This movie was probably the most intriguing movie I have seen this year, although at first I didn't like it. The reason for this wasn't the movie itself, but my expectations. Without spoiling anything I can tell that the advertising of the movie was giving the wrong impression about what the movie truely is and therefore deceptive.
While the advertising left me under the impression that this movie was an average but good crime thriller it is in reality so much more that makes bold artistic decisions.
Ryan Gosling proves, why he is one of the top actors of his generation. His protrayal of "Luke" in this movie manages to gain sympathies for a character the otherwise would be considered a villain or simply just annoying. Yet the viewer manages to see Luke's softer and kind side as he tries to do the right thing, despite choosing the wrong path. We get an idea of the man he could have become had his life started differently and this is what makes him likable.
On the other side we have Bradley Cooper as "Avery", who with this movie shows that his great performance in "Silver Linings Playbook" was by no means a one-off thing. Actually I think he is even better in "A Place beyond the Pine", as he manages to develop his character with very little screen time and Avery's transformation feels genuine and this makes it all more shocking to the viewer.
The only down side is occasionally the writing. The story overall is great but sometimes the characters' decisions are not logical or at least incomprehensible. These are however minor issues that can be forgiven.
Sometimes the pace is a little slow but this is neccessary for the unique atmosphere of the movie. There are a lot of scenes without dialogue and the situations we observe the characters in are so personal, that one feels ocasionallly like a voyeur instead of a viewer.
If you look for a fast paced action thriller, this is not the movie you should watch. On the other hand if you want to see a movie full of fresh ideas and with a unique atmosphere you won't be disappointed watching "A Place beyond the Pines". The movie isn't perfect but it deserves a special credit for the risks it takes and its new ideas, especially in a time when the market is flodded with dozens of pointless remakes.
Points 8/10
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