Yes, Ryan Gosling stars in "The Place Beyond the Pines." And yes, he drives fast, looks good and does illegal things. But this is no "Drive" sequel. It’s something much heavier—all East Coast working–class grit, no L.A. music–video polish.
Despite its having been marketed as a small–time crime drama, the film is actually a sprawling, slow–burning essay on fatherhood. The bank robberies and high–speed getaways take backseat to truly beautiful, surprisingly chaste interactions between Gosling and his female counterpart, Eva Mendes. At over two hours, "The Place Beyond the Pines" is a bit of a long, slow haul, but one that ultimately pays off.
Our Grade: A
Rating and Runtime: R, 140 min.
Metacritic: 66%
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