Review: The Place Beyond the Pines
When I think of Schenectady, New York, I don’t normally envision broken lives, inherited destinies, and cyclical tragedy. Admittedly, I don’t think of Schenectady much. I wasn’t born there, I wasn’t raised there, and, truthfully, I think I’ve only passed through it once or twice in my life. I don’t remember. Until recently, Schenectady had failed to have any sort of significant impact on my life.
Then I saw The Place Beyond the Pines.
Written and Directed by Derek Cianfrance (Brother Tied, Blue Valentine), The Place Beyond the Pines is, at first glance, a somber, gritty portrait of a town which seems to have some sort of cosmic tragedy vortex intent on pulling its residents towards certain doom. It’s the twisted reflection of a Norman Rockwell portrait. In Schenectady, a major antagonist in and of itself within the film, every choice comes with a consequence and for every action there is a reaction. These consequences and reactions, however, are rarely positive and rarely immediate. Like a genetically inherited disease, destiny is passed from father to son. Like a tightening noose, the truth eventually suffocates its victims.
The film picks up with a brilliantly executed sequence shot of our initial protagonist, Luke (Ryan Gosling), a stunt biker for a traveling carnival. After dazzling the crowd with death-defying feats of motorcycle carnage, Luke runs into an old flame, Romina (Eva Mendes). He soon learns that he has a baby boy with her from the previous summer, Jason. Luke is a bit of a paradoxical curve ball from Cianfrance. On one hand, he is a teenage rebel with no regard for himself or others. He makes a living on taking reckless chances and gets by with equal parts skill and devilish charm. Simultaneously, he is a family man with strong morals who chooses to be a part of Jason’s life, even if it’s against the wishes of Romina and her boyfriend, Kofi (Mahershala Ali). To do his part, Luke quits the carney act and makes an honest living — for a short while — as a mechanic for Robin Van Der Zee’s (Ben Mendelsohn) struggling shop. Luke quickly turns from mechanic to bank robber, utilizing Robin’s access to trucks and knowledge of Schenectady’s banks along with his own skills as a stunt rider to stage daring heists. This is where the real story — and trouble — begins, as it is the catalyst for a series of events that will shape and ultimately torment the lives touched by Luke.
Ryan Gosling’s performance as Luke is both inspired and moving. He conveys the dual identities of Luke, the hardened outlaw and the tender, remorseful father, with ease. I would say that his performance is reminiscent of Brando’s “Johnny” in The Wild One (1953).
Not to be outdone, Bradley Cooper shines as the naive, driven, and ultimately compromised overachiever, Avery Cross. His story is inherently intertwined with Luke’s path in a complex and profound way. Cooper is calculating yet vulnerable and, most impressively, holds his own with Ray Liotta, which is probably one of the best compliments you can give an actor when you consider just how intense Ray Liotta’s performances tend to be. Mr. Liotta certainly does not disappoint. As the corrupt Detective Deluca, Liotta is menacing and downright bone-chilling. Eva Mendes is strong and dignified in her performance as the conflicted and emotionally tormented Romina.
The real stars of the show, in my humble opinion, are Jason (Dane DeHaan) and AJ (Emory Cohen) as the second generation of Luke and Avery’s story. DeHaan and Cohen are tormented by their bloodlines, each inheriting the sins of their respective fathers. Their story is one of tragedy, revelation, and, eventually, redemption. Nobody, and I mean nobody, gets out unscathed.
What Derek Cianfrance has done with The Place Beyond the Pines is create a bleak world inhabited by doomed characters who cannot escape their destiny — what history says they must become. But ultimately, it is a movie about hope and transcendence. About overcoming the odds and proving fate wrong. If it sounds cliche, I can assure you that the execution is flawless and never cheesy or predictable.
My favorite part about The Place Beyond the Pines is that it is a film that stays with you and will haunt you in the best of ways. It will make you want to go home and wrap your loved ones in your arms. It will make you want to go out and get that degree you gave up on. Above all else, it may make you want get on a motorcycle and outrun your own destiny.
[rating=4]
Strong performances by an outstanding cast bring will make this heartbreaking tale of tragedy, destiny, and discovery stay with you long after you leave the theater.