James Gray is at his best, and Joaquin Phoenix is superb in the character!

FUCK

A story that takes its time... nice but not something I would expect Phoenix to end his career with...

/wrists

The movie has two things going for it: Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow. The two actors are great here. The problem is that I didn't like either of their characters, especially Joaquin's. I wasn't sure how to feel about him, but I know I didn't empathize or sympathize with him, and that was the movie's downfall for me. The ending felt a tad pathetic and has this cold air about it. I wanted to shake someone and shout "These two characters need therapy, not marriage!"

Two lovers: 9 // 10 // 9 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 7

The ending sold me. The story is resolved in a very human, mature manner where you completely buy everyone's choices even if they aren't for the best. In fact all the emotions involved in this movie are deeply complex and so true to real life - we end up rooting for Leonard and Michelle to be together even though the relationship would be highly destructive whilst the ending leaves you wondering quite what you should be feeling. The film has a great emotional intelligence and I loved it.

Também pode ser lido como "por que demorei tanto pra ver esse filme?". James Gray consegue quebrar todos os clichês de histórias de amor (ou desamor) e cria um sensível e íntimo retrato de Leonard e seus tormentos. E não se deixe enganar pelo desfecho aparentemente conformista; se Leonard não foi correspondido pela mulher que amava, decidiu levar sua amarga infelicidade para si mesmo ao derreter-se nos braços de sua namorada.

like watching a runaway train heading for a brick wall....Recommended.

Falls into melodramatic cliches on occasion, but great performances and appropriately subdued direction help overcome any flaws it might have.

I was impressed by the performances and genuineness of the story. We do not hold back when unraveling our protagonist's inner consciousness and motivations yet we take pleasure in identifying with them, evidence of some great writing. Without a doubt, an improvement over Gray's last effort and a film that will require some word of mouth to find its way on your screen.

Joaquin's rapping makes this movie

Phoenix's character is just too damn unlikeable. Couldn't watch all the way through.

Phoenix kissing Paltrow. That scene spoiled the movie... I mean, the whole scene, until she kicks his ass... so embarrassing... I found myself really bored that moment, but the rest is fine...

This is so good, with scenes forseeing a master (the first scene on the roof, for instance). Again, Gray use shadows to create moods and takes his characters serious, depicting them with great care and dignity. This film is so fucking measured.

Gray, known for hard-edged, tough-guy themes, keeps things dark but deeply sensitive in this effectively moody character study of love, loss and the struggle between. Sadly this excellent second collaboration between writer/director Gray and Phoenix (The Yards) could be the last if Phoenix follows through on his claim of trading acting for, a-hem, rapping.

Deals with a complex situation in the lives of rough, trying individuals. Phoenix is painfully alive, embracing his characters ascendant peaks and punishing valleys. Paltrow is proverbially messed up, too busy dealing with the fallout of her life to figure out it's problems. I took issue with the pacing, which sometimes skipped along too quickly for belief, and the plotting, which was sometimes bizarre, occasionally managing to get the character interactions right in an unbelievable situation.

one of those rare films where an archetypal screenplay is made to seem the freshest thing in the world by the romance of the direction and the intensity of the performances. phoenix can fire out clichés and there's this tone of fumbling desperation in his voice that gives the impression hes desperate to say something more profound but his feelings are beyond the scope of language. not coincidental that my favourite film of the year contains my favourite performance.

I don't think wacky Joaquin has ever been better. Went out on top, he did!

This movie makes me wish Joaquin Phoenix were still in the business. I might be in a minority that loved his character, and if it turns out to be a weak year, I'd even recommend his memorable performance to the Academy.

Joaquin Phoenix makes a great bipolar retard. Quality Paltrow nipple reveal.

If this is Phoenix's last role it sure was a good one. His character and performance were awesome. The scene where he is revealing his love to Paltrow is pretty awkward though but at least there was a nice nipple reveal from her. Thanks, Gwyneth.

It's rare to see a good American drama, especially in the 00's. James Gray pulls off an unassuming, subtle and yet effective love story. NYC is shown here with refreshing straightforwardness, without glitz, and you really get a taste of the lifestyle. Good performances from Paltrow and Phoenix in what he proclaimed was his last acting role. Cheeky casting Moni Moshonov to play a toned down version of his role in the Israeli movie Late Marriage, to which Two Lovers is clearly indebted.

Average. An emotionally dependant creep thinks he can choose between 2 women. One's the loving, caring daughter of family friends, other's his fragile neighbour, the mistress of an older man. Its not a bad movie, just that the lead man is very hard to relate to, and the ending is just plain awful. Not worth the time.