The Two Faces of January (2014) Review

The Two Faces of January (2014) Review

Director – Hossein Amini

Stars – Viggo Mortensen Kirsten Dunst, Oscar Isaac.

Written as a novel by Patricia Highsmith The Two Faces of January seems to borrow from the same kind of nostalgia as her other books, mainly ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’ (1999). From this alone we can gather many of the film’s themes; betrayal, murder and false pretences which Highsmith has successfully used time and again. With the back drop of 1960’s Greece we are given various glances over ancient ruins highlighted by the sweltering heat. The plot centres on Colette (Dunst) and Chester (Mortensen) as a couple on the run from police with Isaac’s Rydal acting as an accomplice to their travels after he is caught up in the mess. The film has first time director Hossein Amini at the helm after previous writing duties on ‘Drive’ (2011) and ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ (2012).

From the beginning we see the happy relationship between a confident Collette (Dunst) and suave but older Chester (Mortensen) disrupted after Chester murders a private detective. Witnessing this Rydal (Isaac) begins to help them avoid capture, but to what end?  As they travel across Greece we begin to see Rydal and Collette become closer whilst Chester watches on jealousy. What makes the film interesting is that from the beginning we don’t meet any other major characters apart from these three. In doing so we get a semi – claustrophobic atmosphere that gradually begins to make each of these people act against one another. Driven by separate motives, an ever growing pace is set which plays out extremely effectively. We get glamorous horizon views of the scenery and hand held camera chase sequences in rustic ruins. The film does well to keep us on the edge of our seats as each character clamours to get out in time.

One of the films great elements is the casting. Isaac is likable as an American tour guide who becomes intensely obsessed with Collette, whilst Mortensen plays a sterner man with purpose in his stride, both men attempting to gain freedom whilst yearning to be with Colette. The films only downfall is its vast pace, it chases to the end of the story without really making the most of each characters decisions. However in saying this each actor brings intensity and intrigue into the people they create, whilst Amini is able to steer us to a climatic finish. All in all the film is about two sides of a person and how they cope with others in order to survive. It delivers on the drama but it would have been great to have made more of the script.

RATING 4/5