The Place Beyond the Pines

Really good first half, when I die it fell off

I liked this movie alot but it feels like 3 different movies in 1, but still really good

Really solid movie the amount of twists/ turns is fucking wild. Cast is beyond dank. Ryan Gosling being the ultimate sigma male like he always is in dramas. The only trash performance was Bradley coopers son. Also pretty slow paced but I didn’t mind it.

The Place Beyond the Pines is a film of ambitious scope and undeniable artistry. It tells a multigenerational tale of fathers and sons, choices and consequences, and the ripple effects of crime and guilt. While it offers moments of genuine brilliance, particularly in its first act, it ultimately struggles to maintain its momentum, I can’t help but feel…underwhelmed.

The movie begins with a raw, captivating energy that is largely carried by Ryan Gosling. His portrayal of Luke is electric—he embodies a tragic antihero torn between his dangerous impulses and a desire to provide for his son, Jason. The cinematography in these early scenes is stunning, particularly the thrilling, one-take sequence of Luke’s bank heist and getaway. Combined with Mike Patton’s score, this first act pulls you into the story with an intoxicating mix of grit and pathos.

However, the film takes a sharp turn after Luke’s death about 45 minutes into the story. The choice to kill off Gosling’s character so early is bold, but it also leaves the narrative feeling unbalanced. Luke’s dynamic presence anchors the film’s emotional core, and without him, the subsequent acts struggle to find the same intensity.

The second act shifts focus to an ambitious rookie cop played by an actor whose name I can’t remember right now. His life intersects with Luke’s in a fateful way. While the pig guy delivers a strong performance, this segment feels more conventional, leaning heavily on police corruption tropes and political drama. The tonal shift is jarring, and the pacing begins to falter. The story spends a lot of time with Avery’s moral dilemmas, but it lacks the emotional weight of Luke’s arc, making it harder to invest in his struggles.

The third act jumps ahead 15 years, focusing on Luke and Avery’s sons, Jason and AJ. While the generational themes are thought-provoking in theory, this segment feels contrived and overly drawn-out. The sons’ connection and eventual confrontation are too heavily foreshadowed, and their interactions lack the nuance needed to fully sell the film’s exploration of legacy and redemption.

Despite its shortcomings, it isn’t a bad movie. The direction is confident, and the film’s visual storytelling is often striking, particularly in the way it uses upstate New York’s landscapes to evoke a sense of isolation and inevitability. The performances, too, are commendable across the board. Gosling’s brooding intensity, the cop actor’s earnestness, and Dane DeHaan’s vulnerability all stand out. Yet, the film’s structure is its Achilles’ heel. By frontloading the most compelling story with Luke, the subsequent acts feel like diminishing returns.

In the end, I would describe this as a film that reaches for greatness but falls short due to its uneven narrative and lack of focus. It’s worth watching for its ambitious storytelling and standout performances, but it ultimately doesn’t sustain the emotional impact it promises in its first act.

Ain’t that just the way

I only saw pics on instagram so I thought it would be a fun road movie with Ryan Gosling. its not, still good tho !