The hottest property in Hollywood right now is without doubt Ryan Gosling. He's super talented, super gorgeous and everything he touches seems to turns to gold. He’s even got his own Meme and colouring book for Christ’s sake (re the colouring book: it’s my birthday soon. Just sayin’...).
His latest film is his second collaboration with Derek Cianfrance (their previous movie was ‘Blue Valentine’, the brilliant anti-date movie) called ‘The Place Beyond The Pines’.
'The Place Beyond The Pines' has three very clear stories told in three acts. Luke Glanton (Ryan Gosling) is a motorcycle stuntman working in a traveling act for state fairs. While in Altamont New York, Glanton visits his old flame Romina (Eva Mendes) and learns that he is the father of her son. Glanton quits his job as a stuntman to stay in town and provide for his child. This triggers a series of events where Glanton's live intersects with Officer Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper) who then gets embroiled with some shady, backhanded police business. The story ultimately involves Cross’s son AJ (Emory Cohen) a 16 year old called Jason (Dane DeHaan).
I knew very little about this film before the screening but I did have quite high hopes due to the strength of the cast and the strength of Cianfrance’s previous work with Gosling (I love ‘Blue Valentine’). I was not disappointed. You have to be prepared to go on a bit of a journey but if you let it, ‘The Place Beyond The Pines’ will reward you for your trouble.
It is the most beautiful film I’ve seen so far this year. Filmed in various towns in and around Schenectady, New York the boundless vistas take your breath away. Tempting as it may be to use the landscape in every shot, Cianfrance also lingers in close up on the faces of his actors to devastating effect. The result is hauntingly beautiful, terribly melancholic and really gets under your skin.
The cast are firing on all cylinders without exception.
Ryan Gosling is the main selling point of the film because (in the words of Mr Mugatu) he’s so hot right now, but in reality he isn't in the film for long. The screen time he does have, however, is never wasted. On paper Glanton is a hard to sympathise with but Gosling is such a talent that your heart aches for him. This is Ryan Gosling is at his charismatic best.
As predicted Bradley Cooper continues his upward career trajectory. Building on his success with 'Silver Linings Playbook' in 'The Place Beyond The Pines' Avery is the most multi-faceted character in the film. His motives are never really clear and his quiet ambition gives way to a grey morality that I loved. Cooper has come a long way in his relatively short career but it seems he’s only just getting started.
My favourite turn was Dane DeHaan as Jason. His character's identity is a third act twist seasoned movie go-ers will have worked out before the film’s conclusion. This, however, doesn’t diminish his character in any way. DeHaan is a truly magnetic screen presence; I felt the same when I saw him in ‘Chronicle’ last year, I find him almost hypnotic to watch.
His section of the film is the least-good (I know ‘least-good’ is terrible English but I don’t want to say ‘weakest’ because no part of this film is weak) but it’s totally bolstered by DeHaan and Emory Cohen.
With all its meandering loveliness some of the film’s momentum does get lost, especially in the second act which is the part of the movie that should feel most like a crime thriller. The relaxed dialogue and easy aesthetic is both a blessing and a hindrance to ‘The Place Beyond The Pines’.
What I love the most is the ambition of the thing. Cianfrance has created something that more closely resembles a Shakespearean tragedy than it does anything else currently in cinemas. It's a complete contradiction of a film: vast but small, huge and minute all at the same time. I love that there are still film makers that dare to pose questions and then credit the audience with enough intelligence to let them ponder them. The film’s conclusion does peter out with a fizzle rather than a bang which is a shame but there is still plenty to love here.
There are no clear heroes and villains in ‘The Place Beyond The Pines’, this is not a film for those that need their conclusions neatly tied up. It is beautifully bold cinema and, even if it leaves a few loose threads, this film is a triumph.
A gorgeous commentary on Fathers, Sons and the legacy that the one leaves for the other, ‘The Place Beyond The Pines’ is a sweeping tragedy that I found utterly captivating.
‘The Place Beyond The Pines’ is still hanging around in cinemas but you need to be quick to catch it!
Well it’s a rainy miserable Tuesday I need some…
Reasons to be Cheerful :-)
1. I heard some tragic news yesterday. The 5th series of Horrible Histories will be the last one! Gutted! Weep not dear reader, there is a silver lining! Horrible Histories regulars the gorgeous Laurence Rickard and beautiful Ben Willbond have written a film about William Shakespeare! It’s going to be called ‘Bill’ and should start filming later this year :-)
2. Angelina Jolie has written a wonderful piece in the New York Times about her recent double mastectomy. No matter what you think of her career it must have taken a huge amount of courage to speak as openly as she does about such an emotional procedure. Cancer is a terrible thing but if this article helps one woman get the help she needs then that can only be a good thing. From a woman to a woman, she has my utmost respect.
3. Graffiti puns are hilarious :-) I laughed more than I should have at this.
That’s all for today. More posts on the way!
Goodbye till next time :-)
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