Sunday Review: The Place beyond the Pines

Where is that?

By Morris Dean

The phrase "the place beyond the pines" is the translation of the Iroquois term for Schenectady, NY, the locale for the 2012 movie The Place beyond the Pines (directed by Derek Cianfrance). The theme of the movie is compelling, and important: sons generally need to connect with their fathers. The movie tells the story of such a son in a poignant, memorable way...
    ...but a way that a couple of times jars viewers and forces them to regain their footing. In retrospect, though, that isn't a bad thing, for the movie's approach alerts us to the possibility that our movie-watching expectations may have slid into a rut. I think maybe mine had, and now I'm feeling liberated.

The major disruption of expectation in the film occurs about half-way through. A major character is done away with and someone else, with entirely different problems, comes to occupy the spotlight. For about the next 40% of the film we are shown how he reacts to those problems, and we are pleased. But where is this headed? And then there's the brief headline: "[some years] later." Oh boy, what is it now?

    But what it is is good...if just not according to our usual expectations. I say "our" meaning to include you too, for I think you'll be glad to have watched The Place beyond the Pines, especially if you like the work of Ryan Gosling and/or Bradley Cooper. Fine actors both, and working for a director—he also directed Gosling in 2010's Blue Valentine—not only skilled in the usual cinematic craft but also willing to hazard tripping up your expectations.
    Our expectations.
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Copyright © 2013 by Morris Dean

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