Netflix's hidden gem with Gwyneth Paltrow and Joaquin Phoenix leaves fans in tears
A hidden treasure on Netflix has captivated viewers, with fans urging those who haven't seen it to give it a watch immediately.
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.
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