A Film In Three Parts...
This film finds itself divided into three separate stories, each leading into the next.We find ourselves starting with Ryan Gosling giving a standard brooding Ryan Gosling performance. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing new either. That is until we see him interact with the baby he's just found out is his. A beautiful scene ensues outside an ice cream parlour where Gosling displays real emotion with the baby and it works perfectly.
His normal broody persona eases briefly every time with the baby and it makes the audience fall in love with him. He is a man we shouldn't love though. He is a dead beat. A smoking, bike riding mess. His clothes are wrecked and he is covered in tattoos which are done poorly and made to emphasise a violent or criminal past which you learn about later on.
Gosling's character, Luke, soon realises that his mechanic job will not provide for his son or the woman he wants to win back. So, as all rational people do, he starts robbing banks. In fairness to him it wasn't his idea but that of his friend, Jack. Jack is a guy that saw Gosling riding a bike really well in a wood and offered him a job as a mechanic. Apparently this kind of shit happens in little town America?! Anyway there aren't many faults with this otherwise good film so I'm willing to let it slide.
Gosling carries on a good but not sensational performance throughout the first part of the film, robbing banks, becoming closer to his son and estranged partner, Romina (Eva Mendes), before assaulting the new love interest, Kofi.
The switch between Gosling's story and Bradley Cooper's is well filmed and scripted. The interaction between the two is minimal and lasts no longer than two minutes of screen time in a film over two hours long. The ending of the first part of the film is well done and somewhat emotional. Shot well, with good performances all round.
The film now sets of following Bradley Cooper's character, Avery. A fresh faced cop who confronted Gosling's character and got injured in the process. Having brought down a bank robber and been injured on duty, Avery is seen as somewhat of a hero. Cooper plays this well. Sincerity and modesty always being displayed well in his roles, much as we see in Limitless.
The film, in my opinion, takes a pointless journey now where Ray Liotta appears for a tiny cameo, briefly entering Avery's life and attempting to convert him to become a dirty cop. Without giving too much away Avery decides against this and uses his new found information of corruption within the force to ensure his promotion and rise to political office.
There are many scenes during this second part which I don't think are really necessary. The entire corruption story line is minimal and feels rushed. Ray Liotta is wasted, even though he performs to his intimidating best and Cooper seemingly just takes it all in his stride without every feeling pressurised or overly stressed. He seeks his father out for advice briefly but even then hardly appears fazed by it all.
Then, as only in film world it can, fifteen years goes by. Everyone is older but it appears Eva Mendes is the only one who's been aged! Her hair has been greyed as if to prove, look it has been fifteen years, we weren't lying!
This is the start of the final third now. A still incredibly young looking Cooper now has a 17 year old son and has apparently got a divorce. It is never explained why and at the funeral of his father his now ex-wife mentions that their son now wishes to live with Cooper. That's the last we see of the wife. Hardly an Oscar worthy role.
So now Avery with son, AJ in tow, carry on in their story. Avery is running for district attorney and AJ has had to join a new school due to his move. It just so happens that Gosling's baby, now also 17, goes to that same school!
AJ and Jason (Gosling's son) become friends of sorts. AJ using Jason to hook him up with drugs and bullying him. This results in both being arrested at one point where Avery realises who Jason is and tells AJ to stay away from him. Of course this instruction is ignored.
Jason begins to explore his past and learn about his father. He soon realises that Avery, his "friends" father is the man who killed his own dad. This is the main plot to the third part. Dane DeHaan (Jason) gives a great performance, showing real emotion and depressed brooding that Gosling would be proud of. He plays his role brilliantly and far outshines anyone else in this film. He is also an example of great casting, finding someone close enough to Gosling so that a father son relationship is believable, where as Cooper and Emorey Cohen (AJ) look nothing alike.
Emorey Cohen is AWFUL! His accent was fucking awful and his punches in a scene where he is supposedly hitting Jason whilst he is on the floor look pathetic. He let the rest of this film down. However he is young so perhaps will improve. Just hope his next role is silent...
The film takes a while to go anywhere and doesn't really give much to the audience. It shows how lives can interact and is very well scripted and shot beautifully. Every panoramic scene is stunning and the musical score fits perfectly.
My favourite thing about this film though is how the advert completely misleads you. At no point are you shown anything about parts two or three of this film. This makes the viewer think it is about a motorbike riding bank robber trying to provide for his estranged lover whilst Bradley Cooper hunts him down. Some people may hate this as they don't get what they expect, but I love it. Going to see one story and actually getting three very different tales is exactly why I love cinema.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1817273/?ref_=sr_1
The film is beautiful and the music is perfect. Using the trusted "... and Ray Liotta" on the advertising I think cheapens this film as he's hardly in it and does nothing to improve it.
If you see this film for only two reasons, see it for the beautiful imagery and DeHaan's performance.
7.5/10
Lots of love
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