Review of The Two Faces of January (2014) by Thomas W — 15 Sep 2014
This nice looking film filmed mostly in the glorious sun-drenched isles of Greece stars Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises) and Kirsten Dunst (Melancholia) as married Americans on a European getaway in the year 1962.
After an incident in their hotel room with a dangerous stranger, they enlist the help of a young American (Oscar Isaac - Inside Llewyn Davis) working in Greece as a tour guide to help them out of their predicament.
As the young man helps them obtain documents for safe passage and remain out of the public eye (by sailing to the less populated Crete), the trio discovers they are each keeping secrets and aren't overly sure who can be trusted with what.
Based on a Patricia Highsmith novel (The Talented Mr. Ripley), this romantic thriller comes across as high brow and sophisticated. While the film as a non-brisk pacing (look at the beautiful landscapes!!), it does slowly build tension with a uneasy feeling of dread as the story reaches it climatic tipping/pushing point.
The film is slow and its a character-driven movie so there is little actual action; but it kept my interest throughout. Isaac is a rising star and one day people will know his name ... this film won't be the one to win him new fans; but it'll happen one day.
Like my going to Greece.
This review of The Two Faces of January (2014) was written by Thomas W on 15 Sep 2014.
The Two Faces of January has generally received mixed reviews.
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