Quite possibly the worst thing that could have happened to Ryan Gosling is his labeling as a heartthrob for the American nation. I say this because Gosling is probably one of the most underrated actors in American cinema as of late.

One of the best examples of his worthy recognition, or lack thereof, is his role in the film “The Place Beyond the Pines.”

The film follows the unfortunately short-lived life of Luke (Gosling) and his struggles with life, love and money. Luke’s counterpoint in the film is Bradley Cooper’s part as Avery, the generally straight laced cop who is the cause of his eventual demise.

Gosling’s performance as a man with a dark past truly reveals his depth as an actor. Cooper, while lately more recognized than Gosling, also shows glimmers of his incredible talent.

“The Place Beyond the Pines” gives a real world example of how two paths can cross to cause such impeccable chaos, completely destroying the lives of two good men.

Under the direction of Derek Cianfrance, this movie is sure to excite and engage the audience on a ride of morbid irony.
IMDb rating: 7.4/10

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 80%