The Place Beyond the Pines is a few things. It’s a three-part generational study of repeating the sins of the father. Or not. It’s a crime and corruption story. Mostly, it’s a psychological study of what director Derek Cianfrance does best, which is to create a nuanced, flawed character that wears a dual layer of good and evil all the time. There’s not a lot you can say about this movie without giving away the twists that are predictable, but interesting, nonetheless.
There’s a point about two-thirds of the way through, where you think, did someone edit this film? It’s as though Cianfrance had too much good material, and couldn’t figure out how to tell the story without including everything, which makes it two and a half hours long. I feel him. I can be long-winded myself.
The brilliant part in the end is the musical choice for the credits. Bon Iver crooning the words…”Harness your blame…”