Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by tinear (A) on July 06, 2009 at 08:17:36

Joaquim Phoenix is masterly and Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw also are brilliant.
A youngish, emotionally adrift man meets a young woman suffering in an apparently dead-end relationship and strongly is drawn to her but, simultaneously, an attractive other woman finds herself equally attracted to him. Suddenly caught between what is possible, but warm, and what seemingly impossible, but hot, his personality begins to unravel.
I usually don't like these sorts of films but the level of acting truly overcomes the rather melodramatic theme.
Rotten Toms shows high marks with critics liking it even more, 91%. Though that's not necessarily infallible, this time it's accurate.
I hope Phoenix isn't retiring: he shows he can do emotional nuance at a very sophisticated level.
Only one quibble: SPOILER:
Vinessa Shaw is a babe. When she mentions men don't find her attractive, it just wasn't very believable!