When a director makes a highly regarded film there is a lot of expectations for their follow up film. I think there is even more added pressure when the lead actor from that previous film is in the new one. For me 'The Place Beyond The Pines' did not live up to the expectations. Derek and his writers have done a very clever thing by telling this story in three different but connected segments. While each segment is excellent I did not think they worked together as a whole. Each segment, although connected by the characters, felt like I was watching three different films. I would have liked to see each of those segments expanded in to feature length and explored more as opposed to being done as shorts. I really liked these characters and would have liked to spend more time with them exploring their lives and getting to know them better. Derek and his writers have created some excellent characters here and that is the best thing about the film. It is a shame that their story is not told in the best way.
I do not think that Ryan Gosling can give a bad performance. Once again he gives a fairly minimalist performance which works effectively for his character. Bradley Cooper gives further proof that he can be a serious actor. His character goes through many permeations in the film, largely due to the different segments, and he does a great job in each. Eva Mendes proves once again that she is more than just a pretty face. A really heartfelt performance. Aussie Ben Mendelsohn is making a career for himself as bad guys in film and specifically really grubby looking guys. But he is so awesome at it.
I know logistically and financially that it would not have worked but I think this film would have worked better as a trilogy of three different films as opposed to cramming it all into one film.
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