Two Lovers

This sombre, dark, romantic drama evokes an ominous, evocative vibe from the first frame to its last breath. Set in New York City the main character is Leonard Kraditor (Joaquin Phoenix) a depressive loner, living with his over-protective parents after a break up, looking for a meaning to his life. An aspiring photographer, Leonard works part-time at his father's dry-cleaners. With masochistic melancholy he becomes drawn to two women in a very short space of time. One is so right and one is so wrong. Unassuming and inoffensively needy and beautiful Sarah (Vanessa Shaw) is the daughter of his parents' business associates - she's perfect for him - Jewish, sweet, kind, looking for someone to care for. Then there is his neighbour Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow) who's rootless, wild, beautiful and unavailable, mentally and physically. She's the one, who if Leonard had any friends, they'd tell him to avoid. Her emotional neediness is painful to watch, but not as painful as watching Leonard being drawn in to the flytrap. She uses him to give her sympathy when the married man she's in love with lets her down time and time again. She plays with Leonard's kind nature and heart - enticing him further by admitting she's not worthy of love.  Sarah wants to save him and he wants to save Michelle.

The Director of Two Lovers is James Gray, a director who gets better every time, still retaining something of a Je ne sais que with every new release, he usually treads hard edged crime, so it's good to see him playing with something new. Phoenix's performance is no different here - a consistently evolving fascinating actor to watch - it's as if the role was made just for him. Paltrow pulls off the moody, disengaged Michelle with poise. Two Lovers succeeds in conveying the muddled and awkward realities of love on screen - we've all been there - falling in love, or what we think is love, with someone who's unable to give us what we need, or is truly damaging to our soul, but makes us feel more alive than we've ever felt before. We ache for Leonard in his emotional struggle because we know how it feels. Often we want what's wrong and unavailable more than anything and in this case Leonard is willing to risk anything to be with Michelle....but how will Sarah fit into the picture and as is often the case, there has to be one loser in the game of love. Who will it be?

Director: James Gray
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw,  Isabella Rossellini. Moni Moshonov,
Certificate: 15
Runtime: 106  minutes (approx.)
Special Features: Audio Commentary with Co-Writer and Director James Gray, Deleted Scenes
Release date: 10th August 2009
RRP: £15.99

Melissa Davis, The Law Society