Prepare yourself to feel emotionally drained because TWO LOVERS is a drama that aims to make your heart feel very, very heavy after watching it but
I do admire the acting and the concept which will make you think and re-think what you might already know about relationships and what it is that attracts two people together.
Joaquin Phoenix hands down is one of the greatest young actors of our generation and it is a shame that for some reason, he needs to make people think he's quit acting and gone rapping because in TWO LOVERS, he gives an Oscar worthy performance for a not so Oscar worthy film. As a man who's still hurt by his past love and thinks that the only way to heal is to connect with someone who's as f*ed up as he is Joaquin is riveting and pitch-perfect. Only a few actors can say so much without saying anything at all and Joaquin Phoenix has that ability. You feel sorry and angry at him at the same time for some of the decisions he makes and the thoughts that run through his head. What a brilliant actor.
James Gray's direction who's helmed Joaquin before in We Own The Night is a bit mediocre, there's not much groundbreaking vision that he's brought to the table, even the whole spontaneous sex out of rage scene is nothing new and a bit cliché. But I do like the concept of the story. Vanessa Shaw's in love with Joaquin Phoenix but Phoenix is in love with Gwyneth Paltrow but Paltrow is in love with a married man. Aside from Shaw, none of them appreciate that other person that actually loves them. And it's funny how it emphasizes what we people tend to say to the ones we have feelings for.. "I'll take care of you", but the fact is we often can't even take care of ourselves, much less other people. That's the mistake that we tend to make, we're so strung out and blinded by lust and obsession that we choose to ignore the consequences that might come out of associating ourselves with people that might bring us down instead of lifting us up. Instead.. we should find a person who's independent and strong willed because you can only go so far with taking care of someone before you finally hit a breaking point and give up, the story of TWO LOVERS tackles something that other drama rarely touches and I admire that, it's just too bad that every other aspect about it is just, once again, nothing short of average.
--Rama's SCREEN--
Joaquin Phoenix hands down is one of the greatest young actors of our generation and it is a shame that for some reason, he needs to make people think he's quit acting and gone rapping because in TWO LOVERS, he gives an Oscar worthy performance for a not so Oscar worthy film. As a man who's still hurt by his past love and thinks that the only way to heal is to connect with someone who's as f*ed up as he is Joaquin is riveting and pitch-perfect. Only a few actors can say so much without saying anything at all and Joaquin Phoenix has that ability. You feel sorry and angry at him at the same time for some of the decisions he makes and the thoughts that run through his head. What a brilliant actor.
James Gray's direction who's helmed Joaquin before in We Own The Night is a bit mediocre, there's not much groundbreaking vision that he's brought to the table, even the whole spontaneous sex out of rage scene is nothing new and a bit cliché. But I do like the concept of the story. Vanessa Shaw's in love with Joaquin Phoenix but Phoenix is in love with Gwyneth Paltrow but Paltrow is in love with a married man. Aside from Shaw, none of them appreciate that other person that actually loves them. And it's funny how it emphasizes what we people tend to say to the ones we have feelings for.. "I'll take care of you", but the fact is we often can't even take care of ourselves, much less other people. That's the mistake that we tend to make, we're so strung out and blinded by lust and obsession that we choose to ignore the consequences that might come out of associating ourselves with people that might bring us down instead of lifting us up. Instead.. we should find a person who's independent and strong willed because you can only go so far with taking care of someone before you finally hit a breaking point and give up, the story of TWO LOVERS tackles something that other drama rarely touches and I admire that, it's just too bad that every other aspect about it is just, once again, nothing short of average.
--Rama's SCREEN--