The Place Beyond The Pines Review

Following the exceptional Blue Valentine, Derek Cianfrance is reteamed with leading man Ryan Gosling for The Place Beyond the Pines. The ambition in Cianfrance's sprawling 140 minute drama cannot be denied, despite waning slightly in its conclusion.

Pines sees a motorcycle rider (Gosling)  taking part in a series of bank robberies as a means of providing for his lover (Eva Mendes) and their child. The consequences of these robberies are further explored through the story of an ambitious rookie cop (Bradley Cooper), attempting to escape the corruption of his department.

Cianfrance and Ben Coccio's narrative is split into three clear sections - the first dealing with Gosling's character, the second with Cooper's and the third with their respective families. Given this structure, a  slightly disjointed feel  in the narrative is almost inevitable - most noticeably between the latter two segments.

The opening segment is by far the strongest - sticking with a simple premise, exploring how far someone would go in order to make amends and provide for their loved ones. This simple plot allows Cianfrance to focus on exploring some interesting character dynamics between Gosling and Mendes' characters. Gosling is exceptional as the well-intentioned motorcyclist attempting to do good (albeit in a completely wrong manner), proving exactly why he is one of this generation's much loved movie stars. The segment also features some truly electrifying, high-octane bank robbery sequences, shot with a clear sense of authenticity.

This is followed by the Cooper-lead segment, which also proves of some interest.  Here Cianfrance tackles a man caught between his morals and pressure by his corrupt peers, allowing Cooper to give a rich, emotionally-charged performance.  A menacing turn from the sensational Ray Liotta adds some further gravitas to this chapter. Here Cianfrance discusses similar themes to the previous segment, with Cooper's character feeling a sense of pressure to provide for his family and meet the expectations of his peers.

By the final segment, the runtime begins to feel slightly bloated and the subtle power of Cianfrance's screenplay loses its sharpness. This segment relies on far too many narrative coincidences, which hampers the previous authentic style of Pines and tries too hard to make connections with the prior stories.  Despite this dip in quality, the film remains beautifully shot with Sean Bobbit capturing the sheer spectacle of the Pined American exterior.

Pines is an ambitious watch, tackling simple yet powerful themes in an authentic and engaging style, despite being  slightly hampered by the overbearing final chapter. Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper are magnificent, both exploring the various limits one can be pushed to, and the consequences of these limits.

Andrew McArthur

★★★½☆

Stars: Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, Bradley Cooper, Rose Byrne , Ray Liotta
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Certificate: 15 (UK)
Release: 12th April 2013 (UK), 24th February 2013 (Glasgow Film Festival)

Holy Motors Blu-Ray Review

Holy Motors is the first full length film by Leos Carax since his previous film Pola X which came out all the way back in 1999! Holy Motors was the sensation of last year at Cannes and at it's initial screening it was widely tipped at the prime contender of the Palme d'Or. It eventually lost out to the most more predictable pick of let another Haneke film (who just has to show up at Cannes and his wins it) but it did win the “award of the youth” award at the festival.

Holy Motors in a nutshell about Mr. Oscar (played by always wonderful Denis Lavant) during the time frame of one day who is has appointments to do and he driven in a limo by Celine (played by Edith Scob). These appointments get increasingly more and more surreal and the first one has him dress up as an old lady and beg.  The film is part about cinema it's littered with references to such great French directors such as Franju and Cocteau but the other hand is certainly can be interrupted as a film about what it means to be performer.

Denis Lavant was Leos Carax's one and only choice was the main character he said “If Denis had said no, I would have offered the part to Lon Chaney or to Chaplin. Or to Peter Lorre or Michel Simon, all of whom are dead.” He is obviously perfect he is like a fucked up French Fred Astaire cause is known for dancing abilities from Leos' previous film The Night is Young and Beau Travail but he is also just a great actor. The film also has bit roles by Kylie Minogue and Eva Mendes, which just add to the surreal quality of the film especially Kylie's cameo especially since they played one of her songs in a scene earlier in the film.

The film is truly unique it's utterly bonkers and makes no logical sense but it's truly a masterpiece that should be seen over and over and interrupted in any which way you like.

Ian Schultz

★★★★★

Rating:18
DVD/BD Release Date: 28 January 2013 (UK)
Director: Leos Carax
Cast: Denis Lavant, Edith Scob, Jeanne Disson, Elise Lhomeau, Eva Mendes, Kylie Minogue
Buy Holy Motors:Blu-ray / DVD

The Weird and wonderful Holy Motors UK Home Release Coming January

A stellar cast including Leos Carax, Denis Lavant, Eva Mendes and Kylie Minogue, beautiful cinematography and extraordinary story combine to make the one and only Holy Motors. Having garnered Five Star reviews in The Guardian, Empire, The Telegraph, The Times, The Irish Times, Eye For Film and the New York Daily News, amongst others, during its hugely successful theatrical release, Holy Motors is the most dazzling, inventive and critically acclaimed film of the year comes to DVD and Blu-ray 28th January 2013.

Synopsis:Over the course of a single day, Monsieur Oscar travels by limousine around Paris to a series of nine “appointments,” transforming into a new character at each stop. Picked up in the morning by Céline, his trusty chauffeur, Oscar begins the day as a captain of industry before becoming a disabled, old gypsy woman begging for spare change on a bridge over the Seine.

Oscar’s seven proceeding incarnations call on what seem to be arbitrary locations throughout the day and night, including a video production facility, the Pere-Lachaide cemetery and a decaying Right Bank department store. With the aid of Céline and his dependable motor, Oscar encounters many bizarre situations and individuals, changing faces and never stopping once, until he fulfils his appointments.

A Palme d’Or nominee and winner of the Prix de la Jeunesse at Cannes Film Festival 2012, winner of the Gold Hugo for Best International Feature and Silver Hugos for Best Actor (Leo Carax) and Best Cinematography (Caroline Champetier and Yves Cape) at the Chicago International Film Festival and winner of the Best Director, Best Film and Critic’s Award at the Catalonian International Film Festival, Leos Carax’s “Holy Motors” is a heartfelt love letter to Cinema by one of today’s most visionary filmmakers.

Part horror movie, part noir-ish crime thriller; part romantic drama, part musical; part comedy, part sci-fi fantasy: it is a film that is almost as impossible to describe as it is to resist. All in all, it is essential viewing for everyone who enjoys the magic of the movies.



Pre-order: Holy Motors DVD / Blu-ray
Holy Motors will be yours to own on DVD, Blu-Ray from 28th January 2013.