The Place Beyond the Pines
Release Date: March 29, 2013
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Stars: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes
Runtime: 140 min
When one thinks of an epic, they might think Titanic, Braveheart or maybe Avatar. Even though this doesn’t have huge sinking boats, large wars or stunning visual effects; this truly deserves to be called an epic.
Derek Cianfrance (of Blue Valentine fame) brings us an small-town epic called The Place Beyond the Pines; a thought-provoking and realistic tale of generational feuds, fathers and sons, and corruption. It’s set in the small town of Schenectady, New York, that follows two families over a period of fifteen years. It’s essentially a trilogy of tales, going from chapter to chapter.
Glanton is a stunt motorcycle rider who, after finding out he has a son named Jason, begins to rob banks as a way to provide for his son and his lover, Romina (Eva Mendes). He does with the assistance of his employer, an auto repair shop owner Robin (Ben Mendelsohn), and his superior motorcycle riding skills. His motivation for this is easy to understand as he wants to provide his son and he sees this as the best way fit. He’s a guy who has his priorities in order, even if it implies reckless behaviour and breaking the law time and time again.
Cross’s motivations are harder to comprehend. He’s an ambitious young cop who wants to make his way up in the police force in as little time as possible, as he’s following in his father’s footsteps. The corruption of the police force itself poses enticing decisions for the young rookie.
The strong third act is difficult to discuss without giving too much away, but there are a few things that can be said. It’s admirably carried by young, up and coming stars Dane DeHaan and Emory Cohen. Cohen plays a character that is an irritating kind-of Eminem-esque wannabe but he is portrayed adequately and his character is essential to the film.
The third tale explores the idea of legacies and how one split-second decision can send incidental shockwaves through generations. It also explores fatherly influences in a beautiful way; which is a theme that is also highlighted with Glanton and Cross, where Cross has a father figure, and Glanton is the opposite. Corruption and personal gain is best explored in the middle act involving Bradley Cooper’s haunted character. Finally, the bond between fathers and sons and the lengths they’d go to in order to protect their young is very well explored. One of the most prominent themes is, though, is there are (usually) consequences for your actions, admirably said in the movie’s most memorable quote, “If you ride like lightning; you’re gonna crash like thunder.”
The epic crime drama shifts focus a lot, and since it is a trilogy of intertwining stories, it really feels like it could end at any point. In this way, it might work better as a book – but the narrative feels fresh. It’s still one of the lengthy film’s main faults, that the film feels like it’s just coming around the bend to its climax. Thankfully, the ambiguous and hopeful ending at the place beyond the pines is more than pleasing. Some of the characters’ motivations can be also hard to comprehend, but despite the movie’s faults, it’s engaging and it packs a mighty, emotional one-two punch.
The large and talented cast carries the movie extremely well. Bradley Cooper, Ryan Gosling, Rose Byrne, Eva Mendes, Ray Liotta, Ben Mendelsohn, Dane DeHaan (Am I the only one who thinks he’ll, at least, be an Oscar nominee someday?), Bruce Greenwood and Emory Cohen are among the cast, and they help carry the film and they make one heck of an ensemble. The tatted-up Gosling is by far the best of them all. The movie’s at its most booming and usually the most intense when he’s on-screen. He is most deserving of an Oscar nomination, and his powerful performance will remain one of the year’s most memorable. His character is as great and as mysterious as The Driver in Drive, and his performance is as good, if not better; he better not be overlooked by the Academy this time around. Even when he isn’t on-screen, his impact and legacy is felt. Other than Cooper and Gosling, DeHaan and Mendelsohn are the most notable. The score is also very memorable; with Mike Patton’s “The Snow Angel” playing in the background of some of the movie’s strongest and most emotionally sweeping scenes. Who woulda thunk one tune could be so haunting, but filled with such poignancy?
Gosling’s tale is by the far the strongest act of the three, Cooper’s sandwiched between in terms of quality, and DeHaan’s is the weakest, but saved by a fantastic ending. With an epic and beautiful drama like this, “weak” is used lightly – because it is by no means a bad act. They all just happen to pale in comparison to the act where Glanton is the focus. The intense crime drama is riddled with great performances, impressive writing, amazing emotional moments; and no matter how much the film may shift focus from story to story, all in a very lengthy flick, it all intertwines admirably in the end and Cianfrance never loses sight of his stunning and beautiful vision.
88/100
Great review. This film has me intrigued, although i don’t think i will be able to catch it in theaters unfortunately
Thanks! That’s too bad, it’s really worth the watch — definitely check it out when it comes out on DVD! It’s worth the 140 min of your time, I’d say!
Limited releases peeve me off. I mean, Stoker is one of my most anticipated movies of the year, but I haven’t been able to see it yet because it never came close to me at the theater 😦 I’ll have to wait till like June when it comes out on DVD… I’m not one to just watch a flick online, lol.
I’ll back you up on Dehaan’s talent, Dan. Now he just needs to start getting some higher profile roles. He’s a great young actor though. I thought he was excellent in “In Treatment” on HBO, too.
I agree on the film too, it was excellent. Definitely one of the year’s best, although admittedly it’s just begun 😉
I never saw that HBO show. You know, I think he’ll become a household name not too long after the release of The Amazing Spider-Man 2. He’ll follow in the footsteps of James Franco very nicely, if you ask me! I was blown away but the guy when I saw Chronicle. Loved that movie. Are you excited for Kill Your Darlings?
That “We’ve Only Just Begun” song by The Carpenters is now on repeat in my head after you said “it’s just begun” LOL! Haha that’s very true, though. I sincerely hope this doesn’t get overlooked by the time the Oscars roll around, since it is so early in the year 😦
I’m fine with a movie being long, just make me believe in it. After awhile, I started to lose hope in this movie and feel as if I was watching somebody just tell a story and make it be as obvious as possible. Good review Dan.
Thanks! Yeah, I can see where you’re coming from, I for one was engaged the whole way through 🙂
Hopefully you like Cianfrance’s next movie better!
Nice review Dan, and 88 is pretty much what I would give it if I used scores!
Thanks Rumsey!
Best film I have seen thus far this year. Swings for the fences and that is so refreshing to see in a film after months of drivel. nice review
Good to hear, Adam. It’s definitely in my top 3. Great point. I have enjoyed quite a few 2013 flicks, so I couldn’t call it all drivel, but it really is refreshing to see a movie that stands out among the rest. Thank you!
Well I thought Spring Breakers was interesting…. 😉
Haha that’s true, so at least you’ve enjoyed two 2013 flicks 😀
I adored this film. Glad to see you did too.
P.S. Nice to see you commenting again on my blog!
Lol, sorry about that hiatus there, I get really busy during the school year and don’t manage my time well enough to visit other blogs and comment as much as I’d like; expect a few visits a week come summer time, Mark 😀
Great film! And great review! It is one of my favorites of 2013 so far!
“Pines” Review Here: http://vlizz.com/2013/04/17/the-place-beyond-the-pines-review-ryan-gosling-and-bradley-cooper-show-the-perfection-of-destiny/
Thanks! Same here (top 3, right after 42 and Evil Dead, and it’s beating Pain & Gain).
Can’t tell you how glad I am that you and I actually agree on a film, and for it to be this one. I just watched it, and while you gave it 88, I gave it 89 just to one-up you. I’m kidding, it was a coincidence, but man oh man, what a movie. It was hard to actually review in order to not give anything away. You gave away a little more than I did, but I like how you did it, with the three acts.
We agreed on Wreck-It Ralph once… I’ll probably be re-reviewing Cloverfield soon, I rewatched it. Better the second time, admittedly!
Yeah, this is a good one to agree on! LOL. Thanks, Dave 🙂 I’ll check out your review soon. Do you think I gave too much away? I made sure not to mention who was involved in the third act. You shoulda seen the unedited version of this review, sooo many spoilers lol.