The Place Beyond the Pines Review

The Place Beyond the Pines

3.5 stars out of 4

By Brett Takeshita

Bold. Epic. Ambitious. Stunning. Unforgettable. These are the appropriate descriptions for The Place Beyond the Pines, the latest film from director and writer Derek Cianfrance. It's a powerful and moving knockout of a film that will be seared into your memory for quite some time.

The Place Beyond the Pines consists of three interconnected stories. The first story follows Luke (Ryan Gosling), a heavily-tattooed stunt motorcyclist who puts on dangerous shows at the circus every night. At one of his shows, he runs into his ex-girlfriend Romina (Eva Mendes), who tells him that they have a son together. Wanting to provide for his son, Luke resorts to robbing banks, which leads to both stability and danger. Luke briefly crosses paths with Avery (Bradley Cooper), the main focus of the second story. Avery is a respectable police officer who uncovers the corruption that lies within his division. His investigations and experiences force him to confront and struggle with moral and ethical decisions of his own. Then, 15 years into the future, the third story arises. It covers the relationship between Luke's son, Jason (Dane DeHaan), and Avery's son, AJ (Emory Cohen). They are two high school outsiders who struggle to survive in a world that carries the consequences of their fathers' decisions.

If Pines sounds like a heavy and challenging film, then you're spot on because Pines is exactly that. Over the course of 140 minutes, the film explores the hardships of family, man's exertion of masculinity, and the consequences of bad decisions. It takes you on an unpredictable ride that is surprising with each minute of every story. You won't know where it's going, but that is what makes the picture so powerful. Sure, the film is a little long, but it deserves its long running time. It takes its time to set up the characters and the world in which they live. By the end of the film, you find that your patience is rewarded, as the stories collide and become one cohesive whole. It makes for a memorable, unshakable moviegoing experience.

Derek Cianfrance proves that he is an exceptional filmmaker who delves into some dark and complex territory. His last film, Blue Valentine, was one of the best of 2010. It explored the heartbreak and tragedy that comes with love. Whereas that film was small and intimate, The Place Beyond the Pines is enormous in scope and ambition. Cianfrance knows exactly how to handle the difficulties of this project. He knows how to dial down the drama so that it is quiet yet natural. He has a deft grasp of tension and understands how to let the suspense simmer. He knows how to challenge the audience without overwhelming it. Cianfrance has complete control over his movie. He is a daring and talented filmmaker who is one to watch out for in the future.

Perhaps Cianfrance's greatest strength is his cast, from which he draws outstanding performances. Pines is one of the most well acted films thus far in 2013. Ryan Gosling is nothing short of brilliant. Similar to his masterful performance in Drive, Gosling channels inner turmoil and brooding so well. Again, without any words, he is capable of expressing so much. (In one particularly effective scene,  Luke cries in a chapel as he watches his son get baptized. It's a quiet, heartbreaking, and surprisingly non-manipulative moment that gives proof to Gosling's immense talent). Bradley Cooper and Eva Mendes give some of the best performances of their careers as these complex characters. It must've been difficult to dig deep down within themselves to channel their emotions, but they pull it off brilliantly. And last but not least, Dane DeHaan is phenomenal. His young, boyish appearance greatly contrasts with his intense (and sometimes frightening) performance. He is so riveting. It's no wonder that he is one of the most talented and exciting young actors working in Hollywood. I look forward to his future performances. What is most amazing about these actors is that they make the audience sympathize for their flawed characters. Even when the characters make bad or immoral decisions, we always identify with them. We understand them and even root for them. The actors are responsible for making Pines the deep and emotionally involving film that it is. 

The main flaw of The Place Beyond the Pines is that like many anthology films, not every story is equally good. Pines peaks at the beginning because Luke's story is by far the strongest and deepest segment. It goes slightly downhill afterwards. While many assert that the second story is better than the third story, I disagree. I found Avery's story to be the weakest of the three simply because it lacks some of the danger and drama present in the first and last. However, Avery's story is by no means a bad one. All of them are excellent. It's just a bummer that the film starts so high, then dips, and then comes back up, while never reaching the height of the beginning.

Ultimately, The Place Beyond the Pines is a towering achievement. Its cinematography and score is magnificent. Its direction and acting is impeccable. Pines is a timeless film for both the mind and the heart. Add it to the list of "must-see" films of 2013. Three and a half stars out of four.