The Place Beyond the Pines

The Place Beyond the Pines

Rated R and Released in Grand Rapids 4/12/13

Reviewed 4/16/13 at Celebration North Theatre in Grand Rapids, MI

with Denny

2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

I keep repeating myself when I say I am disappointed when they make films way too long. This is another one. I only gave it one J on the time and maybe that was a bit harsh, but my dad and I both thought writers could have easily knocked a half hour off of this one. My dad said he is gratified he saw this film, but would never see it again. Revealing enough of a review?

The Place Beyond the Pines is like watching three different movies. The first third was the most exciting and interesting with Ryan Gosling as the drifter Luke Glanton.

The story shifts to Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper), the good cop bad cop that rises from rookie police officer to hero to District Attorney.

The last part of this thickened plot is 15 years later with Luke's and Avery's sons taking over the storyline. This scenario could have been removed. I know I am probably disagreeing with the critics and they are going to like this a lot more than both of us. If you are line with the critics, this one might be for you. The acting was good, but there were just too many flaws. Eva Mendes as Romina, Luke's girlfriend, and Ray Liotta as his typical well-played seedy character are actually first rate; they just aren't on screen enough.

Luke Glanton is a smutty carnival worker, but at the same time kind of likable. He knocks up Romina but goes in and out of her life like the wind. He turns to robbing banks after he partners up rather abruptly with another loner. In Luke's mind this is all for his son and to steal Romina away from her much needed stable boyfriend. These situations never end well and this is no different. Running from the cops in hot pursuit he briefly crosses paths with officer Avery Cross and the new story begins. By the end of Avery's story, there is a transformation of feeling sorry for him to almost "he gets what he deserves" which is similar to the feelings about Luke's story as well. Through circumstances Avery rises through the ranks, thanks to a hero's injury and then winning a face off with some twisted cops, one being Liotta. The third story emerges 15 years later with Avery running for public office and both sons' lives interweaving accidentally at school. Troubled and interested in drugs, neither try to do the right thing and both are easily led astray. This part of the movie is very anticlimatic after some worthy moments early on. At the point when the story intersects, it drops like a bomb and you just want it to end already, again and again. It finally concludes with a few little twists, but if they would have gotten to chase earlier it would be a mended movie and a relief for all of us watching it. Well, at least, for Denny and I.

 QUIET Rating system: 2 Js

Quality: JJJj

Understood story:  JJj

Interest: Jj

Entertainment:  Jj

Time:  J