LAFF: The Gala Screening of The Two Faces of January - LA (June 17, 2014) The Two Faces of January  (United Kingdom, Greece, Turkey, 2014, 96 mins, DCP)  In English, Greek, Turkish with English subtitles Directed By: Hossein Amini Producers: Tom Sternberg, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Robyn Slovo, Tim Bricknell, Ron Halpern, Max Minghell Screenwriters: Hossein Amini Cinematographer: Marcel Zyskind Editors: Nicolas Chaudeurge, Jon Harris Production Design: Michael Carlin Set Decoration: Dominic Capon Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, Oscar Isaac Music: Alberto Iglesias Watch the trailer Short Review This superior directing debut by British-Iranian screenwriter Hossein Amini (The Wings of the Dove, Drive) is a very stylish period thriller. It's based on an old-fashioned novel by Patricia Highsmith whose work has been adapted for numerous films including Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train". The Two Faces of January is set in 1962 across Athens, Crete and Istanbul. The film is a moderate-budget independent feature that charms without excessive violence or special effects. It's a visual feast thanks to the cinematography of Marcel Zyskind. The production design, costumes and makeup are all top-notch. In addition, it features terrific performances from the leading three actors and lots of clever and memorable lines. Fianlly, the movie is smartly edited and has a perfect runtime of 96 minutes (normal attention span). Hence, without a doubt the film got lots of things right. However, Amini's The Two Faces of January is a typical suspense thriller and not an extraordinary work. Like similar films (Minghella's The Talented Mr. Ripley, Hitchcock's The Third Man, etc.) it entertains and aims at teaching an important moral lesson. One is reminded of the ten commandments immediately after watching this film. Was justice really served? A private detective is accidentally killed and the couple are guilty of panicking and running away without their passports. Frankly, it's hard to feel that the MacFarlanes deserved their fate. Consequently, the ending of the film is a little implausible. Yet, it's highly recommended because watching this film is a really pleasurable experience. It's worth to watch more than once.
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