The Place Beyond The Pines

I just watched "The Place Beyond The Pines" yesterday and it hasn't made it's way out of my mind yet.  A very powerful and moving film for me that has left me thinking a lot about fathers and the legacy we leave to our children.

Without going into too much detail and spoiling the plot, there is a certain symmetry to the film regarding the examples of fathers and the legacy they leave.
This symmetry has had me pondering: are we are destined to repeat the mistakes and choices of our fathers or are we truly free to choose our own destiny?

The film tells the story of two fathers trying their best to find love in their relationships with their sons.  One man's heart is in the right place, but lives in a manner that pushes him further and further away.  The other's life is basically the opposite.

Death, crime, and mistakes lead to a viscious cycle that leads two men to repeat the sins of their fathers.

The performances, writing, and directing are amazing.  There are two motorcycle scenes that are some of the best chase scenes I've seen in a long while.

It's a haunting film and I highly recommend seeing it.  Caution: rated R for violence and language, but it is a mature story for a mature audience.  There is nothing gratuitous or glamorizing about the portrayal of violence or use of colorful language.  These feel like real people with real stories.