Eva Mendes not the pretty face as Romina

It’s about time Eva Mendes got a bit of a meaty role again. Last time I remember was in The Bad Lieutenant (2009) with Nicolas Cage. In one of the first scenes we do not only notice she’s not wearing a bra — it’s really, really, really obvious — but also that she’s not here for her looks. Having a bit of a trashy look and wearing too much make-up.

In The Place Beyond the Pines she struggles between the stable guy and the father of her child. And without giving away too much about the story, her life doesn’t look to get much better from there. As with director Derek Cianfrance’s previous films, the whole thing is pretty raw. And unlike some of Eva Mendes other characters, she plays a pivotal role in the film.