Rent The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
3.3 of 5 from 536 ratings
2h 15min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Mysterious motorcycle racer, Luke (Ryan Gosling), desperately tries to connect with a former lover, Romina (Eva Mendes), who secretly gave birth to the stunt rider's son. In an attempt to provide for his new family, Luke quits the carnival life and commits a series of bank robberies aided by his superior riding ability. The stakes rise as Luke is put on a collision course with an ambitious police officer, Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper), looking to quickly move up the ranks in a police department riddled with corruption.
- Actors:
- Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, Craig Van Hook, Olga Merediz, Angelo Anthony Pizza, Mahershala Ali, John Facci, Ben Mendelsohn, Tula, Penny, Cynthia Pelletier-Sullivan, MacKenzie Trainor, Nicole Califano, Shannon Plumb, Tracey Agustin, Ean Egas, Bob Dieterich, Thomas Mattice, Adam Nowicki
- Directors:
- Derek Cianfrance
- Producers:
- Lynette Howell, Sidney Kimmel, Alex Orlovsky, Jamie Patricof
- Writers:
- Derek Cianfrance, Ben Coccio
- Studio:
- StudioCanal
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Drama, Thrillers
- Collections:
- 2013, CinemaParadiso.co.uk Through Time, Getting to Know..., Getting to Know: Ryan Gosling
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 12/08/2013
- Run Time:
- 141 minutes
- Languages:
- English Audio Description, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 2.40:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Deleted Scenes
- Going to The Place Beyond the Pines Featurette
- Feature Commentary with Director Derek Cianfrance
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Reviews (2) of The Place Beyond the Pines
Ambitious! - The Place Beyond the Pines review by Schrödinger's Cake
This is an ambitious film that attempts to pull together a collection of interwoven sub-stories, into a single, cohesive film.
On so many levels, this is not an easy film to watch. The characters, whilst rich and wonderfully acted, are almost universally challenging and unlikeable. The story is intricate. Multi-layered, subtle and fragmented. It requires attention and care to watch and comprehend. The plot is not handed to you on a platter or spelt out. Here, you must work for it.
If you are looking for a throw-away film to fall asleep to, then this isn't the one. However, if you want something a bit more taxing, then you've come to the right place.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
A good idea with good performances let down by completely uneven pacing & length - The Place Beyond the Pines review by TB
After working with Derek Cianfrance on Blue Valentine, Ryan Gosling had wanted to make another film with him. Apparently the idea for The Place Beyond The Pines (TPBTP) came about from a conversation they had where Gosling had said that he always wanted to rob a bank, to experience the feeling & adrenaline of it. Cianfrance thought it was a brilliant idea & came up with this script. Whilst TPBTP does have some great ideas & scenes, it also has some quite big problems with it.
But with regards to the good stuff, the performances are excellent. Gosling & Mendes make a fantastic couple, which would have been quite awkward if they hadn't, seeing as they met on this film and have been together ever since. Cooper is also great as the cop who changes the course of their relationship forever. Even the small roles are well-played, my favourite being Ray Liotta, who in his usual style totally owns the screen for the short time he is on it. The film is shot in a very naturalistic way & the motorbike chases are also exhilarating.
But this film is frustrating because of its problems, the main one being that it tries to do far too much. And it also, in order to accommodate this, is stupidly long. There were at least 2 occasions where this film could have been wrapped up and it's 2 hour 15 minute run time felt nearly double that towards the end of the film. Also, there is a big twist that happens at one stage and whilst it was brilliantly done, the film then totally loses momentum & never regains it. And then, adding to the bloat, the film also tries to wrap up everything neatly, which not only doesn't work, but also would have benefited from some things being left upto the viewer's imagination.
For people who really like spending time with the characters & enjoy slower films, there is much to like here. But for others, this film just runs out of steam & then starts to outstay it's welcome.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
Critic review
The Place Beyond the Pines review by Alyse Garner - Cinema Paradiso
Before I begin my review of this film I must explain why I have seemingly given so much away in my initial synopsis; though plot twists and revelations are key aspects of the outplay of this story the three act structure and midway narrative flip of the Place Beyond the Pines can hardly be understood without an in-depth explanation of the events, despite this it is not the events but the characters and emotions that truly fuel this story.
Ryan Gosling stars as Luke, a motorcycle stunt rider, who turns to crime after he discovers he has a son from a brief fling. However, following one particular robbery Luke finds himself ruthlessly pursued by new cop Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper). The aftermath of Luke and Avery’s final and deadly encounter turns the film into a tense drama that explores police corruption, guilt and the sad repercussions affecting the next generation.
Despite a difficult first half the key theme of the Place Beyond the Pines is highlighted at the very start and carries well throughout; the potentially dangerous and harmful ramifications of the actions of a small selfish few echo far further than we can really appreciate.
The film doesn’t come across at all preachy however, the final moral message embedded in a edgy thriller that holds your attention well; beware the first half of the piece, where some of the aspects of the story appear a little shaky and underdeveloped, the characters and performances quickly distract from these issues however helping the film’s 140 minute runtime speed by.
Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance returns to well used and honed camera techniques, including long tracking shots that follow Gosling’s big tattooed body around in the first half, and countless extreme close ups – that Cianfrance seems to think aid in the development of his characters but that in fact distract from the great performances already inherent in the piece.
Overall it’s the casting choices that really make this film, the ineffable Gosling is excellent once again as the driven stunt rider who does an immediate 180 turn upon discovering he is a father, whilst Cooper reminds us once again that he is not just a crude comedy actor of the likes of the Hangover franchise; his complex lawyer turned cop balancing constantly on the thinnest of moral lines his judgement and ethics constantly in question. Eva Mendez shines as the father of Luke’s baby whilst the Australian Ben Mendelsohn is spot on as the manic bank robber who introduces Luke to what will eventually be his destruction.