Review of Two Lovers (2008) by Philip P — 27 Jul 2009

Director James Gray is going for a mature and serious romantic film here. It is a nice change of pace from every romance tale being a light and somewhat funny comedy. 'Two Lovers' isn't a completely unfunny film though, and though it has plenty of sad and depressing moments, what the film does best is create a balance between the two.

There is not one emotional tone throughout the film that it strives to hold onto. It goes through our protagonists ups and downs with the feeling of real day to day life. As the protagonist, Joaquin Phoenix plays Leonard, who is essentially lost in life and depressed about the completely left field reason he was given by his fiance for why they could not marry.

Phoenix is a strange character, but he makes you feel this guys pain, he makes you understand why he acts the way he does and why he wants his unattainable neighbor so much more than the convienient family friend, no matter how beautiful she is or how much simpler his life could be with her.

He is a man who no longer feels he should let anything stand in the way of what he truly thinks will make him the happiest in what is already a tarnished life. Leonard remains lost it seems, and we don't know how truly satisfied he is with the outcome of his predicament-as a viewer you feel it is for the best, but you know he is heartbroken and would still drop everything if Paltrow's character came calling back.

Paltrow gives a nice, subdued performance as does Vinessa Shaw, who portrays the daughter of a family friend as someone who is dependable and will be there for him and take care of him. You feel for her as you do Phoenix's character-You don't feel pity for Paltrow though as she plays a somewhat stupid woman who truly believes it will work out with a married man played by Elias Koteas, whom I just realized was Casey in the Ninja Turtle movies.

The supporting cast, especially Leonards parents are great-The cast as well as the tone set by director Gray and the kind of 80's style this film has make it an interesting tale of the heart-a more serious one than we have seen in a while, one that is more credible and sad, even though he still gets a girl in the end.