FINALLY, A SMART FILM ABOUT LOVE

Joaquin Phoenix has been caught acting like a strange duck lately, leaving mouths flapping about drug use or even mental illness. And then there's his assertion that he's quitting acting to begin a career in rap music--a sad choice, especially when most of us thought a recent rap performance of his had to be a joke. This all misses the mark on true press-worthy fodder: his performance in James Gray's film, "Two Lovers".

Rare are the films that approach love and romance with real candour. Gray follows in the footsteps of Woody Allen in granting neuroses a place in a love story, and the result is refreshing, even a relief (given the sad fact of "He's Just Not that Into You"). "Two Lovers" is devastating, it's beautiful and it's funny when you need it to be funny.

Abandoned by his fiancé, Leonard moves back in with his parents in Brighton Beach, New York, and works at his father's dry-cleaning service. Hoping to cheer him up, his family arranges for him to meet Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), the daughter of their friend and business partner. Sandra seems like a nice girl and, lucky for Leonard, she happens to be beautiful and kind. But what kind of a film would it be if Sandra and Leonard then settled in to a relationship? Of course Leonard, who is Jewish, has to meet the crazy shiksa goddess who lives upstairs, Michelle (played by the ultimate shiksa goddess, Gwyneth Paltrow).

The film indulges in Leonard's inability to choose between them. Sandra offers him a stable job, a stable relationship. "I want to take care of you," she says, and Leonard needs the help. Michelle is foxy, fun and a mess. She represents a way out of Brighton Beach, an opportunity for escape.

Sure, the film is ridiculous. How could someone like Leonard lure both Sandra and Michelle? Yet it works, largely because the writing is smart, the direction assured and the performances feel honest. "Two Lovers" asks tough questions about why we make certain romantic choices. Does Leonard really love Michelle? Is his reluctance to commit to Sandra more about his reluctance to commit to adulthood? We can make assumptions, but the film--and especially Phoenix's performance--is nuanced enough to keep questions unanswered.

I hope that Phoenix's just joking about this rap career. Another collaboration with James Gray is definitely in order.

~ JESSICA FERRI

Picture credit: edenza (via Flickr)