Few actors working in movies can essay inwardly tortured, brooding characters more convincingly than Joaquin Phoenix, which is why it is unfortunate that he has become the subject of publicity jokes since his announcement to quit acting. Part of it probably has to do with how many people shun the idea that a serious actor like Phoenix would decide to become a hip-hop rap artist considering the majority of rap artists or singers who fail to make the leap to becoming a serious actor. Then there was that comic skit by Ben Stiller at the 81st Academy Awards ceremony that attempted to emulate Phoenix's new bearded look from his appearance on the David Letterman show (and was really horribly lame and unfunny).
All of that, along with the fact that writer/director James Gray publicly criticized Phoenix himself for complaining about tiring of acting on the set, may have contributed to why his latest movie, Two Lovers has only gotten a muted release in the US. Despite that Phoenix may be somewhat at fault for that, that is still a shame because the film is a fine showcase for his acting talents. It is also a more focused effort for writer/director James Gray who often has a tendency to putting way too many plot points in his movie blender. Here creates a narrower, deeper character study of a man with bipolar disorder who incidentally finds himself shaken by the dilemma of falling for two radically different women at the same time. And after numerous years filled with feathery, lame romantic comedies, it is nice to see a romantic drama that actually contains some feelings we can empathize with.
The movie opens quite starkly as we see Phoenix's Leonard Kraditor suddenly jumping off a small bridge in New York City into a river in an attempt to drown himself. He is rescued by passersby and returns to his Jewish home where his parents, Reuben (Moni Moshonov) and Ruth (Isabella Rosselini), quickly figure out that he had made yet another suicide attempt. Believing that perhaps being introduced to a new girl might help him break out of his sad shell, they introduce Leonard to Sandra Cohen (Vinessa Shaw) who is the daughter of family friends, Michael (Bob Ari) and Carol (Julie Budd). As Reuben then explains to Leonard, the parents of both families also hope the union of the couple will help complete a merger of their families' laundromat businesses.
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