Two Lovers

Name: Two Lovers
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: February 13, 2009
Duration: 110 min
Rating: 74
Cast: Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Vinessa Shaw

2009

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 110 Ratings

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8.4

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8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 110 Ratings

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Two Lovers

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: February 13, 2009 | R

Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Vinessa Shaw

Summary: Leonard 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, a mysterious and beautiful neighbor who is exotic and out-of-place in Leonard's staid world, and Sandra, theLeonard 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, a mysterious and beautiful neighbor who is exotic and out-of-place in Leonard's staid world, and Sandra, the lovely and caring daughter of a businessman who is buying out his family's dry-cleaning business. Leonard becomes deeply infatuated by Michelle, who seems poised to fall for him, but is having a self-destructive affair with a married man. At the same time, 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 falling back into the darkness that nearly killed him. [Magnolia Pictures]… Expand

Director: James Gray

Genre(s): Drama, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 110 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Mick LaSalle

As in a good European film, shots are allowed to breathe. The focus is on character and human emotion. At the same time, the movie shows an American concern for pace and story development. The result is the best of both worlds. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

For a filmmaker who has made his reputation with such crime thrillers as "Little Odessa" and "The Yards," James Gray reveals an unexpected gift for the mysteries of romance. Read full review

David Edelstein

Although Paltrow is radiant (and she nails the character’s ditzy sense of entitlement), it's Phoenix's movie. He is, once again, stupendous, and stupendous in a way he has never been before. Read full review

Lawrence Toppman

The movie feels operatic at times. Tempestuous arias play on the soundtrack, and Puccini figures directly. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Not always believable, but the film has a moody expressiveness that stays with you. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

The movie's chief value is to preserve Phoenix at the height of his wary physical grace, which recalls a young Marlon Brando. Read full review

Kyle Smith

The only possible interest the movie will inspire in anyone comes when Paltrow flashes a breast toward the end, far too late to pump any excitement into an aggressively boring film that gurgles with self-indulgence. Read full review

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User Reviews

MasterO

May 4, 2009

Gorgeous and affecting movie. The only reason I could knock it is because it's tough to believe that two women would fall all over themselves for a thirty-something dry-cleaning heir who lives with his parents-- but I guess that is one of those "he's Juaquin Phoenix, he's hot Gorgeous and affecting movie. The only reason I could knock it is because it's tough to believe that two women would fall all over themselves for a thirty-something dry-cleaning heir who lives with his parents-- but I guess that is one of those "he's Juaquin Phoenix, he's hot enough to make it happen" moments. Great movie.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

NickTheCritick

Nov 7, 2021

This film is by far James Gray's best film and is arguably the best film ever made about depression alongside Lars Von Trier's Melancholia. This film can function as both, a love melodrama and a family drama. This film contains all the poetics of James Gray who here fits every shot, everyThis film is by far James Gray's best film and is arguably the best film ever made about depression alongside Lars Von Trier's Melancholia. This film can function as both, a love melodrama and a family drama. This film contains all the poetics of James Gray who here fits every shot, every scene is studied and perfectly directed. Joaquin Phoenix is as usual stellar here, in one of the best performances of his career. The bittersweet ending is a masterpiece in a shot steeped in sadness and pain that will remain etched in the mind of the wiever. For a long time.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bcool

Feb 21, 2012

One of the most beautiful love dramas in the recent years with great performances of an actors playing grown up but emotionally immature characters.some people are dismissing this film by saying that these characters act like teenagers but that's exactly what makes this film stand out,causeOne of the most beautiful love dramas in the recent years with great performances of an actors playing grown up but emotionally immature characters.some people are dismissing this film by saying that these characters act like teenagers but that's exactly what makes this film stand out,cause people like this do exist.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

DawdlingPoet

Dec 4, 2021

This is quite nice, subtle romantic drama. Joaquin gives a good, low key performance and the characters are interesting - they all have their own issues, good and bad points. There's some shaky camerawork and its a bit slow to build, plot pace wise I suppose but I enjoyed watching it and IThis is quite nice, subtle romantic drama. Joaquin gives a good, low key performance and the characters are interesting - they all have their own issues, good and bad points. There's some shaky camerawork and its a bit slow to build, plot pace wise I suppose but I enjoyed watching it and I thought it was a good film. I recommend this film, yes.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

hamidgoodarzi

Feb 11, 2023

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Of love and for love A film that deals with humans and humanity is a respectable and valuable film. The film Two Lovers has a human theme and is a free adaptation of Dostoyevsky's Immortal romance. A warm and thoughtful film with a great and very cinematic atmosphere that makes the film believable in today's modern environment. The actors generally give good performances, but "Joaquin Phoenix" is outstanding who in the role of "Leonard", a character who struggles with his inner demons, achieves inner transformation and finds life. Although the film "Two Lovers" is an American product, it is exactly a film with the characteristics of a "French film". This film was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 2008 and was chosen by the critics. Two Lovers is intimate and respectful and of love and for love.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Sep 17, 2018

hilarious and calculatively ambiguous..

Two Lovers Two Lovers is a character driven romantic drama about a reserved guy who falls in love for two girls and is cornered in a morale conflict that he is definitely not ready for. It is surprisingly flat out hilarious and not forcibly imputedhilarious and calculatively ambiguous..

Two Lovers

Two Lovers is a character driven romantic drama about a reserved guy who falls in love for two girls and is cornered in a morale conflict that he is definitely not ready for. It is surprisingly flat out hilarious and not forcibly imputed by any whatsoever eerie verbal sparrings but tiny notions that it is brimmed with and mostly relies upon the stunning performances by the cast. The weaving of the structure is smooth and utterly congruent to the tone of the feature where one may not be able to easily filter out the either one. The background score is almost non-existent with decent cinematography and editing where the only thing that stands out on technical aspects is camera work that captures the apt tone and theme of the feature. As it starts aging on screen the web of deceptions and lies grows wide and spirals out which is done with equal passion that may be appropriate but may not be as gripping and appealing to the viewers as the rest of the material does. Phoenix is pure magic on screen, and its purity is reflected on his extraction of the character from the written words and his investment that he implies on each frame of his portrayal, what an actor. His range is from being hilarious and goofy to itensed writhing performance that leaves you in an awe of it and this time he is supported by brilliant Rossellini and Paltrow. The pragmatic conversation that are both hilarious and calculatively ambiguous that keeps the crisp alive, the three dimensional characters around which the bubble revolves around and Phoenix at the heart of it are the high points of the feature. Gray's finesse on execution has always been its gem that it relies upon and as always it pays off. Two Lovers is a convoluted take on simplistic terms and emotions that it fuels itself on.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

EdwardK

Mar 13, 2009

Good performances could not save what Siskel and Ebert used to call "the idiot plot": If one of the main characters ever failed to act like an idiot, there would be no plot. I found it depressing to watch the three main characters make one bad decision after another.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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