Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes and Bradley Cooper have their heads in the clouds on this poster for The Place Beyond the Pines

After watching Derek Cianfrance‘s BLUE VALENTINE, I knew that this guy would go on to direct films with interesting character relationships that feel genuine. While THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES is a bit more of a stretch than the relationship drama contained in BLUE VALENTINE, Cianfrance makes you feel for the character in whatever situation.

Of course, after seeing pictures, I wondered what the film would shape up to be. What was a tatted up Ryan Gosling doing on a dirt bike? Why was Bradley Cooper chasing him? It all came together spectacularly in the trailer. The first poster for the flick isn’t too shabby either. Even though there are some floating heads, I really enjoy the bottom half– a dark town with the light breaking through the clouds. Gosling with his back to us sitting on his bike looking up at the go signal. Love the significance.

Check out the poster below.

Synopsis: The daring new movie from the director of Blue Valentine, THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES is a sweeping emotional drama powerfully exploring the unbreakable bond between fathers and sons. Luke (Academy Award nominee Ryan Gosling) is in constant motion, a high-wire motorcycle stunt performer who travels from town to town with the carnival. Passing through Schenectady in upstate New York, he tries to reconnect with a former lover, Romina (Eva Mendes), only to learn that she has in his absence given birth to their son Jason. Luke resolves to forsake life on the road and to provide for his newfound family, taking a job as car mechanic with Robin (Ben Mendelsohn). Robin soon discovers Luke’s special talents, and proposes to partner with him in a string of spectacular bank robberies. But it is only a matter of time before Luke will run up against the law – which comes in the form of Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper).

Avery is an ambitious rookie cop navigating a local police department ruled by the menacingly corrupt detective Deluca (Ray Liotta). When Avery, just beginning to balance his profession and his family life with wife Jennifer (Rose Byrne) and their infant son AJ, confronts Luke, the full consequences will reverberate into the next generation. It is then that the two sons, Jason (Dane DeHaan) and AJ (Emory Cohen), must face their fateful, shared legacy.

THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES is due to release on March 29th.