The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) (click on the title for my full review)

The film looks like a cross between Drive (2011)(good) and Killing Them Softly (2012)(bad).  In Drive Ryan Gosling is a stunt driver turned driver for hire.  In The Place Beyond the Pines it appears like he is a stunt motorcycle driver turned bank robber.  It seems that Eva Mendes plays a very similar character in The Place Beyond the Pines that Carey Mulligan plays in Drive.

Overall the movie looks pretty dark in a similar way to that of Killing Them Softly.  Also, Ray Liotta and Ben Mendelsohn are in both of those movies.  Both actors played very scuzzy characters in Killing Them Softly and I think they have continued that trend in The Place Beyond the Pines.

The wildcard in The Place Beyond the Pines is going to be Bradley Cooper.  In recent years Cooper has proved that not only is he a supremely capable and extraordinary actor, but he has also chosen his movies very wisely.  Gosling is great and Liotta has that ability as well, but we have seen them in this type of movie before.  Cooper, I think, will be the deciding factor as to whether or not this movie is any good.

Other supporting cast includes: Olga Merediz, Mahershala Ali, Brian Smyj, Rose Byrne, Harris Yulin, and Bruce Greenwood.

On paper, a movie with this cast should be a slam dunk.  It does look good enough to see in the theatre, but I’m going to be a little skeptical.

The movie directed by Derek Cianfrance and it is set to release on 3/29/13.