Little-known Netflix tearjerker has fans all saying the same thing
A hidden treasure on Netflix, Two Lovers, has left viewers spellbound and they're encouraging everyone who hasn't seen it to give it a watch immediately.
The film stars Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw, and narrates the tale of Leonard Kraditor, a man whose engagement has been broken off and is compelled to move back in with his parents in Brooklyn.
The movie 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 intense feelings for his enigmatic neighbour, played by Gwyneth Paltrow.
The love triangle and the suspense of whom he will choose has viewers gripped, with many commenting on the tear-jerking ending, reports the Mirror US.
Critics have lauded the film, directed by James Gray, known for The Yards and We Own the Night, for its intricate portrayal of relationships.
The Guardian has heaped praise on James Gray's cinematic style, saying: "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 stellar 81 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film Two Lovers is making waves among viewers and critics.
One reviewer said: "No film has captured how we idealize others in relationships better than Two Lovers."
Another lauded the film's intricate production: "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."
Meanwhile, a third critic was moved by its subtlety: "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."
Audience reactions coincide, with many highlighting the emotional impact of the film's finale.
One fan shared their personal connection: "Maybe I'm biased towards a lot of things in this film, but it really hit home with me. Would definitely recommend it."
A second viewer said: "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."
Another reviewer added: "Strong contender for most emotionally devastating sex scene ever."
The film Two Lovers is currently available to stream on Netflix.
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