100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 12: The Place Beyond the Pines

Director: Derek Cianfrance
Genre: Drama/Crime
Runtime: 140 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, Bradley Cooper, Rose Byrne, Ray Liotta, Dane DeHaan, Bruce Greenwood, Ben Mendelsohn

Description: A motorcycle stunt rider (Ryan Gosling) turns to robbing banks as a way to provide for his lover (Eva Mendes) and their newborn child, a decision that puts him on a collision course with an ambitious rookie cop (Bradley Cooper) navigating a department ruled by a corrupt detective.

Review: We follow the stories of Luke and Avery. Luke is a motorcycle stunt rider, who finds out he has a son. He wants to be a part of his life and he decides to rob banks to support his son and the mother Romina. Luke is confronted with the idealistic cop Avery. One decision changes their lives completely.
The movie is divided in three parts: Luke, Avery and their sons. It’s a pretty long movie, which you only feel in the last part of it. Especially the first part is fantastic. The part with the sons is a good addition to the story, but it could have been a bit shorter.
We know director Derek Cianfrance from his intenste drama “Blue Valentine”. Ryan Gosling had a strong performance there and in “The Place Beyond the Pines” he shows that again. He’s the best part of the film. His character Luke is an anti-hero, with a body full of tattoos and who keeps people at a distance. The combination of his vulnerability and his tough image make his character interesting. Bradley Cooper has been doing some great things too, although his performance isn’t as memorable as in “Silver Linings Playbook”. Eva Mendes gives away her best performance so far, as the mother of Luke’s son.
“The Place Beyond the Pines” is a beautiful drama about choices, fathers and sons. Derek Cianfrance confirms with this movie that he’s an exceptional filmmaker.

Rating: 4/ 5