- IMDb page: The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
- Rate: 7.8/10 total 9,067 votes
- Genre: Crime | Drama
- Release Date: 12 April 2013 (UK)
- Runtime: 140 min
- Filming Location: Vale Cemetery, Schenectady, New York, USA
- Budget: $15,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross: $6,362,875 (USA) (17 April 2013)
- Director: Derek Cianfrance
- Stars: Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, Anthony Pizza | See full cast and crew
- Original Music By: Mike Patton
- Soundtrack: The Wolves (Act I and II)
- Sound Mix: Dolby Digital | Datasat
- Plot Keyword: Motorcycle | Bank Robbery | Motorcycle Stunt | Schenectady New York | Corruption
Known Trivia
- Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Ginnifer Goodwin auditioned for the role of Jennifer.
- Greta Gerwig was originally cast as Jennifer, but was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.
- Much of the filming for this movie was done on location in Schenectady, New York. The title comes from the name of the city of Schenectady, which is the Mohawk word for "beyond the pine plains."
- According to Ryan Gosling, all his bank robbery scenes were done in one take.
- The banks being robbed in this film are all actual banks. The First National Bank of Scotia, located in and around Schenectady, NY, allowed filming in multiple branches.
- According to director Derek Cianfrance, he met with Ryan Gosling at his agent's home in 2007 while working on Blue Valentine. He asked Ryan Gosling (paraphrased), "You've done so much already, what is there in life you haven't done that you want to do?" Ryan Gosling responded that he has always wanted to rob a bank. "What has kept you from robbing a bank?" Being arrested. "And how would you go about robbing a bank?" Ryan Gosling described robbing a bank on a motorcycle because it is fast and agile, and the helmet would conceal his identity, then stashing the motorcycle in the back of a truck because the police would be looking for the motorcycle. Derek Cianfrance responded that he was actually writing a screenplay about a bank robber in exactly that way, and he felt that Ryan Gosling was meant to play this role.
- Director Derek Cianfrance claims that he would not have made the movie without Bradley Cooper cast as Avery Cross. In fact, he drove 5 hours to Toronto to meet with Cooper in person to convince him to take the role. Cianfrance says he did write the role for Cooper - "a guy who's paraded around as a hero but inside feels corrupted."
- Ryan Gosling suggested Eva Mendes be cast as Romina.
- The film includes appearance by director Cianfrance's wife Shannon Plumb as a woman in ice cream parlor.
- In the opening track shot scene, several assistant directors actually appear on the fairground wearing Dr. Seuss hats. They were instructed to distract the extras into not looking at the camera and at a shirtless Ryan Gosling walking into the a circus tent. The shot was conceived by cinematographer Sean Bobbitt who wanted to have it as a way to teach the audience watching the movie.
Goofs: Anachronisms: While most of the money shown taken in the bank robberies were of the correct design for the time period (the first act was set in 1997), there is a scene in the police department evidence room that shows a stack of stolen $20s. The bill on top is a redesigned $20 with the large head portrait, which was not introduced until 1998.
Plot: A motorcycle stunt rider turns to robbing banks as a way to provide for his lover and their newborn child, a decision that puts him on a collision course with an ambitious rookie cop navigating a department ruled by a corrupt detective. Full summary » | »
Story: A mysterious and mythical motorcycle racer, Luke, (Ryan Gosling) drives out of a traveling carnival globe of death and whizzes through the backstreets of Schenectady, New York, desperately trying to connect with a former lover, Romina, (Eva Mendes) who recently and secretly gave birth to the stunt rider's son. In an attempt to provide for his new family, Luke quits the carnival life and commits a series of bank robberies aided by his superior riding ability. The stakes rise as Luke is put on a collision course with an ambitious police officer, Avery Cross, (Bradley Cooper) looking to quickly move up the ranks in a police department riddled with corruption. The sweeping drama unfolds over fifteen years as the sins of the past haunt the present days lives of two high school boys wrestling with the legacy they've inherited. The only refuge is found in the place beyond the pines. Written byStudioCanal
Produced By:
- Ryan Gosling known as Luke
- Eva Mendes known as Romina
- Anthony Pizza known as Baby Jason (as Anthony Angelo Pizza, Jr.)
- Craig Van Hook known as Jack
- Mahershala Ali known as Kofi
- Olga Merediz known as Malena
- Rev. John Facci known as Priest
- Ben Mendelsohn known as Robin
- Tula known as Robin's Dog
- Penny known as Robin's Dog
- Cynthia Pelletier-Sullivan known as Teller #1 - Bank #1
- MacKenzie Trainor known as Teller #2 - Bank #1
- Nicole Califano known as Teller #3 - Bank #1
- Shannon Plumb known as Lady in Ice Cream Shop
- Tracey Agustin known as Teller #1 - Bank #2
- Ean Egas known as Teller #2 - Bank #2
- Bob Dieterich known as Banker Outside Bank #2
- Thomas Mattice known as Booking Officer
- Adam Nowichi known as Arresting Officer
- Mark J. Caruso known as Court Lawyer
- G. Douglas Griset known as Judge #1
- Vanessa Thorpe known as Court Officer
- Gail Martino known as Teller - Banker #3
- Brian Smyj known as Officer Jefferson
- Bradley Cooper known as Avery
- Dorothy Rutherford known as Mother at Home
- Paul Steele known as Officer at Shootout Home
- Gabe Fazio known as Scott
- Rose Byrne known as Jennifer
- Travis Jackson Campbell known as Baby AJ
- Trevor Jackson Campbell known as Baby AJ
- Harris Yulin known as Al Cross
- Jan Libertucci known as Nurse
- Robert Clohessy known as Chief Weirzbowski
- Bruce Greenwood known as Bill Killcullen
- Subrina Dhammi known as Reporter #1
- Heather Chestnut known as Jennifer's Mother
- Greta Seacat known as Cory Gilbeau
- Ray Liotta known as Deluca
- Luca Pierucci known as Doc Crowley
- Jessica Layton known as Reporter #2
- James J. Gleason known as Funeral Director
- Patrick Husted known as Preacher
- Emory Cohen known as AJ
- Joe B. McCarthy known as Campaign Manager (as Joe McCarthy)
- Jefrey Pollock known as Campaign Advisor
- Lynette Howell known as Political Media Advisor
- Sarah Curcio known as Guidance Counselor
- Dane DeHaan known as Jason
- Ephraim Benton known as Benny
- Mark McCracken known as Drug Busting Cop #1
- Adriel Linyear known as Drug Busting Cop #2
- Kevin Green known as Interrogating Cop
- Jennifer Sober known as Public Defender
- Melissa Mills known as Judge #2
- Alex Pulling known as Alex
- Dante Shafer known as Dante
- Kayla Smalls known as Vanessa
- Frank Falvo known as Pharmacy Clerk
- Leah Bliven known as Leah
- Whitney Hudson known as Whitney
- Breanna Dolen known as Breanna
- Hugh T. Farley known as State Senator
- Michael Cullen known as Mr. Anthony
Production Companies:
- Focus Features (presents)
- Sidney Kimmel Entertainment (presents)
- Electric City Entertainment
- Verisimilitude (in association with)
- Hunting Lane Films
- Pines Productions
- Silverwood Films
- ARRI / Camera Service Center camera equipment provided by
- Company 3 digital intermediate
- De Lane Lea ADR recording
- Dolby Laboratories sound mix
- Milan Records soundtrack
- OneZero Productions post-production
- Studio Line post-production sound services (ISDN/ADR)
- Trevanna Post post-production accounting
- E1 Films Canada (2013) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Fine Films (2013) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Focus Features (2013) (USA) (theatrical)
- Golden Village Pictures (2013) (Singapore) (theatrical)
- Independent Films (2013) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Film Distributors (2013) (Australia) (theatrical)
- StudioCanal (2013) (France) (theatrical)
- StudioCanal (2013) (UK) (theatrical)
- Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2013) (Switzerland) (all media)
- Bir Film (2013) (Turkey) (all media)
- Eagle Films (2013) (Non-USA) (all media) (Middle East)
- Mongkol Major (2013) (Thailand) (all media)
- Seven Films (2013) (Greece) (all media)
- Tanweer Films (2013) (Bangladesh) (all media)
- Tanweer Films (2013) (Bhutan) (all media)
- Tanweer Films (2013) (India) (all media)
- Tanweer Films (2013) (Nepal) (all media)
- Tanweer Films (2013) (Pakistan) (all media)
- Tanweer Films (2013) (Sri Lanka) (all media)
- TriPictures (2013) (Spain) (all media)
Special Effects:
- Company 3 NY (digital intermediate)
- Tinsley Studio (prosthetic makeup effects: tattoos)
Visual Effects by:
MPAA: Rated R for language throughout, some violence, teen drug and alcohol use, and a sexual reference
Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database
What he have here is a story about fathers and their sons. In fact,three separate stories - each one leads into the next. A lesser moviewould have just told one story, but "The Place Beyond the Pines" islarger in scope and needs all three parts to tell the complete story. Alife is not just about your life but those you affect and those youleave behind for years to come.
ReplyDeleteThe first father is Luke (Ryan Gosling) who didn't know he had a sonuntil a girl whose name he happens to remember shows up with a oneyear- old son. Prior to that moment he was a daredevil with noambitions, no money, and no care for his life. Now he's a father. Afather with no money nor job. Wearing a dirty, inside-out, torn t-shirtand tattoos covering his arms, neck and face, he is the epitome oftrash. But you know, the quiet, reserved, soulful, good-looking trash.And now that he's a father, he's going to care for his son however hecan. He hooks up with his partner in crime, literally - Robin (BenMendelsohn). Together they are like a Hall & Oates version of Bonnieand Clyde.
In Schenectady, New York - the place beyond the pines - the only thingdirtier than the trashy criminals are the cops themselves. And then thesecond father is introduced. The character of Avery (Bradley Cooper) iscarefully crafted into what should be the greatest human being onplanet Earth. And he's a cop. And he's a father. And he's a son to afather who might have been but probably wasn't the greatest human beingon planet Earth.
The film went for editing and filming styles to echo the characters'situations and actions. You can guess what that would look like whenGosling is racing through the forest on his motorcycle. But as weapproach the more expansive ending, there are some beautiful shots ofthe trees lining Schenectady's countryside roads. That worksparticularly well with Cooper giving a remarkable performance of Averyconstantly coming to grips with his life.
The final act tells a story very different from, but completelyconnected to, the two that came before it. It could have been tightenedup a bit, but "The Place Beyond the Pines" isn't telling a quick story.It's telling the story of multiples lives of death, family, love,honour and obedience. Employing overall themes of revenge, ambition,and what it means to be a father, and a son. I say it succeeds in itslarger scope, even if it doesn't just tell a story the way one wouldwant it to.
The Place Beyond The Pines tells a unique, compelling story in a waythat I have never seen before. This movie kept me interested from startto finish. It is far from traditional storytelling. The story is splitinto three sections all very different from each other. I enjoyed eachsection of the movie almost equally, but the first hour of the movie isdefinitely the strongest. The movie may be slow to some, but I wasinvested in the story from start to finish. This is the best I've seenRyan Gosling and Bradley Cooper, no doubt. There are no badperformances but Cooper and Gosling's stand out the most. Dane Dehaanplays an important role and does a great job of it. Dehaan isdefinitely a rising star. The tone of this movie is incredible, and Iwould recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good drama. It is the bestmovie I have seen this year, and with the breakthrough performancesthroughout, this is a movie you're not going to want to miss.
ReplyDeleteI have got to call it now: Ryan Goslyn deserves an Oscar nomination forhis turn in The Place Beyond the Pines. No question about it. He's adaredevil that defies gravity in a traveling circus stunt and doesn'tknow he's got a child with Eva Mendes who's come to see hisperformance. Upon seeing him, she realizes what a mistake she's madeand doesn't tell him of his son. This is the beginning of theincredible story that will unfold over the next 2 and a half hours ofintense, deep and poignant drama from the same director that shot RyanGoslyn in Blue Valentine. Watching Ryan transform into Luke, or "TheHeartthrob" as his stage name and tattoo reads, you would never believethis is the same dude from The Notebook or Crazy Stupid Love. Somethingabout the way he stares, something about the way he approaches hisbike, something about his tattoos that tell a different aspect of hischaracter without any words, something about the way he looks at hisson that cannot possibly be written in the script but yet he nails itright from the first moments you see him on screen. There's a scene inwhich Luke follows Eva and her husband into a church where they'rebaptizing his son, Jason, and he breaks down in tears. Even thoughthere's no dialogue, you know precisely what's going through his headand you see a transformation right before your eyes. It's almostexcusable what he does next. Seeing that he can't support his child,Luke turns to robbing banks and fleeing the scenes as fast as a bulleton his Heartthrob bike that is his lucky charm and a character of itsown. You almost wish he would make it. A third, a fourth, a fifth time.Pines has such a great script that is so well-layered and complex thatit feels as if you're watching 3 dramas unfold: first there's Luke andhis bank robberies, then there's Bradley Cooper's cop who stops Luke inhis tracks, and much later in the film 2 characters destined to meetand crash. I won't go into much more detailed but I will say that ThePlace Beyond the Pines better be in people's minds come time tonominate actors and movies for every award show in town 'cause itcertainly deserves recognition for acting, script and directing. Twothumbs up!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Place Beyond the Pines" follows two fathers and two sons over twodecades in a quite effective film. In spite of its being a littleoverlong it has a strong rawness and two excellent acting performances.Ryan Gosling and Bradle Cooper are a perfect pair of opposites: Goslingis all wildness whereas Cooper wonderfully plays a man who rehearsedfor life and seems uncomfortable with praise. The film's firsttwo-thirds, focusing on these two men, are fascinating but the storyends up losing a bit its own way in the last half-hour (the coincidenceof the grown sons coming across each other is forced). Howevereverything ends on the right note with a journey on an old motorbikeand a slow fade into a new beginning.
ReplyDeleteThe Place Beyond The Pines was a magnificent third feature fromdirector Derek Cianfrance. The performances were outstanding and it wasa great story. The three act structure was executed brilliantly andwere all tied together in a very satisfying way.
ReplyDeleteThe opening tracking shot was absolutely brilliant and did a great jobestablishing Ryan Gosling's character without any dialogue. Thesoundtrack, by Mike Patton, was impeccable and did a great jobcapturing the tone of the film.
The story of the film is really well told and does a great job dealingwith multiple genres. This film will appeal to anyone who wants towatch captivating performances, intense drama, and a great story! Ihighly recommend it!
Derek Cianfrance well known for his riveting film Blue Valentine (2010)is back at it again giving us a breathtaking look at the lastingconsequences of the decisions we make. The Place Beyond The Pines is anenthralling crime thriller that stretches over generations - abeautifully crafted familial drama.
ReplyDeleteQuite possibly the most ambitious film of the year The Place Beyond ThePines is about Luke (Gosling), a stunt motorcycle rider performing at alow-grade carnival. While the tattooed Gosling's carnival goes throughNew York he runs into an old fling, Romina (Eva Mendes) and is shockedto discover in his absence she gave birth to his child. Luke growing upwithout a father feels obligated to provide for his son Jason so hedecides to move nearby and it doesn't take long before Luke needs moremoney and resorts to robbing a bank with his crooked boss (BenMendelsohn). As you can imagine things don't exactly go to plan onceAvery (Bradley Cooper), a young and upcoming police officer, isassigned to the case. To much surprise of the audience, shortly afterbeing introduced to Avery Cianfrance switches its narrative focus tohim and his family; a very risky move however the execution of thetechnique is flawless. The story - now centered on Avery – follows himtrying to expose corruption within the department and making a name forhimself. With his strong desire to essentially become his father Averybecomes detached from his wife and son. The final act of the film takesplace 15 years later and focuses on two high school students Jason(Dane DeHaan) and AJ (Emory Cohen) – Luke and Avery's kids.
Unfortunately the narrative switch isn't as charming as the first oneand the film loses energy it spent so long building. It's not a moviebreaking issue because it is just such a pleasure to watch DeHaan(Lawless, Chronicle) on screen. Last year he became my favorite youngactor and clearly he's not slowing down. Gosling once again amysterious, talented young man who resorts to robbing people for money(Does Drive ring a bell?) does as well as usual in his performance butnothing out of the ordinary for him. He'll play this same characteruntil people get sick of it. Cooper is the shining star of the filmthough. There is no person that is going to leave this film notwondering where this actor was hiding for his early career. The PlaceBeyond The Pines is a real game changer for him. The rest of thesupporting cast stand their ground making the film extremely enjoyable.
Derek's ability to bring such realism to his characters is seamlesslymet with a more mature visual style this time around making The PlaceBeyond The Pines his finest achievement yet. The films stunningcinematography was brought to us by Sean Bobbitt (Shame), his work isjust fascinating to watch; every shot handled with such precision. Thefilm is brilliant, breathtaking and above all innovative. With thisintensely layered drama of fathers and sons Cianfrance has secured aposition as one of the best. This really is storytelling at its finest.
8.5/10
Be sure to check out my website for more reviews: thejoshlreviews.com
Ryan Gosling and Derek Cianfrance join forces once again since 2010'sBlue Valentine in this multi-generational crime saga.
ReplyDeleteChanneling another mysterious character like the one he played inDrive, Gosling is Luke, a motorcycle stunt driver who works at atraveling carnival touring from town to town. After reuniting with hissometimes lover Romina (Eva Mendes), he discovers that he has fathereda son. Determined to meet the responsibilities of being a father butunable to support a family, Luke decides to rob banks. A skilledmotorcyclist, his ploy appears to run successfully. But on a heist gonewrong, he becomes the target of a rookie cop named Avery (BradleyCooper). And as a result, the confrontation determines his fate.
Without wanting to reveal too much, Gosling's perfectly reckless andunsympathetic character only appears in the first part of the film. Buthanding off the rest of the story to Cooper, the film is not any lesscaptivating. As guilt continues to build up from the events of hispast, Cooper delivers one of his best performances to date as a copsplit between his ambitions and the need to serve justice.
Even the supporting characters such as Ben Medelsohn's good-naturedaccomplice and Ray Liotta's dirty cop offer admirable performances.However, the real star in the making is Dane DeHaan, who brilliantlyplays Jason, the vengeful teenage son of Gosling's character.
Split into three parts, The Place Beyond the Pines is a crime thrillerabout legacy. As the story goes from generation to generation, it takessurprising turns even though it feels slow at times.
But despite its lengthy two hours and 20 minutes, the film is good forcharacter study. Taking an interesting look at themes such as guilt,revenge and justice, the performances coupled with Cianfrance's uniqueapproach to directing is worth a watch.
You might call Derek Cianfrance's tremendous new movie "A Place Beyondthe Pines" a blue-collar epic or a tragedy in three acts; it'scertainly a drama in three acts. It runs for two hours and twentyminutes and it covers a period of about 17 years and there are reallyonly about four major characters. To talk at all about the filmsstoryline would be to spoil what is really an extraordinary narrativewhere even the coincidences of the third act seem to me to haveresonance of great drama and it is magnificently played by its fourprincipal actors.
ReplyDeleteRyan Gosling, continuing to cement his reputation as the finest youngactor of his generation, is Luke, an outlaw anti-hero worthy to standbeside any played by Dean or Newman. Bradley Cooper, so much more nowthat the light comedian of The Hangover movies, is Avery, theidealistic young rookie cop who finds the consequences of a single actof violence leads him down paths he previously may only have dreamed ofand relative newcomers Dane DeHaan and Emory Cohen are sons indesperate need of a father's love and guidance.
This is bold and innovative film-making from Cianfrance with a strongemphasis on plot development. It plays out like a great page-turner ofa novel but is in fact an original screenplay. After "Blue Valentine"this marks Cianfrance out as a major big league player.
Derek Cianfrance's The Place Beyond The Pines is a visual odyssey, ifnothing else. It is also an intense character study of three people.And it's a good film.
ReplyDeleteThe story is of Luke, a motorcycle stuntman, who quits his job after hefinds out that Romina, played by Eva Mendes, his ex-girlfriend waspregnant and had his child. The trouble is, she married another man.Luke is torn between his new found love for his son, and his inabilityto hold a steady job. So, to take care of his 'family' Luke begins torob banks, along with his friend, excellently portrayed by BenMendelsohn. Of course, this puts him on a collision course with BradleyCooper's idealistic cop.
Not wishing to ruin the plot, I won't say anymore. When I first heardthe plot, I was immediately struck by the similarities to anotherexcellent Ryan Gosling movie, Drive. In that film, Gosling plays astunt driver, who takes on a job to help his neighbor. However similarthe plot may be, the two films are complete opposites. The Place BeyondThe Pines is a character driven study of morality and legacy, whileDrive is closer to the genre of an action film. However, the two filmsdo have one more thing in common, they both showcase excellent RyanGosling performances.
In this film, Gosling's would be father, doing what he thinks is best,is at times aggravating and intensely emotional. It's a greatperformance, and a tricky one to master. But Gosling gets it, and turnsin one of his best performances. That's not to say the otherperformances aren't spectacular as well. Eva Mendes turns in some ofher best work in years, playing a woman torn between her desire to bewith Gosling, and to have a normal family life with her husband.Bradley Cooper turns in his best work yet, playing a cop torn betweenhis want for justice and his powerful ambition. As mentioned above, BenMendelsohn turns in some great work as does Ray Liotta. Mention must goto newcomer Dane Dehaan, performing in some of the film's mostgut-wrenching moments.
Then of course there is the director. Derek Cianfrance's style iscompletely unique, and incredibly effective. He is one director to keepan eye on. The cinematography is excellent, especially during theopening shot, when the camera follows Gosling from his trailer, acrossa fairground, onto a motorcycle and into a giant ball where Goslingrides around.
That's not to say the film doesn't have it's bad points. The version Isaw sagged in the end, even though it was necessary to the ending, Istill feel they could have trimmed it down. I felt myself and a coupleother audience members getting a little restless near the end.
Despite the overlong ending, the film itself was still a greatexperience. A quiet moving character drama, expansive in it's scope yetintensely personal at its core. At a Q and A at the end of the film,Cianfrance admitted that what he really felt the film was about, waslegacy, and passing the torch from generation to generation. And Ithink he is right.