The Two Faces Of January It is Athens in 1962. Rydal (Oscar Isaac) is an American, fluent in Greek, tourist guiding Americans and using their unfamiliarity with the language to rip them off. He encounters the rich and glamorous Chester and Colette MacFarland (Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst) and makes a few drachmas from them. And then events take an unexpected turn...
This film starts intriguingly. It introduces us to the main characters and sets up expectations nicely, then the plot takes a left turn - even better. Then it meanders on and on and on without ever getting anywhere worth getting to. The period feel is good. The Mediterranean locations - Athens, Crete, Istanbul - are all suitably evocative. The three principals are all fine. The problem is twofold. The story (by Patricia "Mr Ripley" Highsmith) never capitalises on what it sets up, and the script and direction (Hossein Amini, scripter of Drive and Snow White And The Huntsman) never comes to terms with the fact that there is no sense of urgency or jeopardy.
Unfortunately, this turned out to be dull and drab.
Oh, and while I expect the title was explained in the book, it isn't explained in the film. Heaven only knows what it means.
This film starts intriguingly. It introduces us to the main characters and sets up expectations nicely, then the plot takes a left turn - even better. Then it meanders on and on and on without ever getting anywhere worth getting to. The period feel is good. The Mediterranean locations - Athens, Crete, Istanbul - are all suitably evocative. The three principals are all fine. The problem is twofold. The story (by Patricia "Mr Ripley" Highsmith) never capitalises on what it sets up, and the script and direction (Hossein Amini, scripter of Drive and Snow White And The Huntsman) never comes to terms with the fact that there is no sense of urgency or jeopardy.
Unfortunately, this turned out to be dull and drab.
Oh, and while I expect the title was explained in the book, it isn't explained in the film. Heaven only knows what it means.