This drama. which spans approximately 17 years of life in Schenectady, New York, continuously touches on themes such as: legacy, being a man, & fatherhood. The film, which opens with a stunning visual of Luke Galton (Ryan Gosling) playing with a knife in his trailer introducing his pre-show ritual before he performs what appears to be the most important thing in his existence, his death defying motocross stunt. After the show Luke meets with Romina (Eva Mendes) and we the audience can tell from their limited engagement, that they know one another, but they haven’t seen each other in a while. After he drops her off at her house, Luke doubles back and unbeknownst to him meets Romina’s son, HIS son Jason for the first time, and this revelation sits him on his ass.
Ryan Gosling’s portrayal as Luke, the man who wants to do everything right, but who has all the wrong tools, is electrifying, to say the least. When he’s on screen you’re tuned in, it’s simple scenes that captivate you, take for instance the clip below: When Luke tries to convince Romina to leave her current boyfriend Kofi in this quiet, but solid performance (Mahershala Ali.) It’s a simple but complicated request he’s asking, and for which doubles as the film’s theme.
Let me be a man.
The film has a run time of a whopping 2 and a half hours, and without spoiling anything let’s just say when police officer Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper) comes on the scene, he takes the story over. At first, he’s kind of boring to be honest, just your run-of-the-mill young police officer trying to make a name for himself. Then it reveals itself, Avery’s ambitious attitude which drives him, and pushes others away the whole film.
The film is engrossing and explores several different relationships between a father & son:
-Avery Cross’ is constantly striving to impress his father Al Cross (Harris Yulin) who wants him to quit the force.
-Luke is trying to build something worthwhile with his son Jason whom he has missed the first year of his life. While Kofi is not Jason’s biological father, but still the most consistent father he has had in his life.
-Avery ambition still gets in the way of his role as father as he is an ignoring, pacifying father to his son AJ who’s screaming for attention played by newcomer (Emory Cohen.)
There are tons of action scenes that occur after you’ve already grown attached to most of the characters, you hold your breath, rub your knuckles and exhale in timed breaths as you endure. It was great to look around the theater and see engaged audience members laughing, exhaling, and crying at the same things.
Though the film is not perfect, the acting is the best I’ve seen on the screen in quite some time. Everyone shows ou, event Eva Mendes turns in an impressive performance showcasing her range. Bradley Cooper takes a simple role, and layers it profoundly. Ray Liotta even pops up and churns out yet another role where he’s a dirty cop (he should seriously consider founding a “How To Play A Dirty Cop” acting workshop.) It’s the new comers Emory Cohen and soon to be movie star Dane DeHaan who steal the film in the third leg of the film.
It’s a meaty film that leaves you with a lot to think about when the credits finally do roll!
The Place Beyond The Pines, is in theaters now, peep the trailer below.
