In 2007 , Phoenix reunited with director James Gray for the film '' We Own the Night '' , which he also produced . In the film , Phoenix played a New York nightclub manager who tries to save his brother and father from Russian mafia hit men . The film premiered at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival , receiving mixed reviews from critics and grossed a total of $ 54.5 million worldwide . Critic Peter Travers described Phoenix as " electrifying and then some " , and he was awarded the People 's Choice Award for Favorite Leading Man for the performance . For his second film of 2007 , Phoenix also reunited with director Terry George for the film '' Reservation Road '' . In it , Phoenix played a father obsessed with finding out who killed his son in a hit-and-run accident . The film failed at the box office and received negative reviews from critics , with film critic Peter Travers writing " Even the best actors – and I 'd rank Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Ruffalo among their generation 's finest – ca n't save a movie that aims for tragedy but stalls at soap opera . " Phoenix made his third collaboration with director James Gray in the film '' Two Lovers '' ( 2008 ) , where he played a bachelor torn between the family friend his parents wish he would marry and his beautiful but volatile new neighbor . '' Two Lovers '' premiered in competition at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival in May , receiving largely positive reviews , especially Phoenix who was praised by film critics David Edelstein who wrote " He Phoenix is , once again , stupendous , and stupendous in a way he has never been before " and Roger Ebert describing his performance as " perfect pitch " . '' Two Lovers '' grossed $ 16 million worldwide
2008 Cannes Film Festival
2008 Cannes Film Festival
Joaquin Phoenix