Review of The Place Beyond the Pines (2013) by Nicole O — 18 Aug 2014

The Place Beyond the Pines is a depressing film about a motorcycle stunt rider with a limited skill set's decision to provide for his son and the long term ramifications that follow.

In reality, the Place Beyond the Pines is a modern day dramatic saga set in upstate New York. The film changes trajectory, tone and subject several times and goes far beyond the breadth of what movie summaries allow you to believe. Yes, it is about Luke Stanton, a risk taking drifter but it's truly about his impact on those around him in the short time he lays roots in Schenectady.

Ryan Gosling is enamoring as Luke Stanton, the reserved rebel but loving fatherly hopeful. It is his performance that opens the film and captivates the viewer to remain invested for the rest of the two hour and twenty minute movie. His once paramour and mother to his baby is Romina, played by Eva Mendes. Both roles are taciturn personas but powerful and I believe their real life romance had a substantial impact on the successfulness of this story line. There is substance and honest pain to these characters. Bradley Cooper is in one of his best performances as the conflicted cop.

Writer/director Derek Cianfrance produces a beautifully shot and composed film from start to finish with a soundtrack to match by Mike Patton. There are some breathtaking shots that still have a small town feel consistent with the narrative. You will laugh, you will cry, you will gasp and you will cringe and you will ultimately feel.

It is my belief that Cianfrance had a fully formed act I, the story brewing in the back of his mind for some time, and had a hard time finding a believable resolution in his act II. Therefore I rate the first half of The Place Beyond the Pines significantly better with the ending feeling a bit contrived. Don't misconstrue this as dislike; I vastly enjoyed this depressingly dark motion picture. It just felt a bit "Hollywood", following the trend where everything needs to be significant and connected.