The Place Beyond the Pines and Trance Reviews

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The Place Beyond the Pines

After Chris Stuckmann gave his glowing review of this film back in September when it premiered at Toronto International Film Festival, I waited seven whole months before it was finally released and became shown nationwide, and with all the wait, I can safely say that the film exceeded all expectations.

The story is told in a very interesting fashion that really reminded me of the novel Cloud Atlas in how it was spread out, and it really helped me understand the motivations for these characters let us see where the actions of these characters lead them throughout the story. And it's told in a very realistic fashion that doesn't seem to have a speck of Hollywood formula tainting it. All the action, heartbreak, and anger feels genuine and real, and so do the emotions it elicits from its audience. And when we finally see the end of the road and where the story ends, you will be very pleased to see how it really ends up.

The acting is fantastic. Ryan Gosling gives a performance that would rival that of his previous good/bad boy outing as the Driver in Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive. Many people complained about him not displaying enough emotion in Drive, but they shouldn't be complaining here. His wide range of traits shift from cynical, caring, and violent are, again, very realistic for his character and they only make the story he's a part of even better. Same can be said for Bradley Cooper, playing a noble and righteous rookie cop, who, like Gosling, has a son to look after and protect. Some of his final scenes are the best because after spending over an hour and a half with him, we really get caught up in his hopes, dreams, and struggles and it only makes our connection to him stronger.

While not as visually impressive as the below movie, the film displays its own brand of visual genius. While there were certain elements to the lighting that I found a little similar to Drive, The Place Beyond the Pines, for the most part, has its own visual style, being very dark and soft most of the time as opposed to the lighter cinematography in Drive. As well, the action sequences involving Ryan as he attempts to escape cops on his bike for bank robbery are very tense due to the higher frame rate and shakier camera, again, adding a sense of realism as we see the chase almost through the eyes of Ryan and the police he's being chased by. It's not as colorful and contrasty, but for the story it tells, the visuals could not be better.

It almost pains me to see films this good released this early on in the year, because we all know that the chances that these films will even be nominated for Oscar gold will dwindle with each film that's released closer to the end of the year. Whether the film becomes nominated or not is a moot point. The Place Beyond the Pines is a gripping, emotional roller coaster with fantastic characters, a well-woven story, good themes, as well as some of the best performances we might see all year that would be a sin to miss.

Final Verdict:

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Trance

I began taking a cinematography class this semester because I need it for my MPTV degree at my college. Since the beginning of the semester, my knowledge and appreciation for the art of cinematography as increased significantly. After first seeing the trailer for this movie, I was stoked to go see it because of the stunning and beautiful visual style (which this movie carries in spades). But I’m not here to talk about the cinematography (not entirely, that is), so let’s get to it.

Knowing Danny Boyle, who made such films as Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, the Academy Award winning Slumdog Millionaire, and 127 Hours, I went in knowing that I’d get a very visceral and colorful film, and in that regard, I was not disappointed. The lighting and camerawork in this film is beyond impressive, and I can only hope that despite its earlier release this year, it will have a chance at Oscar gold again. Anthony Dodd Mantle, the film’s Director of Photography really puts you into a very dreamlike world and makes every color and shadow look stunning enough to make the world seem surreal, but very pretty to look at. For that, at the very least, you should rent this film in Blu-Ray to capture the brilliance of the film.

The acting is also very good. Danny Boyle seems to have a gift with being able to work with any actor or actress and make them work at their very best. This is been shown for Ewan McGregor for Trainspotting, Cillian Murphy for 28 Days Later, and James Franco for 127 Hours, just to name a few. James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel, and Rosario Dawson, are dynamite in their roles, especially the latter. She really delves into a role with such complexity, being that everything in one way or another in this film becomes connected to her, and in a film about delving into the psyche of a person and examining their mind amongst a tense heist, there’s a lot for her to work with, and she pulls it off with such moving grace.

Despite all the praise, I am handing this film, there is one element to the film where it lacks, and it is certainly huge: the writing. The film takes a very cool premise and sets up this intricate story of discovery and seduction, only for the pieces at the end to not fit very well and leaves you with questions unanswered, which I have said in my Stoker review is a big no-no. Considering that there was a TV movie of the same name and a similar plot that was written and directed by the writer for this film is quite strange, because unless the TV movie leaves you in the dark as the theatrical film, he must have had some trouble translating it to the silver screen.

However, the visuals and acting along with the impressive build-up in the first two thirds of the film carry enough of the film on its own, even if the ending is a convoluted and coincidental jumble. As long as you can forgive it, this film will be one hell of a visual treat that will at least please your eyes.

Final Verdict: