Ryan Gosling and director Derek Cianfrance knew they shared a unique bond the moment they started working together on "Blue Valentine," the raw relationship drama that earned Gosling a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor.

They were eager to collaborate together again, and reunited for Cianfrance's latest feature, "The Place Beyond the Pines." The epic drama full of spectacular plot twists explores the concept of legacy, and co-stars Bradley Cooper and Gosling's real-life leading lady, Eva Mendes.

Gosling plays a stunt motorcycle rider who begins robbing banks after he finds out he has a one-year-old son with a former paramour named Romina (Mendes). Cooper balances out the film as an idealistic, all-American cop who has a life-changing run-in with Gosling's character.

Moviefone caught up with Gosling and Cianfrance during the Toronto Film Festival, and chatted about everything from bank robbing to Gosling's magical qualities.

Derek, last night [at the gala] Ryan said that meeting you changed his life and changed him as an actor. How has collaborating with him changed you as a filmmaker?
Derek Cianfrance: Ryan is just a magic person. He makes everything better around him. You've seen it when he breaks up fights in New York City or saves people from getting run over by cars. When you're making a movie with Ryan, that's what he does. He just makes it better. He makes me a better filmmaker, he makes the actors around him better. He's just a magic man. That's all I can say. As a human being he's one of the people that I love most in my life. I'm very thankful for his friendship and his collaboration, and I can't wait to see his film ["How to Catch a Monster"] because I think he'll make a really great filmmaker. Honestly, he already is.

Can you talk a bit about your unusual audition process with Eva?
I had asked Ryan about who he thought should be Romina. We thought about it a lot. He had known Eva a little bit. He said, "You should meet with Eva because she's great, I think she's got a lot to offer that maybe people haven't seen, which would be great." So I said OK. She came to this audition with no makeup on, trying her hardest to look ugly. But of course she looked stunning. It meant so much to me that she tried to make herself look ugly. I said, "You don't have to audition. Didn't you grow up in LA? Would you just take me on a ride around Los Angeles and show me where you grew up?"

[Gosling walks in]

DC: Hey, Ry.

Ryan Gosling: Hey, buddy.

DC: So she took me on a ride around Los Angeles and showed me where she grew up, and all the houses she had lived in growing up...

RG: You're gonna make me jealous.

DC: Yeah. [Laughs] And she opened up to me about her life, and it was clear to me that she had this wealth inside of her. So she became Romina right there.

What was it like filming the robbery scenes, particularly since you were working with real bank tellers?
RG: It was funny. I've been fantasizing about robbing banks since I was a kid. And then telling Derek that's my fantasy, that if ever I could rob a bank I'd do it on a motorcycle this way, and he said, "Oh, that's weird, I just wrote a script about that!" It just felt meant to be. And then he said, "I'm going to get you to rob banks for 'real'" -- there'd be no cuts and real bank tellers and I'd have to ride the bike up, rob it and ride the bike away. I was very excited and I thought it was going to be really scary.

Then I got up there and in the heat of screaming at these people I looked down at them and they were all smiling. And they were just enjoying the show. I even saw someone with their camera phone. Derek and I had to go regroup after the first one, and we were like "Oh, no! They're not scared, they're entertained! They're having fun, they're happy to be in a movie."

And then Derek was like, "Well, you have to scare them." And then I went back and did it again. I think the more angry I got, the more fun they were having. It was an interesting challenge. But we did it a lot of times, each in one take, so eventually the show was over and they were kind of exhausted. And then we started to hit some interesting places. But it took a while.

"The Place Beyond the Pines" premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and has been picked up by Focus Features. The release date has not been set.

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• Ryan Gosling

  Actor Ryan Gosling attends the premiere of 'The Believer' September 6, 2001 at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Daniel Kern/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  Actor Ryan Gosling departs the after party for the film premiere Murder by Numbers April 16, 2002 in New York City. Actress Sandra Bullock stars in the film. (Photo by Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling & Sandra Bullock

  US actress Sandra Bullock poses for photographers with actor Ryan Gosling as they arrive at the palais des festivals to attend the screening of their film 'Murder by numbers' by Iranian-born director Barbet Schroeder during the 55th Cannes film festival 24 May 2002. The film is presented out of competition. AFP PHOTO FRANCOIS GUILLOT (Photo credit should read FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  Actor Ryan Gosling holds his award for 'Male Star of Tomorrow' at the final night banquet for ShoWest 2004 on March 25, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bryan Haraway/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  LOS ANGELES - JUNE 21: Actor Ryan Gosling arrives at the premiere of New Lines' 'The Notebook' on June 21, 2004 at the Village Theatre, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling & Rachel McAdams

  LOS ANGELES - JUNE 21: Actors Ryan Gosling (left) and Rachel McAdams arrive at the premiere of New Lines' 'The Notebook' on June 21, 2004 at the Village Theatre, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 2: (US TABS - HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Actor Ryan Gosling attend the after party of the United Artists film 'Hotel Rwanda' December 2, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  LOS ANGELES - JUNE 4: Actor Ryan Gosling arrives to the 2005 MTV Movie Awards at the Shrine Auditorium June 4, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. The 14th annual award show will premiere on MTV Thursday, June 9 at 9:00PM (ET/PT). (Photo By Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling & Rachel McAdams

  LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 04: Actors Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams winners of Best Kiss for 'The Notebook' pose backstage during the 2005 MTV Movie Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on June 4, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. The 14th annual award show will premiere on MTV Thursday, June 9 at 9:00PM (ET/PT). (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling & Rachel McAdams

  LOS ANGELES - JUNE 4: Actress Rachel McAdams (left) and Actor Ryan Gosling accept the award for Best Kiss for The Notebook onstage during the 2005 MTV Movie Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on June 4, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. The 14th annual award show will premiere on MTV Thursday, June 9 at 9:00PM (ET/PT). (Photo By Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling & Rachel McAdams

  UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - AUGUST 14: Actor Ryan Gosling (L) and actress Rachel McAdams pose in the press room at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards held at Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk on August 14, 2005 in Universal City, California. Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams were voted 'Choice Movie On-screen Chemistry'. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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  LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 18: Actor Ryan Gosling arrives at the Scientific and Technical Awards Presented By AMPAS at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 18, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  NEW YORK - AUGUST 02: Actor Ryan Gosling attends the Think Films premiere of 'Half Nelson' at Tribeca Cinemas on August 2, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Kramer/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 29: Actor Ryan Gosling arrives at the 16th Annual Gotham Awards presented by IFP on November 29, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  SANTA MONICA, CA - JANUARY 12: Actress Rachel McAdams (L) and actor Ryan Gosling arrive at the 12th Annual Critics' Choice Awards held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on January 12, 2007 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 28: Actor Ryan Gosling (L) and actress Rachel McAdams arrive at the 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 28, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  WESTWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Ryan Gosling attends the LA premiere of Newline's 'Fracture' at The Mann Village Theatre on April 11, 2007 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  LOS ANGELES - APRIL 11: Actor Ryan Gosling attends the film premiere of 'Fracture' at The Mann Village Theatre on April 11, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 10: Actor Ryan Gosling attends the 'Lars and the Real Girl' press conference during the Toronto International Film Festival 2007 held at the Sutton Place Hotel on September 9, 2007 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 10: Actor Ryan Gosling arrives at the 'Lars and the Real Girl' premiere screening during the Toronto International Film Festival 2007 held at the Ryerson Theatre on September 10, 2007 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Malcolm Taylor/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 28: Actor Ryan Gosling attends a private screening of 'Lars And The Real Girl' hosted by Bennett Miller at Cinema 3 on November 28, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images for Sidney Kimmel Entertainment)

• Ryan Gosling

  NEW YORK- DECEMBER 11: Actor Ryan Gosling attends a lunch for 'Lars And The Real Girl' at the Four Seasons Restaurant on December 11, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  NEW YORK - APRIL 01: Actor Ryan Gosling attends Overture Films' red carpet screening of 'The Visitor' at the MoMA on April 1, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Overture Films)

• Ryan Gosling

  LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 18: Actor Ryan Gosling arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Sugar' held at the Silver Screen Theater at the Pacific Design Center on March 18, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

• Faith Wladyka & Ryan Gosling

  PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 24: Actress Faith Wladyka (L) and Actor Ryan Gosling attend the 'Blue Valentine' premiere during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theatre on January 24, 2010 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 24: Actor Ryan Gosling attends the 'Blue Valentine' premiere during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theatre on January 24, 2010 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 18: Actor Ryan Gosling attends the 'Blue Valentine' Photocall at the Palais des Festivals during the 63rd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2010 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 18: Actor Ryan Gosling attends the 'Blue Valentine' Photocall at the Palais des Festivals during the 63rd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2010 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

• Faith Wladyka & Ryan Gosling

  CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 18: Ryan Gosling and Faith Wladyka attends the Blue Valentine Dinner on the Harlee Yacht during the 63rd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2010 in Cannes, France. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images)

• Faith Wladyka & Ryan Gosling

  CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 18: Ryan Gosling and Faith Wladyka attends the Blue Valentine Dinner on the Harlee Yacht during the 63rd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2010 in Cannes, France. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 15: Actor Ryan Gosling attends 'Blue Valentine' Premiere during the 35th Toronto International Film Festival at Ryerson Theatre on September 15, 2010 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vito Amati/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  HOLLYWOOD - NOVEMBER 06: Actor Ryan Gosling arrives at the 'Blue Valentine' screening during AFI FEST 2010 presented by Audi held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on November 6, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for AFI)

• Faith Wladyka & Ryan Gosling

  NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 5: Actor Ryan Gosling and actress Faith Wladyka attend Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro Host Special Screening of 'Blue Valentine' at Tribeca Grill Loft on December 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Thos Robinson/Getty Images for The Weinstein Company )

• Ryan Gosling

  NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 07: Ryan Gosling attends the New York premiere of 'Blue Valentine' hosted by Quintessentially at The Museum of Modern Art on December 7, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Weinstein Company)

• Ryan Gosling

  LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 14: Actor Ryan Gosling arrives at the 16th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards at the Hollywood Palladium on January 14, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 16: Actor Ryan Gosling arrives at the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton hotel on January 16, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 20: Actor Ryan Gosling attends the 'Drive' photocall during the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 20, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 20: Actor Ryan Gosling attends the 'Drive' premiere during the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 20, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 20: Actor Ryan Gosling attends the 'Drive' premiere during the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 20, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 22: Ryan Gosling attends the 'Les Bien-Aimes' premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 22, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 22: Actor Ryan Gosling of the film 'Drive' poses at the Palme d'Or Winners Photocall at the Palais des Festivals during the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 22, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 17: Actor Ryan Gosling arrives at the 'Drive' Gala Premiere during the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live on June 17, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 17: Actor Ryan Gosling arrives at the Los Angeles Film Festival's special screening of 'Drive' at the L.A. Live Regal Cinemas on June 17, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  NEW YORK, NY - JULY 19: Actor Ryan Gosling attends the 'Crazy, Stupid, Love.' World Premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater on July 19, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 10: Actor Ryan Gosling arrives at 'Drive' Premiere at Ryerson Theatre during the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2011 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  BEVERLY HILLS, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Actor Ryan Gosling attends the Premiere of Columbia Pictures' 'The Ides Of March' held at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Samuel Goldwyn Theatre on September 27, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  BEVERLY HILLS, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Actor Ryan Gosling attends the Premiere of Columbia Pictures' 'The Ides Of March' held at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Samuel Goldwyn Theatre on September 27, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  HUA HIN, THAILAND - JANUARY 27: American actor Ryan Gosling attends the Hua Hin International Film Festival Opening Ceremony at the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort on January 27, 2012 in Hua Hin, Thailand. (Photo by Kristian Dowling./Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling & Eva Mendes

  TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 07: Actors Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling attend 'The Place Beyond The Pines' premiere during the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 7, 2012 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Sonia Recchia/Getty Images)

• Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes & Ryan Gosling

  TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 07: Actors (L-R) Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling attend 'The Place Beyond The Pines' premiere during the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 7, 2012 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Sonia Recchia/Getty Images)

• Ryan Gosling

  HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 07: Ryan Gosling arrives at the 'Gangster Squad' - Los Angeles Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on January 7, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)

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