PAGE 6
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2013
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
excess HOLLYWOOD review
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ryan Gosling stars as tattooed motorcycle heartthrob and bank robber Luke Glanton in "The Place Beyond the Pines." Photo courtesy Focus Features.
Gosling shines in 'The Place Beyond the Pines'
The problem with "The Place Beyond the Pines" is that its grand scope and narrative structure aren't more interesting or effective than the simple crime thriller it starts as. It's an admirable effort to be sure, providing a unique kind of storytelling rarely seen in cinema. But the direction the film takes in the middle and the end lacks the same level of compelling excitement found in the beginning.
The trailer leads you to believe it's a more straightforward tale of a sympathetic, motorcycling bank robber and the cop who's chasing him – the criminal trying to become a father, and the policeman facing corruption. Frankly, that would've been a terrific film.
Instead, director and co-writer Derek Cianfrance creates a more complex tale with something bigger to say, even though the momentum and character investment take on a more stunted dynamic and the result proves a far more divisive experience. He deserves big props though for having the gall to go for such an ambitious and bold project, despite it not being as thoroughly entertaining.
What Cianfrance has crafted is a distinct three-act epic of crime, corruption and familial repercussion, where each act centers on a different character but they all tie together. That's a hard feat to pull off, one which some will find refreshing, and others, namely those expecting "Drive" on a motorcycle, will likely feel unpleasantly surprised if they aren't aware of what they're actually getting into. So stop reading here if you don't want to know how the story is split up.
The opening shot is the first in a number of impressive, extended single take tracking shots, this one following Luke Glanton (Ryan Gosling in his most badass role
yet) as he walks through a carnival into a tent with a spherical death cage in it. He and two others hop on motorcycles then zoom around and upside down this cage simultaneously at insane speeds, letting viewers know they're in for a hell of a trip.
Luke learns that a previous fling with a waitress (a very vulnerable Eva Mendes) has made him a father, and before long, he's left the circus, teamed up with a dirty mechanic (awesome Aussie actor Ben Mendelsohn) and starts robing banks on his bike to provide for his baby son. This 50-minute section of "Pines" is some of the best filmmaking of the year, featuring breathlessly tense motorcycle and heist sequences, incredible camera work, gripping emotion and wonderfully intricate detail.
Gosling conducts a live wire of deep poignancy and violent frustration, bringing resonant life to a character whose criminal capabilities and stamach sense of fatherly responsibility make him a relatable, flawed and ultra-cool hero. The myriad of marvelously designed tattoos he has and strange outfits he wears only char acterize him more memorably.
And then, in a perfect transition, the plot switches directions to rookie cop Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper carrying layered dramatic heft) as he crosses paths with Luke. Avery must deal with the consequences of his actions, while also trying to resolve the dirty deeds and corruption in the police department.
It's among Cooper's best work, and his scenes with Ray Liotta as an immoral officer crackle with suspense, slowly boiling to the surface. This middle section certainly captivates viewers, expressively continuing and building the story from before, but the jump in narrative is a shock, and this one never reaches the same exhilarating tone and pace set by the first part. Similarly, the emotion here is potent, but doesn't carry as much weight.
The final act suffers from this problem even more. I just say it takes place 15 years later and involves Avery's son (Emory Cohen) and Luke's son (Dane DeLifan, who was excellent in "Chronicle" and totally believable as the spawn of Gosling here) on a trajectory path laid out by their fathers.
This generational story approach connects the main themes in a fulfilling, astute way, but it feels like the stakes are lower and the plot less imperative by this point. It's still engrossing and superbly performed, but not as strong as either third of the movie before it.
As far as production values,
"The Place Beyond the Pines"
looks and sounds excellent from start to finish, and showcases fantastic performances all around. The soundtrack is especially chilling, as Mike Patton's echoing score draws viewers into the landscape with stirring power. All those aspects are fine; the plot is the issue. As a whole it succeeds, but the enthralling first third overshadows the rest. However, it's more than worth the ride for that alone.
Edited by Alyssa Scottt
FILM
Tribeca Film Festival looks to appeal to diverse crowd
MCCLATCHY TRIBUNE
It happens every spring. The Tribeca Film Festival opens its 12th edition Wednesday night with, as usual, something for everyone. Films for geeks. Films for freaks. Films for kids. Films that might not even be films. Robots. Cat videos. Jerry Lewis.
Founded in 2002, the festival has never devoted itself to strictly indie films, or to being totally Cannes on-the-Hudson. So the menu this year reflects the usual smorgasbord — and a much-anticipated closing-night presentation of the restored "The King of Comedy," starring Lewis, and Tribeca's co-founder Robert De Niro.
"The King of Comedy" has risen in stature among Martin Scorsese's films, but was close to appalling back in 1983 — De Niro's Rupert Pupkin wasn't just psychotic, he was a terrible comedian. But its dynamics may have changed. Because comedy has changed, and not necessarily for the better.
"Never mind comedy," said comedian Sandra Bernhard, who played Rupier's mad-as-a-hatter accomplice, Masha. "The culture is a complete disaster, and 'King of Comedy' is like frozing on a cake. It was shocking when we made it, because it had the impact of great acting and a great script, but not only did it all come to pass, it did so in a less sophisticated and wonderful way than we
predicted."
She doubts the film will be shocking — or scary — but says its impact has been widespread. "Almost every young comedian I meet, and all the generations in between, are like: 'Oh my god, 'King of Comedy,' my favorite movie,' and for good reason. It hit every chord."
Of local interest is "Big Shot," a documentary directed by Kevin Connolly ("Entrourage") about John Spano, the onetime owner of the islanders who was exposed as a fraud and spent several years in prison.
"Big Shot" is the festival's opening gala film Friday night, and was a natural project for a hard-core Islanders fan. "Being from Long Island, it was very important to me to highlight the importance of this organization to Long Island," Connolly said. "Without any disrespect to any other organization, he didn't do this to some Mickey Mouse franchise. This was a big deal. The Islanders did things that won't be done again."
What he didn't want to do was demonize Spano.
"My favorite show is 'Dateline', Connolly said. "Having said that, I didn't want to make a 'Dateline' episode on John Spano. Not to say that it was a victimless crime. But in the post-Madoff world, John seems not as terrible." Either way, it's a great story.
"What we do is try to appeal to very different audiences with
And Tribeca knows it.
great stories, and a lot of great stories are sports stories," said Genna Terranova, director of programming. She and a team culled 89 feature-length movies from 6,000 submissions, among them some of the season's hotter domestic titles.
In addition to what have become festival traditions — the Tribeca Drive-In (April 18-20), the family Festival Street Fair (April 27), Tribeca/ ESPN Sports Day (April 27) and Family Screenings ( April 21 and 27) — 30 countries and some of their more innovative filmmakers are represented this year.
If there's a dominant theme at this festival, it may well be the biopic, Gore Vidal, Elaine Stritch, Wilt Chamberlain, Muhammad Ali, Richard Pryor and director Michael Haneke are all subjects of full-scale portraiture. So are some relative unknowns, including the subject of "The Genius of Marian," a remarkably innovative use of nonfiction to depict a woman suffering from Alzheimer's.
Others to look forward to? "At Any Price," from director Ramin Bahrani, with Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron, a whole "Midnight" section of horror excess, and those robots we mentioned who, as part of Tribeca's transmedia effort ("Story scapes"), will be interviewing people, and making their own film. No word yet on whether they're planning their own festival.
CELEBRITIES
--my family. However, I am happy to say that I am now 44 days sober."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne arrive at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's sixth annual benefit "An Enduring Vision" at The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, in New York on Sept. 25, 2007. Ozzy Osbourne has denied rumors he has split from wife Sharon, and has apologized to his family for his return to alcohol and drugs.
Ozzy Osbourne denies divorce rumors, confirms sobriety
LOS ANGELES — Ozzy Osbourne has denied those split rumors, but he appears to have taken a ride on the crazy train once again – at least for a little while.
"For the last year and a half I have been drinking and taking drugs," he wrote. "I was in a very dark place and was (a jerk) to the people I love most,
The rocker took to Facebook on Monday night with his side of the story.
Ozzy, 64, infamously used drugs heavily for decades but got sober in his early 50s.
"Just to set the record straight. Sharon and I are not divorcing. I'm just trying to be a better person," he continued.
"I would like to apologize to Sharon, my family, my friends and my bandmates for my insane behavior during this period..." and my fans."
Sharon, who's reportedly been living separately from Ozzy, hit Cabo San Lucas over the weekend for a getaway.
TMZ reported. One source told the site the couple has taken a break like this in the past but still stayed together.
And after son Jack Osborne tweeted bull on all the rumors over the weekend, daughter Kelly Osborne appeared to be telling the world to get out of her family's face with a Twitter post on Tuesday quoting Benjamin Franklin.
"He that blows the coals in quarrels that he has nothing to do with, has no right to complain if the sparks fly in his face."
Associated Press