Two Lovers

Two Lovers is a slow, cold and in some ways very classically styled romance that deals not only with love, but also with suicide attempts, bipolar disorder and abortion. The tragedy of the characters consists in the awareness of how they are (in their own words) “fucked up”, in spite of which they want to be supportive of each other. However, it will be difficult for two unstable individuals to carry on a relationship. Gray uses long, drawn-out shots that give us enough time and space to penetrate the world of the troubled protagonists. That is not easy to do, as the film combines the linear development of the story with variations of certain situations (with one girlfriend, with another girlfriend, with Leonard in a manic phase, with Leonard in a depressive phase), so in places it may seem that the narrative is not going anywhere. I appreciate the fact that today someone has the courage to shoot mature dramas that the viewer has to meet halfway, though I also understand why there are not more films likes this in America today than there were in the 1970s. We have become accustomed to unpretentiousness and working with allusions, and it is thus more difficult for us to get in tune with such a style. 75% (26/03/2018)

I'm always surprised by what kinds of films can be hidden under the genre label of romantic comedy. In this case, Joaquin Phoenix is training for his role in Joker, or a man with unstable mental health. Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw are just opposites. It's not a gentle film, and there is nothing in it to make you laugh. It's a film from a collection of observations from life. It’s very realistic in terms of the situations and in the life choices, and perhaps touchingly naive in the finale. (12/11/2020)

A ninimalistic (setting, location, music) intimate drama with character actors (best one being Vinessa Shaw) and an average plot. James Gray has a talent for developing personal connections and somewhat manages to stay on the track of realism. Based on the trailer, I expected more genuine emotions and fewer positive moments, but in the end, it was exactly the opposite. It’s still a well-thought-out piece, expressed clearly, and the plot is presented comprehensibly, in a sufficiently dense form. Definitely a rising trend. (10/01/2010)

« Ne quittez jamais quelqu'un qui vous aime pour quelqu'un qui vous plaît, parce que celui qui vous plaît vous quittera pour celle qu'il aime. » C’est cette citation qui a inspiré les auteurs de ce film. En tout cas, moi, je suis ressorti du cinéma avec ce message et en même temps un sentiment de tristesse et d’angoisse. Ce serait vraiment dommage, pour le cinéma mondial, si Joaquin Phoenix abandonnait sa carrière pour de bon ; il domine le film avec une prestation réellement épatante. Gwyneth et Vinessa se complètent dans leur opposition, mais elles n’égalent pas totalement Joaquin. Et Vinessa, je la préférais dans le rôle de la méchante copine de Josh dans 40 jours et 40 nuits. (19/11/2008)