Two Lovers

Starring former-actor-turned-celebrity-meltdown-rapper Joaquin Phoenix, Two Lovers is a slice-of-life, Brooklyn-set character study. Leonard (Phoenix) is a glum underachiever who lives with his parents (Isabella Rossellini and Moni Moshonov) and works for their dry-cleaning business, but nonetheless manages to catch the attention of two attractive young women: troubled paralegal Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow), and Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), the vibrant daughter of a family friend. As the song (and title) goes, Leonard is predictably torn between two lovers, with Sandra a stable and nurturing presence, and Michelle representing the bohemian lifestyle free from responsibility. Writer-director James Gray doesn't make the choice obvious: Paltrow's Michelle is a narcissist who, we're led to believe, won't think twice about inflicting emotional pain, while Shaw's Sandra carries the air of a martyr, someone who senses she will be disappointed and seems resigned to that fate. A somewhat self-indulgent film with more of a European than Hollywood flavor, Two Lovers is a character-driven study that will appeal to fans of atmospheric romantic dramas. A strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director James Gray, 10 minutes of deleted scenes, a seven-minute behind-the-scenes featurette, a five-minute “HDNet: A Look at Two Lovers” production featurette, a photo gallery, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an uneven film.] (E. Hulse)