The Place Beyond The Pines (Derek Cianfrance, 2013): USA

Review by Kristoffer Kronander. Viewed at the Metropolitan Paseo Nuevo Theatre, Santa Barbara.

Exploring the importance of personal choices and how they affect our loved ones, The Place Beyond The Pines takes us on a slow and steady journey that connects several characters and families. In a thoughtful manner, the film takes us from Luke Glanton’s (Ryan Gosling) criminal life to the police officer Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper) who struggles balancing his life between work and family. It creates a vicious void; a revenge-loop that can only broken if the characters see past their own interests.

Director Derek Cianfrance grasps after much in this tragic story, but it is mostly because of the talented actors and their outstanding contribution that he reaches his destination. Given TPBTP was the very anticipated follow up to his directorial debut, Blue Valentine, you can understand the directors ambitious intention. This film captures the tragedies of a lifestyle where work and money is prioritized over family and love, and it does so effectively as the plot is played out over several years, allowing us to witness the full consequences of one, although inevitable, action.

 

When Luke finds out that he has a son with his ex-girlfriend Romina (Eva Mendez), he realises that he has to change his life; he finally has found a purpose worth enough to work for. Quitting his job as a stunt motorcyclist, he starts to rob banks with his partner Robin (Ben Mendelsohn) in order to provide for his son– a choice that eventually brings him into the hands of Avery Cross, a newly recruited cop. This collision brings about consequences that will still echo fifteen years into the future, when Luke’s son Jason (Dane DeHaan) meets up with Avery’s son AJ (Emory Cohen). As both their fathers are absent they turn to drugs in order to find comfort, but eventually they are forced to reconcile with their fate.

 

As this story is involving many characters, it does so with precise detail. We study every character closely, all within the long but not dragging runtime of 140 minutes. Even in dramatical and austere situations the pacing is remarkably relaxed and natural, only to be interrupted with short bursts of violence and conflict. This allows for Cianfrance and the talents to build a convincing and highly contemplative atmosphere, incised with authenticity. Maybe this is why the film emerges from the rest– it endorses a reflective thought process; something extremely valuable, that few contemporary films succeeds in doing.

 

The Place Beyond The Pines is, and will continue to be, an unusual crime-drama with a desire to touch and ponder. But don’t expect anything joyful about this film. It is only a melancholic meditation, a gloomy interpretation of the hardship of modern life. That being said, it is a fairly unique rendering.

 


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