A Place Beyond the Pines

In A Place Beyond the Pines, Ryan Gosling plays a stunt motorcycle rider who finds out he has a one–year–old son and tries to re–insert himself into the life of a former fling. He takes to robbing banks and his path ultimately crosses with a young policeman (Bradley Cooper), who also has a one–year–old. Their stories, and the stories of their sons, make up the simple plot, and not-so-simple character studies of these four people.

ClearPlay In Action!

A Place Beyond the Pines is a hard–hitting look at some tough lives. The ClearPlayed version edits about 200 instances of language, 3/4ths of them the F–word. Also cut are some bloody images, the aftermaths of beatings or shootings. Because of the nature of the intersecting plots, including drug use and moral ambiguity, the best audience would be a mature one, late teens and older.

Is there a place on my DVD shelf for A Place Beyond the Pines?…

The way A Place Beyond the Pines is shot may be off–putting to some viewers. Its shaky camera and multiple closeups give an improvisational feel to the scenes, and make the acting feel real. Gosling and Cooper show why they’re two of the best young actors in the business, and though A Place Beyond the Pines isn’t a walk in the park, it might become a favorite if you can see the forest from the trees.

Marty Nabhan — ClearPlay Arbolist

Rated R for language throughout, some violence, teen drug and alcohol use, and a sexual reference; 140 min; Directed by Derek Cianfrance