The Place Beyond the Pines - 8 stars out of 10

The Place Beyond the Pines - 8 stars out of 10 

"The Place Beyond the Pines" went in every direction but the ones that I expected.  This three-fold story is one of intensity, injustice, and important connections between characters that alter their lives.  The film is truly three movies in one: 1. An intense series of bank robberies, 2. An unjust murder and the guilt//quid pro quo/emotional scars that result, 3. The baggage inherited by the children of these guilty parties and the connections that occur as their paths cross.  All of the acting is top notch and the compartmentalized writing allows us to experience the emotions of Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, and the two teenage boys.  Gosling achieves a sick amount of finesse as this despicable loose cannon, quite a contrast from his roles in "The Notebook" and "Fracture."  His character has the most depth and, even though the other stories create more interest, it is a result of the strong foundation that he sets for the rest of the film.  I love Cooper's segment as he tries to do the right thing while the pressures around him pull him in different directions, and everything is perfectly tied together by the unexpected chance meeting of their children.  This is just an all-around great film whose only disappointments are its excessive language and (in a good way) the intensely depressing subject matter that will surely leave a pit in your stomach, especially during the final few scenes.