The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) – With an Extremely Emotional and Powerful Story

Starring Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, and Ray Liotta, director Derek Cianfrance’s crime drama “THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES” is an amazing movie from story to performance and direction. Yes, it’s yet another good film from the director of the last success, “Blue Valentine” (2010) – an interesting family drama.  

If I had to sum up the entire story in one line, I’d have to say that it’s an extremely emotional and powerful story that explores the unbreakable bond in a father-son relationship.

What’s in the story of ‘The Place Beyond the Pines’

Luke Glanton (Ryan Gosling) is a stunt motorcyclist who travels with his team from town to town at state fairs. During one such journey to a fair in Altamont, New York, he meets his ex-lover, Romina (Eva Mendes) and comes to know that she has given birth to their son, Jason.

Knowing his responsibility to a newfound family, he finally decides to leave his nomadic life and finds a job as a car mechanic. After some days, his employer Robin (Ben Mendelsohn) proposes that Luke get hold of some quick money by partnering in a string of spectacular bank robberies. While they both successfully robbed a few banks, Luke somehow came to the notice of cops, particularly an ambitious rookie cop, Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper).

On the other hand, Avery is also struggling to balance his professional and personal life. He, too, has a wife, Jennifer (Rose Byrne), and an infant son, AJ. While he has to lead a life as a cop under some corrupt police officers, including detective Deluca (Ray Liotta), Avery’s confrontation with Luke reverberates into their next generation, between Jason and AJ, thereby leaving a lasting impact on both families. 

Watch the movie trailer for “The Place Beyond the Pines”

The casting director has done a fabulous job by selecting both the Academy Award nominees, Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper, for their respective roles. And, the director Derek Cianfrance has yet again proved his filmmaking skills after his last feature film “Blue Valentine” (2010).

Among others, I always wonder how an actor of that calibre, Ray Liotta, takes up such minuscule roles over and over again. Anyway, even with those appearances leave an impression of the kind of performer he is, although I wanted more of him in the same film. For Eva Mendes, this was a bit unusual but a good project, away from her glamorous roles in some of her earlier films. Overall, the movie “The Place Beyond the Pines” stands out as one of the finest films of the year 2012.

Where to watch The Place Beyond the Pines (2013)