The Place Beyond The Pines

The Place Beyond the Pines finds Ryan Gosling re-teaming with his Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance for a striking drama about fathers and sons. Gosling plays Handsome Luke (yes, he's even dubbed a heartthrob by the announcer at the carnival for which he does motorcycle stunts), a guy from the wrong side of the tracks who finds out he has a baby with an old fling, Romina (Eva Mendes). Luke's discovery and subsequent foray into robbing banks in a misguided attempt to provide for his family would be enough fodder for a whole movie, but The Place Beyond the Pines takes a sharp turn with the entrance of Avery (Bradley Cooper), a well-to-do cop who has a run-in with Luke while on call. Almost immediately, the film becomes Avery's story until the final third when it picks up 15 years later. It's an unorthodox format, but the risk pays off.

The way the film is laid out is one of its most unexpected and potentially polarising elements, as viewers expecting to see Cooper and Gosling share a lot of screen time will be disappointed. Though technically it could be described as a crime thriller, it's really a story about a robber, then a story about a cop, then a story about their kids. Once you get past how jarring the format can be, The Place Beyond the Pines is pretty remarkable. To find out what else I think of the movie, just read more.

In Drive, Ryan Gosling plays a stunt-car driver who abets criminal activity. In The Place Beyond the Pines, Gosling is a stunt motorcyclist who participates in criminal activity — only this time, he's the one robbing the banks. When his character, Luke, finds out that he has a son by an ex (Eva Mendes), he sets out to provide for the little one by any means necessary. Unfortunately for him, a local cop (Bradley Cooper) is set to take him down.

The Place Beyond the Pines earned excellent buzz at the Toronto Film Festival, and I can't wait to see Cooper and Gosling together on the big screen, especially since we haven't seen Gosling in a movie in over a year. As an added bonus, the film is a reunion for Gosling and his Blue Valentinedirector, Derek Cianfrance. It's out in Australia on May 9. Get your first look when you keep reading.

Rose Byrne rocked up to The Late Show with David Letterman earlier this week to catch up with the host and talk about her role on The Place Beyond the Pines. Looking gorgeous in a green leopard print dress, the actress told Dave that the movie was shooting in Schenectady, New York, and then challenged him to spell out the letters of the city. Dave turned their interview into a mini spelling bee and asked Rose to spell Indianapolis — something the Aussie struggled with, just a bit! She also mentioned that excited female fans come to the set of the movie to try and get a glimpse of her hot co-stars Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper.