While The Notebook made Ryan Gosling a romantic icon, his most painfully real love story is found in 2010’s Blue Valentine, a heartbreaking, intimate portrait of a modern couple’s relationship falling apart.
It’s now streaming on Fubo TV and available to rent on Prime Video. Directed by Derek Cianfrance, Blue Valentine tells the story of Dean (Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams), a married couple whose once-passionate love deteriorates under the weight of real-life struggles.
The movie uses a nonlinear structure, shifting between their courtship and the dissolution of their marriage years later. Gosling even reflected on his experience, saying, (via IMDb):
In most movies, you spend so much time looking for any scraps of truth, and in this movi,e you’re just marinating in it.
The movie earned critical acclaim, and Gosling received nominations at the Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor.
Unlike traditional romantic dramas, Gosling’s Blue Valentine is heavy in portrayal of love without filters, definitely worth watching for romance lovers.
Michelle Williams Recalls Living With Ryan Gosling During Blue Valentine Filming
In an Armchair Expert podcast interview in May 2025, Williams revealed that director Cianfrance asked Gosling and her to live together during a two-week break in production (via The Hollywood Reporter). The first half of the movie, in which the couple falls in love, was filmed before the break. The second half, depicting their relationship struggle, was shot afterward. She said,
We took a break in filming, and [then] we lived together, office hours, like 9 to 5. We did these improvisations during the day, honestly, to figure out ways to annoy each other and destroy this thing that we had made.
She said it wasn’t originally planned to take the break, but they did because they were struggling to film scenes where the characters were facing hard times, “We were having such a hard time letting go of the thing that we loved,” Williams said the experience “was horrible” and she didn’t “want to give [Gosling] reasons to hate me.”
The commitment paid off. Williams earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, and critics widely praised both leads for their performances.
Channing Tatum Was First Offered Ryan Gosling’s Role in Blue Valentine
Channing Tatum revealed at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival that he was offered the role of Dean before Gosling. But he rejected it due to fear. Tatum, while accepting a Tribute Performer Award, said (via People),
As I was just reminded, it was about 20 years ago that I did kind of one of my first real, I guess, acting roles, and Derek saw it and he believed in me, I think way before I ever believed in myself. And that was why I think I couldn’t go on that journey. I just… I was just scared. I was absolutely terrified of that role specifically, and I didn’t go.
Now starring in Roofman, Cianfrance’s 2025 movie, Tatum looks back with a hint of regret. Though he said Gosling “killed” the part and was perhaps always meant to play it.
For those looking to experience a love story stripped of fantasy, Blue Valentine is now streaming. Go watch it, but viewers be warned, it might give you a slow heartbreak.
Have you watched Blue Valentine? How does it compare to The Notebook for you? Let us know in the comments.
Blue Valentine is available to stream on Fubo TV and to rent on Prime Video (US).
