The Place Beyond the Pines

The Place Beyond the Pines has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video and Stan, and in the UK on STUDIOCANAL PRESENTS Apple TV Channel and Studiocanal Presents Amazon Channel. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 5,240 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Ryan Gosling's performance alone is worth the time investment. Available now on Amazon Prime Video — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Place Beyond the Pines is worth clearing space for. The Place Beyond the Pines treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. A motorcycle stunt rider considers committing a crime in order to provide for his wife and child, an act that puts him on a collision course with a cop-turned-politician. Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper lead a cast that never lets the mystery feel thin. It hit screens in 2013. What makes The Place Beyond the Pines hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, The Place Beyond the Pines delivers. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Ryan Gosling carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.