Netflix's hidden gem with Gwyneth Paltrow and Joaquin Phoenix leaves fans in tears
Two Lovers, featuring Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw, narrates the tale of Leonard Kraditor, a man whose engagement has been broken off, forcing him to move back in with his parents in
Brooklyn
.
The film opens with Leonard plunging into the water in what appears to be an attempt at suicide, and traces his journey towards finding happiness.
His parents, portrayed by Isabella Rossellini and Moni Moshonov, are desperate to see their son regain his happiness and arrange a date for him with his father's business partner's daughter, played by Vinessa Shaw. However, Leonard begins to harbour strong feelings for his enigmatic neighbour, enacted by Gwyneth Paltrow.
The love triangle and the suspense of whom he will choose has fans riveted, with many commenting on the tear-inducing ending, reports
the Mirror US
.
Fans love the Netflix hidden gem
Reviews for the movie, helmed by James Gray, the director behind The Yards and We Own the Night, have lauded the intricate relationships depicted in the film.
The Guardian wrote: "James Gray's powerfully emotional dramas have such a distinctive, deliberate quality; Gray has always been a craftsman working with heavy materials, very different from Hollywood's lightweight alloy. This, his third feature, is set once again in the Russian-Jewish communities of Brooklyn. Like his other films, The Yards and We Own the Night, it is unafraid of the grand gesture, but this often looks oddly like an adapted stage-play - Two Lovers takes Gray closer to the idiom of Arthur Miller or Tennessee Williams."
With a solid 81 percent thumbs up on Rotten Tomatoes, the flick "Two Lovers" is winning hearts across the board.
One reviewer said: "No film has captured how we idealize others in relationships better than Two Lovers."
Another commentator added: "Gray has made a thoughtful and sensitive chamber piece, and he gets a fine performance from Phoenix, who conveys his character's anguish and heartache with deep feeling."
And yet another critic said: "Everything about this quietly beautiful film is understated - the performances, the score and, most of all, the inner turmoil that easily can mean life or death for the most sensitive among us."
It wasn't just the critics raving—viewers were deeply moved too, with many admitting the finale nearly brought them to tears.
One said: "Maybe I'm biased towards a lot of things in this film, but it really hit home with me. Would definitely recommend it."
Another viewer praised the lead actors, saying: "Phoenix and Paltrow deliver strong performances in this beautifully depressive film. Though the ending is sad and frustrating, it's the best outcome for all involved."
A third chimed in with high praise for a particular scene: "Strong contender for most emotionally devastating sex scene ever."
'Two Lovers' is available for streaming on
Netflix
as of now.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
EVN Report
23-07-2025
- EVN Report
Museum of New Analogies: A Rooftop Story
As soon as he stepped onto the rooftop for the first time, Alexey declared it the territory of the museum. For a long time, MNA was a prank and obfuscation created by Alexey and his friend Felix, who refer to themselves as 'Junior Research Fellows of MNA' and sign their side projects accordingly. This 'organization' has no clear focus or permanent activities. It functions as a sort of philosophical-artistic concept that creates unexpected connections between disparate elements of experience—or just a catchy name to attract attention. It is everything and nothing at once, depending on how you want to look at it. Thus, the territorialized form of MNA on a Yerevan rooftop can accommodate virtually any creative idea. The kick-off MNA event in Yerevan featured an exhibition of old nonfunctional antennas occupying the rooftop, left behind by former or current residents. When Alexey went up on the roof and saw these antennas, he immediately envisioned a ready-made exhibition, which opened to the public on March 28, 2023. Each antenna displayed a QR-code sticker that linked to an audio recording. These recordings shared stories from Alexey's friends and acquaintances who, like him, had left their hometowns and dispersed across the world: Standing on rooftops in different cities, they shared stories from faraway places, connecting these places as dots on the map through personal memories, experiences, and aspirations. MNA also hosted 'Chair of Reality,' an installation by artist Konstantin Terentyev, comprising a white weathered chair with this label: You put this chair in any place on the roof and sit down. As soon as you sit, you are in immediate reality, for as long as you want. The chair has already become very uncomfortable, reflecting the current very unsettling state of affairs that we live in. The first performance, 'Silence on a Given Topic,' featured two actors standing silently while the audience moved between them. Taking place at sunset, darkness fell as the city grew increasingly noisy. On the roof, where 'silence was maintained in two languages – Russian and Armenian': This rooftop is a museum in the sense of being a space for aesthetic attention, where people can come and admire something in company. Listen, be listened to, or stay mute. There are no answers, no fixed points, just the art of performed togetherness. The MNA rooftop can accommodate 20–30 people during events. There is water and electricity, along with movable wood pallets and a white screen that can be arranged in various ways depending on the nature of the event. Practical limitations include weather conditions: Hellish heat and strong wind. We host everything during the warm season, but closer to sunset, when there is shade, it's not so hot, and the wind dies down. Another consideration is compliance with what Alexey calls the 'library format,' which requires minimal noise to avoid disturbing the building's residents. This transforms the rooftop into a space of heightened awareness: It is actually cool because we can hear and feel the city better. Through the sky, through the sounds of birds and streets, through the changing lighting. Here we are getting acquainted with Yerevan and its inhabitants from a different, less conventional viewpoint. The enforced hush creates a meditative space where the city's own voice becomes amplified. The 'library format' paradoxically makes those on the rooftop more attuned to the urban experience, in the same way that one adjusts the volume on a complex symphony to hear harmonies previously lost in the noise. Quiet events attract a quiet, occasional audience, as neighbors observe the events from their balconies: They look from their balconies but say nothing. Yerevan has a tradition of rooftop life. Everyone here masters their roof with their own ingenuity. If you look around, you'll see sheds, outbuildings, barbecue setups, and chill-out zones. Rooftops here are not just utilitarian surfaces; they invite varieties of social life.
Vogue Arabia
16-07-2025
- Vogue Arabia
After Rome and Paris, Emily in Paris 5 Will be Filming in Venice
The beloved TV series, which had debuted on Aug. 15 with the first part of the fourth season and on Sept. 16 with the Roman escape, reached, in its first four days alone, the first place of Netflix's global top 10, with 19.9 million views. Fans were certain of a confirmation, soon, of the new chapter of the show by Darren Star. Making the happy announcement was Lily Collins herself, who gives heart and soul to the bubbly Emily Cooper in Emily in Paris , on her Instagram profile. It was September 16, 2024, when, together with the entire cast, the actress was in Rome for the promotion of season number 4 shot precisely, for the finale, in the Italian capital. She had announced it with an espresso and a hubby in front of her, on the terrace of the Eden Hotel with a breathtaking view of our capital behind it. An early hint had come from Collins herself who, on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon had revealed, "I'm so happy, we hadn't finished the story yet. We need more Rome, we need more Italy, we need more 'drama.'" GIULIA PARMIGIANI/NETFLIX Netflix has confirmed what we hoped for, that filming of Emily in Paris 5 will begin in Rome, then move to Paris. Plus a last-minute surprise: Emily will also fly to Venice, for an interlude Making the announcement was Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto region: from August 15 to 25 Netflix will film in the Serenissima. "This is extraordinary news, which confirms how our territory is increasingly attractive to large global audiovisual productions, thanks to its unique heritage and the teamwork between institutions and operators in the sector," he wrote on his Instagram profile. "It is a source of pride to see Veneto talents enhancing their land and bringing Veneto to millions of homes around the world. See you on set in our beautiful Venice."
Tatler Asia
09-07-2025
- Tatler Asia
Behind the mic: who brings the ‘Kpop Demon Hunters' characters to life?
Mira Above Mira, voiced by May Hong and Audrey Nuna (Photo: Netflix) Bringing the sassy main dancer of Huntr/x to life on the animated screen is May Hong. Primarily a model, she spends most of her time strutting down the catwalk for designer brands. She made her lead role debut in 2019 when she played Margot Park in Netflix's revival series Tales of the City . Mira's singing voice is provided by R&B rapper Audrey Nuna who is well known for her singles damn Right , Comic Sans featuring Jack Harlow and Baby Blues . Zoey Above Zoey, voiced by Ji-young Yoo and Rei Ami (Photo: Netflix) Ji-young Yoo injects her own playful flair as the KPop Demon Hunters ' bubbly maknae (youngest). You might have seen her recently in the horror film Until Dawn where she played Megan but she's also appeared in movies such as Moxie , Smoking Tigers and The Sky is Everywhere . When Zoey is on stage performing in front of millions of fans, Rei Ami takes the reins with her killer vocals. She rose to prominence in 2020 when she co-wrote and sang Sub Urban's Freak and would continue to release countless singles and albums. Celine Above Celine, voiced by Yunjin Kim and Lea Salonga (Photo: Netflix) The decorated Yunjin Kim portrays Rumi's foster mother and former demon hunter. A household name in Korean media, Kim has acted in numerous films and television shows—even lending her voice to a couple of video games. Her most notable roles are in the American TV series Lost , Shiri and Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area , among plenty of others. Celine's singing voice is done by none other than Broadway star and Disney legend Lea Salonga, who originated the role of Kim in Miss Saigon . See also: Lea Salonga to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Bobby Above Bobby, voiced by Ken Jeong (Photo: Netflix) Ken Jeong plays the lovable PR manager of the Kpop Demon Hunters. Instantly recognisable for his roles as Leslie Chow in the Hangover series and Ben Chang in the TV series Community , Jeong has made strides in Hollywood for his mastery over comedy. Fun fact, he's also a licensed physician of internal medicine in California, but has stopped practising in favour of his acting career. Jinu Above Jinu, voiced by Ahn Hyo-seop and Andrew Choi (Photo: Netflix) Serving as the perfect demonic foil to Rumi, the devilishly charming Juni is fittingly played by the Kdrama star, Ahn Hyo-seop. Rising to prominence for his first lead role in Queen of the Ring , Ahn has since amassed a massive following for his performances in the second and third seasons of Dr Romantic and Business Proposal , among others. When he's singing alongside the Saja Boys, Jinu is played by Andrew Choi. You've probably seen him on the second season of SBS's K-pop Star, where he finished third. If you missed that, then you definitely know him for his music. As of writing, Choi has three singles to his name with numerous musical compositions for the songs of NCT 127, NCT Ten and Monsta X, among others. Healing Han Above Healing Han, voiced by Daniel Dae Kim (Photo: Netflix) While only a short cameo, the eccentric doctor is voiced by Daniel Dae Kim, who has built an illustrious career in the realm of films, television and video games. From 2006 to 2017, gamers have known Kim as Johnny Gat in the Saints Row franchise, while recent fans may know him as Dr Jackson Han in the American adaptation of The Good Doctor . He also plays Fire Lord Ozai in Netflix's live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender . Gwi-Ma Above Gwi-Ma, voiced by Lee Byung-hun (Photo: Netflix) The king of the demons and main villain of the Kpop Demon Hunters, the faceless Gwi-Ma is given a menacing voice courtesy of Lee Byung-hun. You might recognise him as the Front Man in Netflix's Squid Game but he also appeared in Hollywood action films such as Red 2 , the G.I. Joe franchise, and Terminator Genisys, among many others. Twice Above The official lyric video of 'Takedown' by TWICE For the film's explosive finale, Jeongyeon, Jihyo and Chaeyoung of TWICE took over Rumi, Mira and Zoey's voices for a special performance of Takedown. The song's high energy, paired with the movie's climactic moment, stunned audiences as the trio took down the demon lord. NOW READ Filipino-British actor Claire-Marie Hall on 'Operation Mincemeat' and the joy of performing Mid-year review: the best pop albums of 2025 James Gunn's 'Superman' (2025) is a promising restart for the DC franchise
