Wednesday 11 June 2014

Film No. 41 (2014) The Two Faces of January June 9th.

Film No. 41 (2014) June 9th. 6:30 PM PARADISO Northbridge.


The Two Faces of January


If you love winding back time and feasting in the black and white "B" grade thrillers of the ilk where Humphrey Bogart plays the bag guy who double crosses some young "wet behind the ears" punk for the sake of a few bucks, then you are going to love The Two Faces of January in technicolor.

Admittedly the script is a little deeper than my initial description but director Hossein Amini has created a genre piece capturing three flawed characters, Chester (Viggo Mortensen), his wife Colette (Kirsten Dunst) and Rydal (Oscar Isaac)who meet by chance at The Parthenon, Athens in 1962. Rydal is mesmerised by the couple and becomes their guide as they explore the ruins of the ancient city. All is well until Chester's is faced with deeds of his past and fate turns their lives on a new and thrilling path.

This film has blemishes in the same way the "airport novel" it is adapted from and the era of film it is emulating have. It is my view that Amini is well aware of the film he has made; the blemishes are woven into the film for a reason. It's a film that may very well divide audiences.

The performances of Mortensen, Dunst and Isaac are excellent. Amini has a skill in bringing the right faces to his characters; who could forget Ryan Gosling in Drive. I was in the mood for Faces so I'm applauding; but don't take your eye off Chester's suitcase and please don't walk out before the "cheesy" ending.
9GUMS  

  

  


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