Reviews

Review: Two Lovers

Joaquin Phoenix's reported last film not interesting enough or deep enough

By GERALD PEARY | February 25, 2009

2.5 Stars

VIDEO: The trailer for Two Lovers

In what's bruited to be his last screen appearance, Joaquin Phoenix goes Marlon Brando mumbly as a confused and psychologically bruised young Brooklynite. Residing at home after a failed engagement, Leonard toils in his father's dry-cleaning business, but he aspires to be a photographer.

And though a down-to-earth Jewish chick, Sandra (Vinesse Shaw), adores him and is endorsed by his Jewish parents, he yearns for the mysterious, complicated, elusive blonde shiksa Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow), who lives in the next building and pines herself for her rich lawyer boss, Ronald (a menacing Elias Koteas).

Two Lovers is a decent film, with engaging actors, and it's capably directed by James Gray. But Leonard is, in the end, not interesting enough or deep enough, plus (minus) there's the predictable ironic ending.

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Review: Vincere
If veteran Italian filmmaker Marco Bellocchio’s wild and woolly version can be believed, before he became the Fascist clown “Il Duce,” Benito Mussolini (Filippo Timi) was a hunk.
Interview and photos: Gerard Malanga
In Walt Whitman’s notebook for the 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass , he writes, “Every soul has its own individual voice.” That notion rang true for photographer/poet/filmmaker Gerard Malanga as he put together “Souls,” an exhibit of 100 portraits spanning five decades.
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East Boston is a treasure trove of Latin American restaurants serving delicious, filling fare.
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ARTICLES BY GERALD PEARY

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