The Place Beyond the Pines

Here’s one thing about me most people don’t understand:

I love to go to the movies by myself. 

Actually, I kind of prefer it. For some reason, people are trained to believe that only lonely people go to the movies by themselves. But that is not the case. I love seeing a movie solo because I can see whatever I want and don’t have to worry if my friends will like it or think its too long. I also get to focus 100% on the movie and don’t have to feel awkward about the fact that that we are probably not talking. Now, I’m not saying going to the movies with friends is bad, because let’s face it, sometimes you need someone else there to share the experience and provide commentary with, especially if there are many WTF’s to be had (looking at you, Spring Breakers). But, If you’ve never been to the movies alone, I suggest you try it. 

Over the weekend I headed out to the movies and saw The Place Beyond the Pines, directed by Derek Cianfrance and starring Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, and Eva Mendes. I’ve been reading a lot of mixed reviews on it, but I personally thought it was pretty amazing. If you can sit still for 140 minutes then I definitely suggest you see it. The plot is simple: 

Girl gets knocked up by sexy bad boy → Sexy bad boy finds out about kid/panics → Sexy bad boy plans to win over Girl and take care of his kid by robbing banks → cops catch up to him → does not go as planned

The movie explores the lives of two central characters: Goslings aforementioned sexy bad boy and the corrupt cop who catches him, played by Cooper. But what I found interesting is that at its core it is a movie about fathers and sons. Both of the men have sons they are trying to provide for and their brief interaction with each other affects their sons lives in monumental ways. The movie time jumps fifteen years to the present day, where we meet these two sons and get to witness these effects for ourselves. 

My favorite performance in this movie was from Dane Dehaan as the teenage version of Gosling’s son. I first saw Dehaan in last year’s Chronicle, which I also loved. When you watch him you just know that he’s going to be big. In Place he really captured the confusion and anger his character was going through. 

Future sexy bad boy

So, if you're looking for a thrilling and heartfelt crime drama, I'd definitely give Place a try.