TWO LOVERS **

James Gray produced and directed this drama/romance which stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw, Isabella Rossellini, Elias Koteas, and Moni Moshonov. Rated R for language, some sexuality and brief drug use. Running time is 1 hour and 50 minutes.

A charismatic but troubled young man (Phoenix) moves back into his childhood home following a recent heartbreak. While recovering under the watchful eye of his parents (Rossellini and Moshonov), he meets two women in quick succession: a mysterious and beautiful neighbor (Paltrow) who is exotic and out-of-place in Leonard's staid world, and a lovely and caring daughter (Shaw) of a businessman buying out his family's dry-cleaning business. He is forced to make an impossible decision – between the impetuousness of desire and the comfort of love – or risk falling back into the darkness that nearly killed him.

If I were rating this film on artistic merit it would be 3½ to 4 stars. But, since I rate with entertainment in mind, 2 stars is about it. Unless you're really into art films, this will bore you to tears even though it's beautifully acted and produced. I was also a little confused with the relationship between Shaw and Phoenix. They had barely met and she was infatuated, and that didn't ring quite true to me. The rest of the relationships seemed plausibile although I didn't find Paltrow's character nearly as attractive as the other two men in her life did. If you ever find yourself giddily happy and need to come down quickly, however, this is the film you want to see.