Though the trailer felt like a reincarnation of Gosling's 'Drive' - the brooding, silent hero with a penchant for speed (but this time, it's bikes!) - the movie is far more layered than it seems. In fact, *spoiler alert* Gosling's only in one third of the movie, but his character's existence resonates and sets ripples throughout the film. The film plays in three separate parts - the first introduces us to Gosling's Luke, a carny performer and all-around bad boy archetype, who oozes James Dean cool forever smoking in every scene. That all changes when he discovers from former sweetheart Eva Mendes' Romina, that he's a father. He sets out to be a responsible parent and do right by his son, but things are never really that simple.

Part two is where we meet Bradley Cooper's character, Avery, who could not be further away on the spectrum than Luke. Born and bred into an influential family, Avery's been cast into his father's shadow (a supreme court judge's shadow, that is) and struggles to find the balance being a decent rookie cop and a good father, and trying to fit in as a town hero who gets his feet wet with some shady business. Cooper's performance has been widely sidelined in the film's promotion in regards to Gosling's, but he more than does justice to his tempered, confused role.

The last part takes you on a time leap that you never really get adjusted to for the remainder of the film. The focus falls onto the sons of the these flawed, contrasting fathers and you can see how the difference has effected them. AJ played by Emory Cohen portrays a spoilt, poor little rich kid while Dane DeHaan masterfully plays Jason, a struggling loner looking for some reason in the midst of his teenage angst. It might feel a tad cliché as clichés go, but the outcome of their encounter is unexpected enough.

The ending can be interpreted as unfinished or uplifting, however the audience decide. The acting is raw and brilliant throughout, but I must mention the stunning performance of Ben Mendelsohn's secondary character Robin, a terrifically twitchy, strange man who albeit his comic relief role, surprisingly carried the movie's moral core.

All in all, I personally felt that the film speaks volumes on redemption and family, and that whatever actions you take, no matter how hard you try, do eventually seep into your children's lives to bring their own repercussions. Cianfrance allows us to decide if they become a legacy or a burden, and by the time the credits roll round to Bon Iver's fitting, 'The Wolves', you'll be left shaken. Whether by the feeling of things left unresolved, or the disillusion of the American Dream, or what's left thereof - this film sticks to you and doesn't easily let go. By Charin Chong

Photos by Atsushi Nishijima / Focus Features 2013

Heads up Tarantino fans... The trailer of his upcoming film, Django Unchained was released yesterday, staring Jamie Foxx, Inglorious Basterd alumni, Christophe Waltz, and Leonardo DiCaprio. The film is written and directed by Tarantino himself, and is set to be in cinemas this Christmas.

The trailer tells a wild west tale about Django (played by Foxx), a freed slave who treks across America with Dr. King Schultz (Waltz), a German dentist-slash-bounty hunter. Together they go on a mission to rescue Django's wife Broomhilda (played by Kerry Washington) from power-drunk plantation owner Calvin Candie (Mr. DiCaprio). Can't wait to see how Tarantino takes on spaghetti Westerns.

Mr. Luhrmann teams up with jeweller bigwigs Tiffany & Co for a collection of platinum-set diamonds and pearls that will be worn Mulligan's Daisy Buchanan. The decadent outfits of the roaring twenties in the movie are designed by his wife, Oscar-winning costume designer Catherine Martin, whose inspiration is totally in-line with the collections of Gucci and Ralph Lauren for Spring 2012.  The Great Gatsby is definitely looking to go down in history as one of the most stylish movies ever made.