Two Lovers

Plot: A depressed man can't choose between two women, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow & Vinessa Shaw.


Review: Why do so many indie films have to be depressing? Don't get me wrong I love a good sob fest. One of my all time favorite films is Waking the Dead. Now that is a sad movie; however, I prefer sad films that are sad because of circumstance rather than poor judgment by the main characters. Death versus voluntary abandonment, for instance. This film is the latter with the main character being a man of very poor judgment. Though the acting was great (this was a wonderful vehicle for Joaquin Phoenix-a great last film & Paltrow's Independent Spirit Award nod is well deserved), it was the characters that I didn't like. Phoenix started off as a depressed man that I at least felt sorry for, but his actions made me dislike him more and more. Paltrow was the typical damsel in distress type, the ones that cause all of their own drama (I hate those). The other love interest played by Vinessa Shaw was sweet but boring. The movie was well made: the cinematography was beautiful. It seemed to match the mood of the main character. Overall, I'm glad I watched the movie simply because it is supposedly Phoenix's last film, but it was too sad to watch again.

Awards: Nominated- Independent Spirit Award for Best Director James Gray and Best Female Lead Gwyneth Paltrow

Nominated- Golden Palm(Cannes Film Festival)- James Gray


Rating: Acting-A (tune into Bravo Mar 5th to see if Paltrow wins)
Writing-C
Directing-A
Music-B- a lot of opera used very symbolic
Cinematography-A
Editing-B
Costumes-C- two female leads were noticeably different, but the choices were very dated
Art Direction-B
Makeup-B
Visual Effects-A love the first shot in the film- really symbolic

**1/2 stars-so close to 3 but the film just upset me too much.

Wendy & Lucy

I always add the Independent Spirit Award nominees (this film garnered 2) and winners to my list of blockbuster online movies every year. I watched this film last night, and though I thought Michelle Williams was fantastic (her nomination well deserved), I just didn't enjoy it. In this time of economic recession, a film like Wendy & Lucy serves as a nice slice of American life now; however, I just don't wish to be reminded of it. If the film had some type of upturn or Wendy had some kind of plan to turn her life around, then maybe I would have liked it more. There are many sad films that shake me to the core. This was not that kind of movie. It wasn't moving or emotional. It just left me kind of depressed, not moved or shaken, just blah. One star for Michelle Williams’s realistic, subtle performance. Watch it once for that then never watch it again.