Figure expresion: The Place Beyond The Pines

Within the flim 'The Place Beyond The Pines' figure expression is used to influence the audiences views of the characters. Within the film we are introduced to three main characters, their stories and how they all link together. The figure expression in each character is different, telling the stories in different ways, however the film fits together so well showing the power of figure expression within this film.

The first story is based on the character of Luke (Ryan Gosling) who leads a free lifestyle. His image shows him to be free spirited, rebellious and unpredictable and this is further shown through the many tattoos he has and the life style he lives. He is a motorcyclist in a fair, living in danger and also constantly moving; that is until he finds out he has a son. Luke throws his whole lifestyle away to try and support his child, which gives us more understanding of his mysterious past.
However, it isn't long before he begins to live recklessly again, turning to a lift of crime in bank robbing to try and support his new family. He is desperate and this is shown through the fast pacing of his life which he lives on his bike. As the story of Luke begins to draw to a close, we see everything he has worked for fall apart. The rejection of money from the mother of his children, the fight between Luke and the boyfriend and ultimately the death in his last robbery as he tries to escape. We see the desperation in Luke as he phones the mother of his child one last time, we can here his panic in his breath and the brutal end to his life as he gets shot out of the window, last being sprawled on the pavement in a pool of blood.

The policeman who shot Luke is the second character who is introduces and now the narrative of the story moves to Avery (Bradly Cooper). A polar opposite to the character of Luke, Avery is a policeman dedicated to doing the right thing. He is caught in between a conflict of duties after the shooting of Luke, were he finds out that his fellow officers are not as just as he is. He believes he is doing the right thing when he turns over his friends, which causes his career to improve being promoted. The care and compassion he has for his job is reflected in the duty he has for his family, and in his own son.

The next story is set in the future, and is based around the sons of the two previous characters. Within the story of the characters AJ (Emory Cohen) and Jason (Dane DeHaan), we see the conflict of Luke and Avery arise once again.