To some people, Ryan Gosling may be just a piece of meat (a very nice piece of meat, no less) but he's actually a pretty damn good actor. Here's five of his best...

5. Drive

Never before has someone said so little and conveyed so much. His nameless character in this searingly-cool film harks back to Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke and Steve McQueen in Bullitt, square-jawed and staring off into the middle distance. Everybody wanted to look as cool as he did in that jacket.

4. Lars And The Real Girl

Before Ryan Gosling was the pin-up / eye-candy that he is now, he starred in this great little indie film about, well, a blow-up doll. Playing a loveable, if emotionally-damaged loner who believes a life-size doll is his girlfriend. His brother, played by Parks And Recreation's Paul Schneider, eventually convinces the small town they live in to go along with as a means of coping with it. It's a heart-warming film that's overlooked, but is definitely recommended viewing.

3. Ides Of March

Ryan Gosling plays a communications director for idealistic presidential candidate George Clooney in this political thriller directed by Clooney as well. Gosling works incredibly well in this ensemble piece, going from almost naïve to a world-weary cynic in the course of the film. It's a tense film and Gosling makes his mark in a cast of heavyweights.

2. Fracture

In one of Gosling's earliest roles, he plays a lawyer assigned to a seemingly straightforward murder case. The accused? Anthony Hopkins. The catch? Nothing can proved in court. The film switches from murder mystery to courtroom drama pretty well and Gosling keeps up with Hopkins in this underrated thriller.

1. Crazy Stupid Love

Gosling doesn't star in comedies all that often. But when he does, he works in his natural charm. He's instantly likeable in this amazing comedy with Emma Stone and Steve Carrell. Let's be honest. We could talk about the quotable lines from this film, the chemistry between Carrell and Gosling, Emma Stone – the film boils down to, well, that scene. So here it is. Enjoy it, you perverts.