CAST: Ryan Gosling (Lars Lindstrom), Emily Mortimer (Karin), Paul Schneider (Gus), Kelli Garner (Margo), Patricia Clarkson (Dagmar) SCR: Nancy Oliver DIR: Craig Gillespie STUDIO: MGM MPAA: PG-13 for some sex-related content. RUNNING TIME: 106 min. OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.larsandtherealgirl-themovie.com/ IMDb: http://imdb.com/title/tt0805564 Can I see a show of hands of people who think Bianca should be nominated for Best Supporting Actress? Bianca is the anatomically correct silicone sex doll in the center of the storm in a small, unnamed Midwestern town. Lars (played by a magnificently awkward Ryan Gosling) lives in the garage of his childhood home with his brother Gus (Paul Schneider) and pregnant sister-in-law Karin (Emily Mortimer). They constantly try to draw him out of his cave - for meals and outings - but to no avail. They frequently place five dollar bets on the outcome but kind-hearted Karin always loses. One day, a box shows up addressed to Lars. He puts on his best shirt, combs his hair and primps himself. His date has arrived and she's a beauty. He introduces her as a “missionary” and asks if she can stay in the guest room, because, well, they just met and anything else would be inappropriate. With no explanation and with no sense of irony, Lars whole-heartedly believes in Bianca, treating her like a lady and acting concerned about her the way a doting new boyfriend would. Gus thinks he is crazy, and indeed, the film presents one awkwardly hilarious situation after the next as people first encounter Bianca. She shops, she reads to children, she comes to dinner and becomes the center of everyone's attention. But something wonderful has happened: Lars has joined the human race again, on his terms. He comes to dinner, starts talking to the pretty girl at work and goes to parties. He also attends to Bianca's “medical” needs, as administered by Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson), a family friend who happens to double as physician and psychologist. This is where we enter Good Will Hunting territory, where the “checkups” provide Lars an outlet and we begin to get drops of information about why Lars withdrew in the first place. It's not heavy handed. People talk to each other here as they do in real life, completing sentences started years ago and talking in a shorthand in which the details are not so important as much as the fallout. The writer is Nancy Oliver, who penned many potent episodes of Six Feet Under. Ms. Oliver felt no need to cheat the material by injecting bullies to beat Lars up, or the obligatory birthing scene, and the movie benefits from avoiding such pandering devices. The directing - shockingly - is Craig Gillespie, a TV commercial director whose only other credit was the crass and lumpy comedy Mr. Woodcock. Let's hope that as Mr. Gillespie continues forth in his directing career, he is more drawn to scripts like this. Ryan Gosling's performance is tremendous. As he moves closer to a catharsis, it begins to look like he is physically trying to fight back his anguish. You know how people look like when they are trying not to cry? Gosling does that with his whole body. Clarkson is subdued, and the kind-hearted Mortimer provides more with an understanding and matronly glance than pages of dialogue. Her Karin will make a fine mother. In fact, we leave this small town knowing everyone is better off after the arrival of Bianca. Lars and the Real Girl is quirky and special, packed with great performances and surprising humor. All hail Bianca. Now how about that Oscar campaign? --reviewed by DENNIS WILLIS