Two Lovers (2008)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

James Gray

Writers (WGA):

James Gray (written by) &
Ric Menello (written by)

Release Date:

19 NOVEMBER 2008 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Sometimes we leave everything to find ourselves.

Plot:

A Brooklyn-set romantic drama about a bachelor (Phoenix) torn between the family friend his parents wish he would marry and his beautiful but volatile new neighbor.

Plot Keywords:

Married Man | Jewish | Love | Hiding | Jewish Mother

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Joaquin Phoenix	...	Leonard Kraditor
Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Michelle Rausch
Vinessa Shaw	...	Sandra Cohen
Moni Moshonov	...	Reuben Kraditor
Isabella Rossellini	...	Ruth Kraditor
John Ortiz	...	Jose Cordero
Bob Ari	...	Michael Cohen
Julie Budd	...	Carol Cohen
Elias Koteas	...	Ronald Blatt
Shiran Nicholson	...	DJ Juice
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Cale	...	Jeweler
Kathryn Gerhardt	...	New Year's Eve Party Guest #3
Nick Gillie	...	Livery Driver
Carmen M. Herlihy
Samantha Ivers	...	Stephanie
Anne Joyce	...	Leonard's ex-fiance
Mari Koda	...	Popping Dancer
RJ Konner	...	Upscale Opera Guest
Evan Lewis	...	Uncle
Marion McCorry	...	Nurse
David Ross	...	Waiter
Jeanine Serralles	...	Dayna
Jose Edwin Soto
Uzimann	...	Cab Driver
Elliot Villar	...	Bystander
Mark Vincent	...	Ronald's driver
Craig Walker

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexuality and brief drug use.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R | France:U | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:12 | UK:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

2929 Productions

Trivia:

The role of Michelle was written with Gwyneth Paltrow in mind.

Movie Connections:

References Rear Window (1954)

Soundtrack:

Kush

Fumbling in the Dark

I wasn't expecting to go to this film, I didn't know anything about it, a friend and I went to the cinema, looked at our options and chose this.

Having no expectations, not having heard or seen any hype about it, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I think all aspects of a *good* film are present. It is beautifully shot and quite brilliantly acted which together created the right, moody, slightly claustrophobic atmosphere for this rather bleak, sometimes humorous, story to progress.

We're given a brief, intimate insight into three damaged individuals lives and I think ultimately shows us some conflicting concepts that arise from the pursuit of love and happiness, and familial duty.

I'm pretty certain this is the best film I've seen so far this year. While there's no way of comparing this to my last years favourite of No country for Old Men, I think this might also be Oscar material.