The Place Beyond The Pines

Director: Derek Cianfrance
Rating: R for language throughout, some violence, teen drug and alcohol use, and a sexual reference
Runtime: 140 minutes

The daring new movie from director Derek Cianfrance is a sweeping emotional drama powerfully exploring the unbreakable bond between fathers and sons.

Ryan Gosling, who teamed brilliantly with Cianfrance in Blue Valentine, is spectacular as Luke, a motorcycle stunt driver. At a stop in Schenectady, New York, Luke reconnects with Romina (Eva Mendes), a one-night stand who he learns has given birth to their son, Jason. The fact of fatherhood floors Luke. He wants to put down roots, be responsible. But going straight as a mechanic can't compare with the illicit kick of robbing banks, with the help of a partner (a terrific Ben Mendelsohn), and getting away on his motorcycle.

Enter Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook) as Avery, a rookie cop who has a face-off with Luke that turns the wounded officer into a local hero. Avery also has father issues. He wants the best for wife Jennifer (Rose Byrne) and their infant son, AJ. But Avery lives in the shadow of his judge father (Harris Yulin) and his surrogate Big Daddy on the force, a corrupt detective played with Good Fellas intensity by Ray Liotta.

Then the film skips ahead 15 years to focus on the sons of these flawed fathers and grown AJ (Emory Cohen) and Jason (Dane DeHaan) - one spoiled, the other struggling - interconnect in ways you don't see coming.

"...riveting... gorgeously photographed, wisely crafted... fuses an insightful study of masculinity, ambition and fatherhood with a stylishly made crime thriller..." - Claudia Puig, USA Today