Too much passion in a person might make them difficult, feverish, and unpredictable. Too much passion in an actor? That might make them one of the finest in a generation. Famous for his fierce commitment to even the darkest of roles, Joaquin Phoenix found a kindred spirit during the 2000s when he started to collaborate with American auteur James Gray. Equally fearless when it comes to the murky complexities of human motivation and emotion, Gray lets Phoenix fly in the superlative films of this double bill.
Two Lovers (2008) takes place in contemporary Brooklyn, while The Immigrant (2013) is set decades before in Prohibition-era Manhattan—but across that temporal divide, the two films share a deep interest in immigrant communities in America and the heartache that might afflict them. High on desire and staggering around the lacerating corners of a love triangle in both films, Phoenix’s characters risk everything for the women they want. In the hands of another actor, Leonard in Two Lovers could be too much a fool, and Bruno in The Immigrant, too much a monster. Sincere in each outstanding performance, however, Phoenix imbues both the puppyish photographer and the sordid showman with a devastating hope. Gray’s forgiving eyes, meanwhile, see neither man as irretrievably blind or bad—each is simply a human in love. Engulfed in infatuation’s tenebrous lows and euphoric highs, these are modern masterworks about the places and the people we long to call home.

Too much passion in a person might make them difficult, feverish, and unpredictable. Too much passion in an actor? That might make them one of the finest in a generation. Famous for his fierce commitment to even the darkest of roles, Joaquin Phoenix found a kindred spirit during the 2000s when he started to collaborate with American auteur James Gray. Equally fearless when it comes to the murky complexities of human motivation and emotion, Gray lets Phoenix fly in the superlative films of this double bill.
Two Lovers (2008) takes place in contemporary Brooklyn, while The Immigrant (2013) is set decades before in Prohibition-era Manhattan&#8212;but across that temporal divide, the two films share a deep interest in immigrant communities in America and the heartache that might afflict them. High on desire and staggering around the lacerating corners of a love triangle in both films, Phoenix&#8217;s characters risk everything for the women they want. In the hands of another actor, Leonard in Two Lovers could be too much a fool, and Bruno in The Immigrant, too much a monster. Sincere in each outstanding performance, however, Phoenix imbues both the puppyish photographer and the sordid showman with a devastating hope. Gray&#8217;s forgiving eyes, meanwhile, see neither man as irretrievably blind or bad&#8212;each is simply a human in love. Engulfed in infatuation&#8217;s tenebrous lows and euphoric highs, these are modern masterworks about the places and the people we long to call home.

Double Act: Joaquin Phoenix and James Gray

DOUBLE ACT: JOAQUIN PHOENIX AND JAMES GRAY

Under the influence of unrequited love, two men risk it all in these modern masterworks by American auteur James Gray. In heartbreakers about the places and people we long to call home, Joaquin Phoenix embodies infatuation’s tenebrous lows and euphoric highs with tremendous sincerity and passion.

Under the influence of unrequited love, two men risk it all in these modern masterworks by American auteur James Gray. In heartbreakers about the places and people we long to call home, Joaquin Phoenix embodies infatuation&#8217;s tenebrous lows and euphoric highs with tremendous sincerity and passion.