Wick's Review

Summary - Very Good 3.5

When an emotionally unstable guy falls for another man’s other woman, all bets are off, especially for those that truly love him. An old story certainly, but well told and performed in Two Lovers. It helps that Gwyneth Paltrow makes a tremendously fetching femme fatale and that the rest of the cast in this intriguing movie are interesting characters.

Acting - Very Good 3.5

Non-Jews Vinessa Shaw, Isabella Rossellini and Elias Koteas, and half-Jewish Joaquin Phoenix play most of the Jewish characters in this modestly ethnic movie, while half-Jewish Gwyneth Paltrow plays the shiksa. Ain’t America great.

Phoenix essays his patented character: an emotionally unstable guy who still ends up an object of female attraction. Nice work if you can get it.

His two lovers are more impressive. Gwyneth Paltrow convincingly plays an amoral party girl. Vinessa Shaw quietly charms as a marriageable girl who must navigate the whims of an unstable boyfriend.

Israeli actor Moni Moshonov jumps off the screen as Phoenix’s gentle father, while Isabella Rossellini is always a welcome sight, here as the mother.

Also jumping off the screen are Bob Ari as a mensch who is forced to trust Phoenix’s character, and Elias Koteas as an Elliot Spitzer-like NY attorney who uses wealth and position in immoral ways.

Film - Very Good 3.5

A bit dour, yet occasionally mordantly funny, James Gray’s film unspools more than a few surprises, making it consistently engaging to the end.

Edge - Risqué 2.2

Risqué the nice way: erotic, salty and gentle.

Reality - Glib 1.4

The depictions of small business and the allure of bright lights-big city Manhattan seemed just right.

2 Comments

• BrianSez Feb 3, 2011 9:37AM

  Regarding Wick’s Review
  I knew you’d like it!

• Wick Jan 23, 2011 9:00PM

  Good pik Bri. Going in my Movies to Vu list.

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