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Movie Review: Two Lovers



Two Lovers (2009) was directed by James Gray and stars Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw.  Loved it.

Two Lovers is a romantic drama full of truth and emotion that kept me riveted to my office chair for almost two hours.  (I was in an office chair because I was watching the movie on Netflix on Hal's computer.)

If you like action, lots of skin, noise, colour and slick lines don't bother even turning this movie on.  If you enjoy a movie that moves you emotionally and intellectually, that doesn't require all the schtick to keep you interested, and that feels true, turn it on.  Their is a lot of emotion in this movie which might make some people a little uncomfortable but it comes across to the audience as very real.  I think that is the theme of this review . . . it is real.

Joaquin Phoenix plays the part of Leonard, a young man, who is bi-polar, living with his parents after a failed suicide.  He is quiet and a little brooding, yet funny and sexually confident.  Leonard is still grieving for his fiance, who broke off their engagement and disappeared from his life, when he meets two very different women and faces choices which he isn't emotionally ready to make.  Sandra, played by Vinessa Shaw, loves him and just want to care for him.  She wants a real relationship with Leonard.  Sandra is safe and comforting.  Michelle, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, is focused only on herself, rather manic and needy and accepts as her due that Leonard will take care of her whenever her married lover doesn't step up.

If you are hoping for a "love-conquers-all" kind of ending, don't turn it on.  Even at the end of the movie Leonard still isn't capable of making his own decisions, allowing life to happen to him.  And isn't that real?

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