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Joaquin's Two Lovers
Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
Two Lovers' director James Gray and star Vinessa Shaw talk about Joaquin Phoenix’ last act, Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP, and the “terrible clichés” of arthouse cinema.
Joaquin Phoenix made headlines for his self-destructive Late Show appearance, and an ever-idiosyncratic Gwyneth Paltrow is, as usual, creating media dervishes with oddly chosen words and outfits. This may not be the publicity that director James Gray was hoping his new film, Two Lovers, would receive, especially considering the quiet, dimly lit, irony-free tone of the subtle romantic drama. Set against a bleak Brooklyn winter backdrop, Two Lovers revolves around Phoenix’s troubled Leonard as he struggles to choose between two women, one even-keeled and just a bit dull, the other volatile and unnervingly alluring.
Gray is better known for seamy crime dramas, but he’s received kudos for his latest effort, a film the New York Times says is “modest in scale, but the feelings that run through it are large and intense.” And while Phoenix and Paltrow may be the box-office draws, their co-star, Vinessa Shaw, certainly holds her own. Not known for starring in Oscar bait (her recent credits include slasher flicks Stag Night and The Hills Have Eyes), Shaw has earned praise from critics for her carefully layered portrayal of the girl Leonard’s parents would prefer he end up with. Both Shaw and Gray spoke to The Daily Beast about getting out of their comfort zones, Paltrow’s strange shopping website, and Phoenix’s bizarre retirement announcement.
Click Here for the Interview with James Gray
Click Here for the Interview with Vinessa Shaw
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Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
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As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
The Week in Culture
Rachel Syme is the former culture editor of The Daily Beast and now writes regularly about the arts.
The Week in Culture
Rachel Syme is the former culture editor of The Daily Beast and now writes regularly about the arts.
The Week in Culture
Rachel Syme is the former culture editor of The Daily Beast and now writes regularly about the arts.
CrabbyGolightly
ISN'T IT FUNNY HOW THE PUBLICITY MACHINE WORKS?
Joaquin Phoenix quits 'acting,' goes on David Letterman to promote (ahem) a barely whispered-about movie, feigns indifference to Dave and the movie Two Lovers and the audience, and even more dangerously, the publicity game itself. And snap, just like that, this little $12 million "last" movie of Joaquin's gets more attention than a $12 million media blitz could buy. La La Land's legitimate shrink Dr. Drew Pinsky, who's actually seems pretty level-headed most of the time, voices "grave concern" about Phoenix's disheveled and flat affect and wonders aloud if the actor isn't, A) intoxicated on something, or B) experiencing depression. But if you watch Joaquin closely in the Letterman clip that's now gone viral, he's certainly lucid enough to take his own jabs at Dave.
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