Director James Gray is known for crime thrillers such as The Yards and We Own the Night. Here he changes pace with this gentle, emotional drama which enjoyably takes its time establishing character and narrative, and steadfastly refuses to tip into melodrama, despite ample opportunity.

The suicidal, bipolar Leonard (Joaquin Phoenix) is persuaded by his adoptive Jewish parents Reuben (Moni Moshonov) and Ruth (Isabella Rossellini) to start a relationship with a nice Jewish girl. The girl in question is Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), daughter of Michael Cohen (Bob Ari), who wants to take over Reuben’s dry-cleaning business. But then Leonard begins an affair with unstable neighbour Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow), who has an older married lover.

In essence, the film is about choice — Leonard’s choice between family obligations and a Jewish bride and love for an “unsuitable” woman. Phoenix and Paltrow make that dilemma powerfully affecting.