorer.^[31] As a result, making 1:1 copies of DVD-Audio discs is now possible with relative ease, much like DVD-Video discs.

Blu-ray Disc/HD DVD[link]

In 2006, two new formats called HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc were released as the successor to DVD. HD DVD competed unsuccessfully with Blu-ray Disc in the format war of 2006–2008. A dual layer HD DVD can store up to 30GB and a dual layer Blu-ray disc can hold up to 50GB.^[32][33]

However, unlike previous format changes, e.g., audio tape to Compact Disc or VHS videotape to DVD, there is no immediate indication that production of the standard DVD will gradually wind down, as they still dominate, with around 75% of video sales and approximately one billion DVD player sales worldwide as of 3 April 2011. In fact, experts claim that the DVD will remain the dominant medium for at least another five years as Blu-ray technology is still in its introductory phase, write and read speeds being poor as well as the fact of necessary hardware being expensive and not readily available.^[5][34][35]

Consumers initially were also slow to adopt Blu-ray due to the cost.^[36] By 2009, 85% of stores were selling Blu-ray Discs. A high-definition television and appropriate connection cables are also required to take advantage of Blu-ray disc. Some analysts suggest that the biggest obstacle to replacing DVD is due to its installed base; a large majority of consumers are satisfied with DVDs.^[37] The DVD succeeded because it offered a compelling alternative to VHS. In addition, Blu-ray players and now defunct format HD DVD players are designed to be backward-compatible, allowing older DVDs to be played since the media are physically identical; this differed from the change from vinyl to CD and from tape to DVD, which involved a complete change in physical medium. As of 2011^[update] it is still commonplace for major releases to be issued in "combo pack" format, including both a DVD and a Blu-ray disc (as well as, in many cases, a third disc with an authorized digital copy). Also, some multi-disc sets use Blu-ray for the main feature, but DVDs for supplementary features (examples of this include the Harry Potter "Ultimate Edition" collections, the 2009 re-release of the 1967 The Prisoner TV series, and a 2007 collection related to Blade Runner). Another reason cited (July 2011) for the slower transition to Blu-ray from DVD is the necessity of and confusion over "firmware updates" and needing an internet connection to perform updates.

This situation can be best compared to the changeover from 78 rpm shellac recordings to 45 rpm and 33⅓ rpm vinyl recordings; because the medium used for the earlier format was virtually the same as the latter version (a disc on a turntable, played using a needle), phonographs continued to be built to play obsolete 78s for decades after the format was discontinued. Manufacturers continue to release standard DVD titles as of 2012^[update], and the format remains the preferred one for the release of older television programs and films, with some programs such as Star Trek: The Original Series needing to be re-scanned to produce a high definition version from the original film recordings (certain special effects were also updated in order to be better received in high-definition viewing).^[38] In the case of Doctor Who, a series primarily produced on standard definition videotape between 1963 and 1989, BBC Video reportedly intends to continue issuing DVD-format releases of that series until at least November 2013 (since there would be very little increase in visual quality from upconverting the standard definition videotape masters to high definition).^[39]

Use as backup medium[link]

Durability of DVDs is measured by how long the data may be read from the disc, assuming compatible devices exist that can read it: that is, how long the disc can be stored until data is lost. Five factors affect durability: sealing method, reflective layer, organic dye makeup, where it was manufactured, and storage practices.^[40]

The longevity of the ability to read from a DVD+R or DVD-R is largely dependent on manufacturing quality, ranging from 2 to 15 years,^[41][42][43] and is believed to be an unreliable medium for backup unless great care is taken for storage conditions and handling.

According to the Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA), "manufacturers claim life spans ranging from 30 to 100 years for DVD, DVD-R and DVD+R discs and up to 30 years for DVD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD-RAM".^[44]

See also[link]

This "see also" section may contain an excessive number of suggestions. Please ensure that only the most relevant suggestions are given and that they are not red links, and consider integrating suggestions into the article itself. (March 2012)

• Book type
• Digital video recorder
• Disk drive performance characteristics
• DVD authoring
• DVD ripper
• DVD region code
• DVD TV game
• Professional disc
• DVD single

References[link]

Further reading[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: DVD

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of All About Converting From Several Video Formats To DVD

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of Inside DVD-Video/MPEG Format

• DVD at the Open Directory Project
• Dual Layer Explained – Informational Guide to the Dual Layer Recording Process
• DVD Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers)
• DVD Burning and Ripping: A Primer, A Glossary
• YouTube: Segment from 1997 Toshiba DVD demo disc: Technical information about the then-new DVD format, from "DVD Gallery," an in-store demonstration disc from Toshiba

For information about Wikipedia talk pages, see Wikipedia:Talk page

Look up talk in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Talk may refer to:

• Conversation, interactive communication between two or more people
• Speech, the production of a spoken language
• Interaction, face to face conversations

Software[link]

• Google Talk, a Windows- and web-based instant messaging program
• talk (software), a Unix messaging program
• AppleTalk, an early networking protocol designed by Apple for their Macintosh computers

Music[link]

• Talk (Yes album)
• Talk (Paul Kelly album)
• "Talk" (song), by Coldplay
• "Talk", a song by Tracy Bonham on the album Liverpool Sessions
• Talk Talk, a popular British rock group active from 1981 to 1991
• "Talking", a song by British rock band The Rifles
• "Talk", a song by Redgum from their 1986 album Midnight Sun

Other meanings[link]

• Talk (film)
• Talk (magazine)
• Talk show, a broadcast program format
• Talk radio, a radio format
• Talk (play)

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

This article is about the fictional character. For the candy company, see, The Willy Wonka Candy Company.

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. It needs additional citations for verification. Tagged since February 2009. It needs attention from an expert on the subject. Tagged since February 2011. Its introduction may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's lead section guidelines. Tagged since February 2011.

Willy Wonka is a major character of Roald Dahl's 1964 children's novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the film adaptations that followed. The book and the 1971 film adaption both vividly depict an eccentric Wonka — a feature arising from his creative genius. He bewilders the other characters with his antics, but Charlie enjoys Wonka's behavior. In the 2005 film adaption, Willy Wonka's behavior is viewed more as a (sympathetic) character flaw.

Appearances[link]

1971 film adaption[link]

Candy maker Willy Wonka has hidden five Golden Tickets amongst his Wonka Bars. The finders of these special tickets will be given a full tour of his tightly guarded candy factory as well as a lifetime supply of chocolate. The contest sets off a global craze with everyone desperately seeking out the tickets. They are eventually found by five different children from around the world.

Wonka greets the winning children and their guardians at the factory gates. He immediately shows his unpredictability by slowly hobbling towards the gate with a cane, then pretending to fall, only to do a somersault and spring back to his feet with a flourish. Once he and his visitors are inside, Wonka requires each to sign a contract before the tour can begin. The tour progresses though many fantastic rooms and labs in the factory, all run by Wonka's crew of Oompa Loompas. Along the way, four of the children misbehave against Wonka's warnings, resulting in serious but comical consequences and removing them from the tour.

Eventually, Charlie Bucket is the only remaining child. Wonka informs him that the tour is over, politely dismisses him and Grandpa Joe, and disappears into his office without mentioning the promised prize of a lifetime supply of chocolate. Grandpa Joe and Charlie enter the office, where Wonka tells them that Charlie does not get the prize because he broke the rules. When questioned on the existence of the said rules, Wonka irritably reveals the forfeiture clause of the contract Charlie signed. Charlie's part in the theft of Fizzy Lifting drinks earlier in the story means that he violated the contract, and therefore he receives nothing. Now seemingly enraged, Wonka again dismisses them with a furious "Good day!".

When Charlie subsequently returns a gobstopper to Wonka that he initially planned to give to an industrial spy, Wonka joyfully tells Charlie that he "won" and begs his guests' forgiveness. He reveals that the spy "Slugworth" is actually an employee named Wilkinson, whose offer to buy the gobstopper was a morality test for the Golden Ticket winners, and Charlie was the only one who passed. Wonka leads Charlie and Joe to the "Wonkavator", a multi-directional glass elevator, and fly out of the factory in it. As they soar over the village, Wonka tells Charlie that his actual prize is not just the chocolate but the factory itself, as the Golden Ticket search was created to help Wonka search for an honest and worthy child to be his heir. Charlie and his family will reside in the factory and take over its operation when Wonka retires.

2005 film adaption[link]

Willy Wonka, the owner of a famous chocolate factory, has long closed access to his factory due to problems concerning industrial espionage that ultimately led him to fire all his employees, among them Charlie's Grandpa Joe. One day, Wonka informs the world of a contest, in which five Golden Tickets have been placed in five random Wonka Bars worldwide, and the winners will be given a full tour of the factory as well as a lifetime supply of chocolate, while one ticket holder will be given a special prize at the end of the tour. After all five of the tickets are found, Wonka greets Charlie and the other ticket holders outside the factory and leads the group into the facility. During the tour, Wonka tempts each of the bad children to disobey his orders with something related to their individual character flaws. Wonka then invites Charlie to come live and work in the factory with him, and reveals that the purpose of the Golden Tickets and the tour was to make the "least rotten" child the heir of the factory itself, so he can have someone carry on his legacy when he dies. The only condition, however, is that Charlie must leave his family behind, because Wonka believes family is a hindrance to a chocolatier's creative freedom, a philosophy Wonka developed due to his dentist father, Dr. Wilbur Wonka, denying his son candy because of the potential risk to his teeth. After secretly sampling some candy, Wonka was instantly hooked and ran away to follow his dreams. After being refused Charlie's offer, Wonka falls into a state of emotional depression and returns to Charlie to seek advice. Wonka soon reunites with his estranged father and allows Charlie's family to live in the factory, forever.

Concept and creation[link]

2005 film adaption[link]

Early on in the production of the 2005 film, Nicolas Cage was under discussions for portraying Willy Wonka, but lost interest.^[1][2] Warner Bros. president Alan F. Horn wanted Tom Shadyac to direct Jim Carrey as Willy Wonka, believing the duo could make Charlie and the Chocolate Factory relevant to mainstream audiences, but Roald Dahl's widow Liccy Dahl opposed this.^[3] After Tim Burton was hired as director in May 2003, Burton immediately thought of Johnny Depp for the role of Willy Wonka, who joined the following August for his fourth collaboration with the director.^[4]

Burton and screenwriter John August worked together in creating Wilbur Wonka, Willy's domineering dentist father. "You want a little bit of the flavor of why Wonka is the way he is," Burton reasoned. "Otherwise, what is he? He's just a weird guy."^[5] Warner Bros. and Burton held differences over the characterization of Willy Wonka. The studio wanted to make Willy Wonka the idyllic father figure Charlie Bucket had longed for his entire life. Burton believed that Wonka would not be a good father, finding the character similar to a recluse.^[6] "In some ways," Burton protested, "he's more screwed up than the kids."^[7] Prior to Burton's involvement, Warner Bros. considered or discussed Willy Wonka with Nicolas Cage, Jim Carrey, Michael Keaton,^[1] Brad Pitt, Will Smith^[5] and Adam Sandler.^[3] Johnny Depp was the only actor Burton considered for the role,^[7] who signed on without reading the script under the intention on going with a completely different approach than what Gene Wilder did in the 1971 film adaptation.^[8] "Regardless of what one thinks of that film," Depp explained, "Gene Wilder's persona, his character, stands out."^[3] Reportedly, Depp cited Marilyn Manson as his inspiration for his portrayal of Wonka.

Comparisons were drawn between Willy Wonka and musician Michael Jackson. Burton joked, "Here's the deal. There's a big difference: Michael Jackson (d. 2009) likes children, Willy Wonka can't stand them. To me that's a huge difference."^[6] Depp explained that the similarities with Jackson never occurred to him. "I say if there was anyone you'd want to compare Wonka to it would be a Howard Hughes, almost. Reclusive, germaphobe, controlling."^[9] Burton agreed with the Hughes similarities, and additionally supplied Charles Foster Kane in Citizen Kane as inspiration. "Somebody who was brilliant but then was traumatized and then retreats into their own world."^[7] Depp wanted to sport prosthetic makeup for the part and have a long, elongated nose, but Burton believed it would be too outrageous.^[5]

Critical analysis[link]

Wilder's performance as Willy Wonka was well received and remains one of his best-known roles. Time Out Film Guide called it "Great fun, with Wilder for once giving an impeccably controlled performance as the factory's bizarre candy owner."^[10] Critic Jeffrey M. Anderson, of Combustible Celluloid, wrote "...when the movie does actually reach the factory, and Gene Wilder takes the stage, the movie is saved. Wilder was in the middle of an incredible run of subtle comic performances... and he was at the height of his powers here."^[11] Regarding Wilder's effect, Anderson wrote "If you're a kid, Wonka seems magical, but watching it now, he has a frightening combination of warmth, psychosis, and sadism."^[12] Kevin Carr, of 7M pictures wrote "This is Gene Wilder's legacy. He was perfect for the role, and it was his mixture of childlike wonder and bitter, deserved vengeance that made the character so compelling."^[13], while critic Widgett Walls simply called it "Probably Gene Wilder's finest, most manic hour." ^[14] Wilder received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for his role as Willy Wonka, but lost to Chaim Topol as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.^[15]

Critical response to Johnny Depp's performance as Willy Wonka was often enthusiastic but more mixed overall. Critic Andrew Sarris, of The New York Observer, who did not enjoy the film's style in general, wrote "I wonder if even children will respond to the peculiarly humorless and charmless stylistic eccentricities of Mr. Burton and his star, Johnny Depp."^[16] However, Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote that "Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka may be a stone freak, but he is also one of Burton's classic crackpot conjurers, like Beetlejuice or Ed Wood."^[17] Mick LaSalle from the San Francisco Chronicle found that "all the laughs [in the film] come from Depp, who gives Willy the mannerisms of a classic Hollywood diva".^[18] Roger Ebert wrote "Depp, an actor of considerable gifts, has never been afraid to take a chance, but this time he takes the wrong one. His Willy Wonka is an enigma in an otherwise mostly delightful movie from Tim Burton,"^[19] while Peter Travers wrote in Rolling Stone magazine that "Depp's deliciously demented take on Willy Wonka demands to be seen. Depp goes deeper to find the bruises on Wonka's secret heart than what Gene Wilder did."^[20] Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post also criticized Depp's acting; "The cumulative effect isn't pretty. Nor is it kooky, funny, eccentric or even mildly interesting. Indeed, throughout his fey, simpering performance, Depp seems to be straining so hard for weirdness that the entire enterprise begins to feel like those excruciating occasions when your parents tried to be hip."^[21] Joe Lozito of Big Picture Big Sound questioned the intention as well, writing "Depp's Wonka exudes none of the gravity required for the role. It's as though he didn't take the role seriously. Rather than an intimidating candyman teaching brats a lesson, this Wonka is simply a freak."^[22] Depp received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for his role as Willy Wonka, but lost to Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line.^[23]

References[link]

External links[link]

• "Willy Wonka" the stage musical
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film website
• The Willy Wonka Candy Company

Ryan Gosling
Gosling at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival
Born	Ryan Thomas Gosling (1980-11-12) November 12, 1980 (age 31) London, Ontario, Canada
Occupation	Actor, musician, restaurant owner
Years active	1993–present

Ryan Thomas Gosling (born November 12, 1980) is a Canadian actor and musician. He began his career as a child star on the Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Club (1993–95) and went on to appear in other family entertainment programs including Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1995), Goosebumps (1996), Breaker High (1997–98) and Young Hercules (1998–99). His first serious role was as a Jewish neo-Nazi in The Believer (2001), and he then built a reputation for playing misfits in independent films such as Murder by Numbers (2002), The Slaughter Rule (2002), The United States of Leland (2003) and Stay (2005).

Gosling came to the attention of a wider audience in 2004 with a leading role in the romantic drama The Notebook, for which he won four Teen Choice Awards and an MTV Movie Award. His performance as a drug-addicted teacher in Half Nelson (2006) was nominated for an Academy Award and his performance as a socially inept loner in Lars and the Real Girl (2007) was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. In 2007, he starred in the courtroom thriller Fracture.

After a three-year acting hiatus, Gosling starred in both Blue Valentine and All Good Things in 2010. The former performance as a frazzled husband earned him a second Golden Globe nomination. 2011 proved to be a landmark year for the actor as he appeared in three mainstream films – the romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love, the thriller Drive and the political drama The Ides of March – and received two Golden Globe nominations. He is due to appear in five upcoming films: the period crime feature Gangster Squad, the generational drama The Place Beyond the Pines, the revenge drama Only God Forgives, an as-yet-untitled Terrence Malick film, and a remake of the sci-fi film Logan's Run.

Gosling's band, Dead Man's Bones, released their self-titled debut album and toured North America in 2009. He is a co-owner of Tagine, a Moroccan restaurant in Beverly Hills, California. He is a supporter of PETA, Invisible Children and the Enough Project and has travelled to Chad, Uganda and eastern Congo to raise awareness about conflicts in the region.

Early life[link]

Ryan Thomas Gosling was born in London, Ontario.^[1] He is the son of Thomas Gosling, a traveling salesman for a paper mill,^[2] and Donna, a secretary who qualified as a high school teacher in 2011.^[3] Because of his father's work, they "moved around a lot"^[2] and Gosling lived in both Cornwall, Ontario,^[4] and Burlington, Ontario.^[5] His parents were Mormons,^[6] and Gosling has said that the religion influenced every aspect of their lives.^[7] His parents divorced when he was a child and he and his older sister Mandi lived with their mother,^[8] an experience Gosling has credited with programming him "to think like a girl".^[9]

Gosling was educated at Gladstone Public School,^[10] Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School and Lester B. Pearson High School.^[11] He "hated" being a child,^[7][12] was bullied in elementary school^[13] and had no friends until he was "14 or 15".^[14][15] In Grade 1, having been heavily influenced by the film First Blood, he took steak knives to school and threw them at other children during recess. This incident led to a suspension.^[12] He was unable to read^[16] and was diagnosed with ADHD, prescribed Ritalin, and placed in a class for special needs students.^[17] Consequently, his mother quit her job and homeschooled him for a year.^[17] Gosling has said that homeschooling gave him "a sense of autonomy that I've never really lost".^[7]

Gosling performed from an early age. He and his sister sang together at weddings; he performed with Elvis Perry, his uncle's Elvis Presley tribute act,^[18] and was involved with a local ballet company.^[19] Performing boosted his self-confidence as it was the only thing he received praise for.^[15] He developed an idiosyncratic accent because, as a child, he thought having a Canadian accent didn't sound "tough". He began to model his accent on that of Marlon Brando.^[20] He dropped out of high school at the age of seventeen to focus on his acting career.^[21]

Acting career[link]

Child star (1993–1999)[link]

In 1993, at the age of twelve, Gosling attended an open audition in Montreal for a revival of Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Club.^[22] He was given a two-year contract as a mouseketeer and moved to Orlando, Florida.^[21] He appeared on-screen infrequently because other children were considered more talented.^[23] Nonetheless, he has described the job as the greatest two years of his life.^[21] Fellow cast members included Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera and Gosling has credited the experience with instilling in them "this great sense of focus."^[24] He became particularly close friends with Timberlake and they lived together for six months during the second year of the show. Timberlake's mother became Gosling's legal guardian after his mother returned to Canada for work reasons.^[25] Gosling has said that, while they are no longer in touch, they are still supportive of each other.^[24]

Following the show's cancellation in 1995, Gosling returned to Canada and continued to appear in family entertainment television series including Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1995),^[26] Goosebumps (1996)^[27] and Breaker High (1997–98).^[28] At the age of eighteen, he moved to New Zealand to film the Fox Kids adventure series Young Hercules (1998–99).^[29] While he initially enjoyed working on the series, he began to long for an opportunity to play a variety of characters and decided not to accept any more television work.^[21]

Move to independent film (2000–2003)[link]

At the age of nineteen, Gosling decided to move into "serious film". He was dropped by his agent and initially found it difficult to secure work because of the "stigma" attached to children's television.^[30] After a supporting role in the football drama Remember the Titans, Gosling secured a lead role as a young Jewish neo-Nazi in 2001's The Believer. Director Henry Bean has said he cast Gosling because his Mormon upbringing helped him understand the isolation of Judaism.^[31] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times praised an "electrifying and terrifyingly convincing" performance^[32] while Todd McCarthy of Variety felt his "dynamite performance" could "scarcely have been better".^[33] The film won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival^[34] and Gosling has described it as "the film that kind of gift-wrapped for me the career that I have now."^[18] Because of the controversial nature of the film, it was difficult to secure financial backing for a full theatrical release^[35] and the film was instead broadcast on Showtime.^[35] The film was a commercial failure, grossing just $416,925 worldwide from a production budget of $1.5 million.^[36]

In 2002's Murder by Numbers,^[37] Gosling and Michael Pitt portrayed a pair of high school seniors who believe they can commit the perfect murder. Sandra Bullock starred as a detective tasked with investigating the crime. Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly described him as "a phenomenal talent even in junk like this"^[38] while Todd McCarthy of Variety felt that the "strong and "charismatic" young actors were "let down by the screenplay".^[39] The film was a minor commercial success, grossing $56 million worldwide from a production budget of $50 million.^[40] His second screen appearance of 2002 was in The Slaughter Rule which explores the relationship between a high school football player and his troubled coach in rural Montana. Gosling has said that the opportunity to work with David Morse made him "a better actor".^[41] Stephen Holden of The New York Times described Gosling as "major star material" with a "rawness and an intensity that recall the young Matt Dillon"^[42] while Manohla Dargis of the Los Angeles Times was won over by his "raw talent".^[43] The film was released in just three US theaters and grossed $13,411.^[44]

In 2003, Gosling starred in The United States of Leland as a teenager imprisoned for the murder of a disabled boy. He was drawn to the role because it was unusual to find a character that was "emotionally disconnected for the whole film."^[45] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times felt that the "gifted actor does everything that can be done with Leland, but the character comes from a writer's conceits, not from life."^[46] A.O. Scott of The New York Times noted that he "struggles to rescue Leland from the clutches of cliché"^[47] while David Rooney of Variety felt that his "one-note, blankly disturbed act has none of the magnetic edge of his breakthrough work in The Believer".^[48] The film grossed $343,847 in the United States and was not released overseas.^[49]

[edit] The Notebook and Half Nelson (2004–2009)

Gosling came to the attention of a mainstream audience in 2004 after starring opposite fellow Canadian Rachel McAdams in the romantic drama The Notebook.^[50] Gosling sought to imbue his character with "quiet strength" and was inspired by the performance of Sam Shepard in Days of Heaven.^[51] Filming took place in Charleston, South Carolina in late 2002 and early 2003.^[52] Although Gosling and McAdams became romantically involved in 2005, they had a combative relationship on set.^[53] "We inspired the worst in each other," Gosling has said. "It was a strange experience, making a love story and not getting along with your co-star in any way."^[54] At one point, Gosling asked director Nick Cassavetes to "bring somebody else in for my off-camera shot" because he felt McAdams was uncooperative.^[53] The New York Times praised the "spontaneous and combustible" performances of the two leads and noted that, "against your better judgment, you root for the pair to beat the odds against them."^[55] Desson Thomson of The Washington Post praised Gosling's "beguiling unaffectedness" and noted that "it's hard not to like these two or begrudge them a great love together".^[56] The film grossed over $115 million worldwide and, with adjustments for inflation, it remains the most commercially successful film of Gosling's career as of 2012.^[57] Gosling won four Teen Choice Awards^[58] and an MTV Movie Award.^[59] Entertainment Weekly has said that the movie contains the All-Time Best Movie Kiss^[60] while the Los Angeles Times has included a scene from the film in a list of the 50 Classic Movie Kisses.^[61] The Notebook has appeared on many Most Romantic Movies lists.^{[62][63][64][65]}

Gosling at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival

In 2005, Gosling appeared as a disturbed young art student in Stay, a psychological thriller co-starring Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor. In an uncomplimentary review of the film, Manohla Dargis of The New York Times said that Gosling "like his fans, deserves better."^[66] Todd McCarthy of Variety felt that the "capable" McGregor and Gosling "deliver nothing new from what they've shown before".^[67] The film grossed $8 million worldwide.^[68] Gosling was unfazed by the negative reaction: "I had a kid come up to me on the street, 10 years old, and he says, ‘Are you that guy from Stay? What the f--- was that movie about?’ I think that's great. I'm just as proud if someone says, ‘Hey, you made me sick in that movie,’ as if they say I made them cry.”^[69]

Gosling next starred in 2006's Half Nelson as a drug-addicted junior high school teacher who forms a bond with a young student. To prepare for the role, Gosling moved to New York for one month before shooting began. He lived in a small apartment in Brooklyn and spent time shadowing an eighth grade teacher.^[70] Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times described "a mesmerizing performance ... that shows the kind of deep understanding of character few actors manage."^[71] Ruthe Stein of the San Francisco Chronicle drew comparisons with Marlon Brando and declared that "nobody who cares about great acting will want to miss his performance".^[72] Roger Ebert felt the performance "proves he's one of the finest actors working in contemporary movies."^[73] He was nominated for an Academy Award.^[16] The film grossed $4 million at the worldwide box office.^[74]

Gosling played an introvert who falls in love with a sex doll in the gently comedic 2007 film Lars and the Real Girl. He drew inspiration from James Stewart's performance in Harvey.^[75] Roger Ebert felt "a film about a life-sized love doll" had been turned into "a life-affirming statement of hope" because of "a performance by Ryan Gosling that says things that cannot be said".^[76] Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post described his performance as "a small miracle ... because he changes and grows so imperceptibly before our eyes."^[77] However, Manohla Dargis of The New York Times felt "the performance is a rare miscalculation in a mostly brilliant career."^[78] He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.^[79] The film was a box office failure, failing to recoup its $12 million production budget.^[80]

Gosling starred opposite Anthony Hopkins in the 2007 courtroom thriller Fracture. He originally turned down the role, but changed his mind when Hopkins signed on.^[81] He spent time shadowing lawyers and observing courtroom proceedings in preparation for the role.^[82] Claudia Puig of USA Today declared that "watching a veteran like Hopkins verbally joust with one of the best young actors in Hollywood is worth the price of admission".^[83] Manohla Dargis of The New York Times felt it was a treat to watch "the spectacle of that crafty scene stealer Anthony Hopkins mixing it up with that equally cunning screen nibbler Ryan Gosling ... Each actor is playing a pulp type rather than a fully formed individual, but both fill in the blanks with an alchemical mix of professional and personal charisma."^[84] The film grossed over $91 million worldwide.^[85]

Gosling was due to begin filming The Lovely Bones in 2007. However, he left the production two days before filming began because of "creative differences" and was replaced by Mark Wahlberg.^[86] Gosling had been cast as the father of the murdered teenage girl and initially felt he was too young for the role. The director Peter Jackson and the producer Fran Walsh persuaded him that he could be aged with hair and make-up changes.^[87] Before shooting began, Gosling gained 60 pounds in weight and grew a beard in order to appear older.^[87] Walsh then "began to feel he was not right. It was our blindness, the desire to make it work no matter what."^[87] Gosling later said, ""We didn't talk very much during the preproduction process, which was the problem ... I just showed up on set, and I had gotten it wrong. Then I was fat and unemployed."^[87] He has said the experience was "an important realisation for me: not to let your ego get involved. It's OK to be too young for a role."^[88]

Widespread recognition (2010–2011)[link]

Following a three year absence from the big screen, Gosling starred in five movies in 2010 and 2011. "I’ve never had more energy,” Gosling has said. “I’m more excited to make films than I used to be. I used to kind of dread it. It was so emotional and taxing. But I’ve found a way to have fun while doing it. And I think that translates into the films.”^[30] He has also spoken of feeling depressed when not working.^[15]

In 2010, he co-starred with Michelle Williams in Derek Cianfrance's directorial debut, Blue Valentine. The low-budget marital drama was mainly improvised and Gosling has said "you had to remind yourself you were making a film".^[89] Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle felt he "brings a preternatural understanding of people to his performance"^[90] while A.O. Scott of The New York Times found him "convincing as the run-down, desperate, older Dean, and maybe a bit less so as the younger version".^[91][91] Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly noted that he "plays Dean as a snarky working-class hipster, but when his anger is unleashed, the performance turns powerful."^[92] However, Wesley Morris of The Boston Globe felt the performance was an example of "hipsterism misdirected".^[93] He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama. ^[94] The film was a box office success, grossing over $12 million worldwide from a production budget of $1 million.^[95]

Gosling at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.

Gosling's second on-screen appearance of 2010 was in All Good Things, a mystery film based on a true story. He played the role of New York real-estate heir Robert Durst, who was investigated for the disappearance of his wife (played by Kirsten Dunst).^[96] Gosling found the filming process to be a "dark experience".^[97] When asked if he was proud of the film, he replied, "I'm proud of what Kirsten does in the movie."^[97] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone felt he "gets so deep into character you can feel his nerve endings."^[98] Mick La Salle of the San Francisco Chronicle found the "chameleonic Gosling is completely convincing as this empty shell of a man".^[99] Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times felt that the film belonged to Dunst, but noted that Gosling "is good too".^[100] The film grossed $644,535 worldwide.^[101] Also in 2010, Gosling narrated and produced ReGeneration, a documentary that explores the cynicism in today’s youth towards social and political causes.^[102][103]

2011 saw Gosling expand his horizons by appearing in three diverse, high-profile roles. He appeared in his first comedic role in Crazy, Stupid, Love opposite Steve Carell and Emma Stone.^[104] Gosling took cocktail-making classes at a Los Angeles bar in preparation for his role as a smooth-talking ladies' man.^[105] Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post said his "seductive command presence suggests we may have found our next George Clooney".^[106] Peter Travers declared him "a comic knockout"^[107] while Claudia Puig of USA Today felt he reveals a "surprising" "knack for comedy."^[108] He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.^[109] The film was a box office success, grossing over $142 million worldwide.^[110] With adjustments for inflation, it is the second most successful of Gosling's career.^[111]

Gosling's first action role was in Drive, based on a novel by James Sallis.^[112] Gosling portrayed a Hollywood stunt performer who moonlights as a getaway driver and he has described the film as a "violent John Hughes movie": "I always thought if Pretty in Pink had head-smashing it would be perfect".^[113] Roger Ebert compared Gosling to Steve McQueen and stated that he "embodies presence and sincerity ... he has shown a gift for finding arresting, powerful characters [and] can achieve just about anything.^[114] Joe Morgenstern of the Wall Street Journal pondered "the ongoing mystery of how he manages to have so much impact with so little apparent effort. It's irresistible to liken his economical style to that of Marlon Brando."^[115] The film was a box office success, grossing $70 million worldwide from a production budget of $15 million.^[116]

In his final appearance of 2011, Gosling was directed by George Clooney in the political drama The Ides of March, in which he played an ambitious press secretary.^[117] Gosling partly decided to do the film to become more politically aware: "I'm Canadian and so American politics aren't really in my wheelhouse."^[118] Joe Morganstern of the Wall Street Journal said that Gosling and Philip Seymour Hoffman "are eminently well equipped to play variations on their characters' main themes. Yet neither actor has great material to conjure with in the script."^[119] In an generally tepid review, Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times asserted that it was "certainly involving to see the charismatic Gosling verbally spar with superb character actors like Hoffman and [Paul] Giamatti."^[120] Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle felt there was "one aspect to the character that Gosling can't quite nail down, that might simply be outside his sphere, which is idealism."^[121] He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama.^[109] The film grossed $66 million worldwide.^[122]

Upcoming projects (2012)[link]

Gangster Squad, a 1940s crime drama, is set for release in 2012.^[123] Gosling will portray Sgt. Jerry Wooters, an LAPD officer who attempts to outsmart mob boss Mickey Cohen. The director is Zombieland's Ruben Fleischer and Gosling has said, "it’s very, very different tonally [from his other films]."^[124] Gosling has also completed work on the generational drama The Place Beyond the Pines, directed by Blue Valentine 's Derek Cianfrance,^[125] and has described it as "the best experience I have ever had making a film."^[19] The film is set for release in 2012.^[126] Gosling will portray Luke, a motorcycle stunt rider who robs banks in order to provide for his family.^[127]

Gosling has completed shooting Only God Forgives in Bangkok, Thailand.^[128] It is his second collaboration with Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn. He undertook Muay Thai training in preparation for the role.^[124] The story revolves around Gosling's mother, played by Kristin Scott Thomas, who orders her son to avenge his brother's death. Gosling has described the script as “the strangest thing I’ve ever read.”^[124]

In September 2012, Gosling will begin shooting an as-yet-untitled Terrence Malick film.^[129] The film will costar Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara and Haley Bennett.^[130] When asked to provide details of the film or his role, Gosling replied, "I can't comment. A chatty cathy that one."^[131] Gosling had previously signed up to work with Malick in 2004 on the bio-pic Che.^[132] However, Malick left the project to direct The New World and Gosling later dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.^[133] Gosling is also scheduled to appear in a remake of the sci-fi film Logan's Run, again to be directed by Winding Refn.^[134] He has yet to see the original film.^[131]

Music career[link]

Gosling at a 2009 Dead Man's Bones concert

In 2007, Gosling made a solo recording called "Put Me in the Car" available for download on the internet.^[135] Also that year, Gosling and his friend Zach Shields formed indie rock band Dead Man's Bones. The two first met in 2005 when Gosling was dating Rachel McAdams and Shields was dating her sister, Kayleen.^[136] They initially conceived of the project as a monster-themed musical but settled on forming a band when they realized putting on a stage production would be too expensive.^[136] They recorded their self-titled debut with the Silverlake Conservatory's Children's Choir and learned to play all the instruments themselves.^[136] Gosling contributed vocals, piano, guitar, bass guitar and cello to the record.^[137]

The album was released through ANTI- Records on October 6, 2009.^[138] Pitchfork was won over by the "unique, catchy and lovably weird record"^[139] while Prefix Magazine felt the album was "rarely kitschy and never inappropriate."^[140] However, Spin Magazine felt the album "doesn't reverse the rule that actors make dubious pop musicians"^[141] and Entertainment Weekly criticized its "cloying, gothic preciousness".^[142]

In September 2009, Gosling and Shields had a three-night residency at LA's Bob Baker Marionette Theater where they performed alongside dancing neon skeletons and glowing ghosts.^[143][137] They then conducted a thirteen-date tour of North America in October 2009, using a local children's choir at every show.^[144][145] Instead of an opening act, a talent show was held each night.^[146] In September 2010, they performed at Los Angeles' FYF Festival.

In 2011, the actor spoke of his intentions to record a second Dead Man's Bones album. No children's choir will feature on the follow-up album because "it's not very rock 'n' roll."^[147]

Personal life[link]

Gosling lives in New York City.^[148] He co-owns Tagine, a Moroccan restaurant in Beverly Hills, California.^[149] He bought the restaurant on an impulse and said he spent "all my money" on it.^[150] He spent a year doing the renovation work himself and now oversees the restaurant's menus.^[150][151]

Gosling dated American actress Sandra Bullock for a year from 2002 to 2003.^[152] He had a two-year relationship with Canadian actress Rachel McAdams from mid-2005 to mid-2007.^[153][154] They briefly reunited in the summer of 2008.^{[155][156][157]} Following their split, he described McAdams as "one of the great loves of my life".^[158] He dated Kat Dennings in late 2009, Blake Lively in late 2010 and Olivia Wilde in early 2011.^{[159][160][161][162]} Gosling began dating American actress and model Eva Mendes in September 2011.^[163]

Fox News and the New York Post have reported that Gosling was arrested by LAPD officers on 17 March 2005. Gosling pleaded "no contest" to a misdemeanor charge of "exhibiting speed", despite being originally charged with "driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs" and "driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or greater." He was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay $849 in fines.^[164][165]

Gosling is supportive of various social causes. He has worked with PETA on a campaign to encourage KFC and McDonalds to use improved methods of chicken slaughter in their factories.^[166][167] Gosling volunteered in Biloxi, Mississippi in 2005, as part of the clean-up effort following Hurricane Katrina.^[168] He is a supporter of Invisible Children Inc, a group that raises awareness about the LRA in Central Africa.^[169] In 2005, Gosling travelled to Darfur refugee camps in Chad.^[170][16] He was a speaker at Campus Progress's National Conference in 2008 where he discussed Darfur.^[171] As part of his work with the Enough Project, he visited Uganda in 2007^[172] and eastern Congo in 2010.^[173]

Filmography[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]