Two Lovers

January 2008

(13)

Synopsis

Leonard (Joaquin Phoenix) is a charismatic but troubled young man who moves back into his childhood home following a recent heartbreak. While recovering under the watchful eye of his parents, Leonard meets two women in quick succession: Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow), a mysterious and beautiful neighbor who is exotic and out-of-place in Leonard's staid world, and Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), the lovely and caring daughter of a businessman who is buying out his family's dry-cleaning business. Leonard becomes deeply infatuated with Michelle, while mounting pressure from his family pushes him towards committing to Sandra. Leonard is forced to make an impossible decision between the impetuousness of desire and the comfort of love, or risk retreating back into heartbreak.

Reviews

3.9

13 total

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 0

1 1

Rick Groen

Phoenix plays that schism -- the damaged soul in a hunky body -- to perfection, so well that we overlook the logical chasm at the centre of the tale.

Peter Howell

Gray guides his strong cast to a resolution that is both surprising and entirely realistic.

Trevor Johnston

Gray's direction lovingly toys with images of containment and release, effectively playing out the drama in visual terms - but we never really feel it.

Ann Hornaday

If Two Lovers winds up being Phoenix's last movie, at least it offers posterity incontrovertible proof that, once, he was a contender.

Bill Goodykoontz

What elevates Two Lovers beyond the mundane is the strength of the performances.

Roger Moore

Phoenix's performance overwhelms the slight story.

Critic reviews

Rick Groen

Phoenix plays that schism -- the damaged soul in a hunky body -- to perfection, so well that we overlook the logical chasm at the centre of the tale.

Full Review

Peter Howell

Gray guides his strong cast to a resolution that is both surprising and entirely realistic.

Full Review

Trevor Johnston

Gray's direction lovingly toys with images of containment and release, effectively playing out the drama in visual terms - but we never really feel it.

Full Review

Ann Hornaday

If Two Lovers winds up being Phoenix's last movie, at least it offers posterity incontrovertible proof that, once, he was a contender.

Full Review

Bill Goodykoontz

What elevates Two Lovers beyond the mundane is the strength of the performances.

Full Review

Roger Moore

Phoenix's performance overwhelms the slight story.

Full Review

Mick LaSalle

Very little is explicit. The audience is left to infer much from spotty information, and yet a full and specific picture emerges. We are never in doubt of the truth of the characters and the absolute solidity of the world being depicted.

Full Review

User reviews

Dain Binder March 1, 2014

A true character study Two Lovers (2008) is the last Joaquin Phoenix movie unless he decides to return from his music career. With a rather simple and predictable plot you may wonder what the appeal is. The movie revolves around Leonard Kraditor (Phoenix), a suicidal case of a depressed man that was left by his fiancée and has now moved back in with his parents. He is working at the family dry cleaners and is the bane of his own existence. Enter the daughter of a soon to be business partner of his father's that puts a little smile on his face. Sandra (Vinessa Shaw) is a simple lovely women and falls for Leonard and they start dating with the approval of both families. Michelle (Paltrow), who lives in the same building, makes a grand entrance with much drama and problems. Leonard becomes infatuated with the sexy troubled party girl and sneaks around to spend time with her.

Cast and credits

Actors	Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw
Producers	Donna Gigliotti, James Gray, Anthony Katagas
Director	James Gray

Additional information

Rotten tomatoes® score

82%

Audio language

English (Stereo)

Subtitles

English

Rental period

Start within 30 days, finish within 48 hours.

Run time

110 minutes

Rating

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