MOVIE REVIEW - The Place Beyond The Pines

In limited release it is the new Indy flick, The Place Beyond The Pines.

This has been highly critically acclaimed.  And when you go you will know right up front this is an off the beaten path independent movie from the very first frame.  This is a movie goers movie.  If you go to one or two movies a year, this is more than likely not your movie. This was made by the same producers of Blue Valentine from 2011, which was another very heralded Indy flick.

This stars Bradley Cooper, Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes.  This is a very complicated police drama that takes tons of twists and turns.   In a nutshell, this is the story of Luke (Gosling) and Ro (Mendes).  Luke is a total loser who is a motorcycle stunt rider in a traveling carny.  He has a tryst with Ro and unknown to him, after the carny moves on Ro has a baby and he is the father.   A year later he returns and learns of the baby boy.   He decides that he will try to do right by his new son.  But being unskilled, he turns to robbing banks and escaping on his motorcycle.

As one job goes wrong, he is cornered in a standoff.  He is then shot and killed by a local cop Avery (Cooper).  Avery is also shot in the standoff, and is hailed a hero as he recovers.  Then enter police corruption from the local police department and Avery is now caught up in a huge scandal as his naivete is doing him in.  Then, he uses the powerful pull of his politically connected father to turn the events around to his advantage and he actually becomes a local District Attorney.

Flash forward 15 years, and Avery is now running for State Attorney General.  His son is now 17 years old and as happenstance would take over his son and Luke's son end up being friends. Both are on a horrible path, and are having major brushes with the law.  Now the question is, will the kids be able to figure out who each other is, and what will happen when, and if they do?

This is deep, heavy drama that really takes on many different groups leaving virtually no one unscathed.  This also makes huge social commentary about police, politics, families of all kinds and the teen world that many parents are convinced doesn't exist.  But it does.  This is a powerful movie making that really steps on your chest and doesn't let up for 2 and half hours.  This has a hint of sadness, and melancholy to it that will not make it enjoyable for many, but very riveting for others.

Cooper, Gosling and Mendes are all very good in these large roles, and they are backed up by a well suited supporting cast.  This also has all the ingredients that a Indy movie would have.  It has a different flow, and look to it.  This is exceedingly well acted, directed and edited.  This may one of the very good movies of this year, that not many people will ever see.

The Place Beyond The Pines.  Very well done.