'THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES'

'THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES' (R) (4 STARS)(Highest Rating)

Written by Ben Coccio and Derek Cianfrance
Directed by Derek Cianfrance
Actors: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes Ray Liotta, Bruce Greenwood, Harris Yulin, Rose Byrne, Ben Mendolhson, Emory Cohen, Dane DaHaan.

There is a moment in "The Place Beyond The Pines" where everything all came together for me and I realized I was watching a near masterpiece in story telling. The best movies sneak up on you and before you know it, by the final frame you are wrapped up in it's power and beauty. "The Place Beyond the Pines" is a haunting, beautiful and sometimes powerful movie that is a near masterpiece. It is layered, brilliantly written, powerfully acted by it's stars and all the supporting actors. It is one of the strongest and best films that has ever dealt with fractured families or about decisions we make in life and their consequences. Director Derek Cianfrance has made another movie that will stay with me for hours, days and weeks.

"Pines" unfolds like a great novel and the funny thing is that this is an original screenplay and I had to keep remembering it wasn't based on a novel. The first half of the movie centers on one main character, Luke, played by Ryan Gosling. I don't want to spoil the wonderful story of this movie so I have to be careful and sneaky. Luke is a criminal who comes back to reunite with the ex girlfriend and mother of his baby played by Eva Mendes in the best performance of her career. The second half of the movie deals with a police officer, Avery, played by the emerging powerhouse actor Bradley Cooper. These two characters will meet half way through this movie and that is all I will say. If you have seen the trailers and think you have this movie figured out, guess again.

I have read negative reviews of how the main characters are separated here but I think it is brilliant how this movie is layered and thought out. Luke and Avery will cross paths which will lead to the second part of our story focusing on the sons of Avery and Luke. I did not expect this second half to be successful because Gosling and Cooper will give way to the two young actors playing their sons but their acting is awesome and their characters so well written. This movie involved me for it's first hypnotic hour and then in the second half it grabbed a hold of me and moved me. Director Derek Cianfrance is now one of our finest writers and directors with the heartbreaking "Blue Valentine", also with Gosling, and now this powerful and beautiful movie. He might need a little more editing to be done in the first half but he does a brilliant job holding our attention and letting his movie unfold flawlessly.

Then there is the acting and I know Ryan Gosling gets a bad rap from some for being too moody and somehow stiff. His performance as Luke here is supposed to be sullen but Gosling is brilliant here. Yes sometimes Gosling can be brooding but so was Brando and Deniro so there you go. His performance here is heartbreakinbg especially teamed with Mendes who is his equal. Then there is Bradley Cooper who is even better here than he was in "Silver Linings Playbook". This is an actor that has arrived as a major talent and his performance here is also heartbreaking, subtle, beautifully controlled and majestic. For some reason, maybe with the blue eyes, I kept thinking of the greatness of Paul Newman. This is now one of our best actors and I beg the forgetful awards people to not forget this Oscar caliber performance, the best of the year so far.

There are so many supporting characters here that are so well written and we never forget them or lose track of them. The writing here is strong, exceptional and brilliant, the direction is careful and so beautifully planned out and the camera work is stellar. I love the mood, the look and the haunting beauty of this mesmerizing drama. When I was watching it I was taking it all in at first, then in the second half I was glued to the screen, there was a plethora of very powerful and suspenseful small scenes of brilliance. Then as I am writing this now I am feeling a wave of emotion. This is a story I will never forget and the acting is so good. My amazing and beautiful mentor, the late, great Roger Ebert said once that you know you are watching a great movie when you know you can't wait to see it again. Bravo Roger and so true and that sentiment is perfectly fitting for "The Place Beyond The Pines", the best movie of the year so far.