nobody upset about the ending? - SPOILERS!

At first I was upset about the ending as well. I understand that it seems like a happy ending cop-out. After thinking about it for awhile, I think the ending was like "The Graduate". Sure, the guy gets the girl in the end, but the look on their faces is the kicker. They're thinking, "What now?". In Two Lovers, clearly it's not supposed to be happy ending. The marraige will never work, Joaquin Phoenix's character is too screwed up.

I'm not that proud of everything I've done, but I'm not that ashamed, either.

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At first, I was very disappointed in the ending! I thought it was just too pat and perfect and did not fit at all with the rest of the movie. But, after reading some of these posts, I wonder if maybe he finally decided to choose a relatively healthy relationship over the unhealthy ones he'd had in the past. Of course, it's hard to believe that they'll live happily ever after. He'll probably exhaust her and she may get to a point where she tires of "taking care" of him. But, meanwhile, maybe they'll both grow up a bit and see each other in a more realistic light and maybe even learn something about love along the way.

P.S. Did the Vinessa Shaw character seriously say that not many men would be interested in her? Was she supposed to the "plain" one? I think she's infinitely more beautiful than Gwyneth Paltrow! Those cheekbones!

I thought the ending was fitting. It showed the absurdity of believing that any one person can be used as a way to solve your problems. "Have a leftover engagement ring? Give it to another girl who you aren't on a sure footing with!" No sane person would offer that advice, yet it's a quick and easy solution that Leonard sees, in a desperate attempt to try and 'fix' himself... In reality, you can't see the worth of someone else until you're fully cognisant of your own issues, and Leonard was still very far away from being a whole, self-sufficient person in his own right, when we left him at the end of the movie.

By unwittingly using people as substitutes to try to patch up old problems, you'll only wind up storing new ones for yourself, at a later date. We - and the people around us - don't always see the value of romantic partners who are right for us at the time. We don't always love who's 'best'. Following your heart is dangerous, because it's impulsive, and you don't always have time to weigh up the proper merits of something before you dive in and realise that you're way over your head... Nevertheless, because Leonard's emotional and looking for someone to cling to, that's his approach, and that's also how many other people live their lives.

I saw the fact that the ending is only a 'medical' one, and a temporary salve, as being precisely the point.








"I've been turned down more times than the beds at the Holiday Inn; I still try"

I kind of agree with what you're saying. But I felt that giving her that ring. Giving her what she so obviously wanted, even if perhaps his heart isn't initially in it, was him getting on the path to 'getting better'. He made the healthy choice. She loved him and he knew he could be happy with her. If not right then but sometime in the future.

I didn't particularly like him giving her that ring, the ring he bought for someone else. But these are all flawed people and I thought the ending perfectly illustrated that. Kind of bittersweet.

Loved the film.

"You're smiling, Jim."
"Oh God forbid. The wind might change."

I didn;t like Michelle but was sad he didn't get what he wanted. I thought he was going to try and kill himself again at the beach. I feel sorry for Sandra she would never know she was second best and the ring wasn't for her :( but amazing film, loved it!

'the universe has been waiting for me...' Donna Noble, Doctor Who.

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