The Two Faces Of January Review

A Drive In Athens 

Released : May 16th 2014

Certificate : 12A

Director : Hossein Amini

Cast : Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, Oscar Isaac

Plot : A wealthy con man by the name of Chester (Mortensen) has taken his wife (Dunset) on a holiday to Athens, while there they meet a young tour guide (Isaac). When private detectives come seeking the money of Chester’s clients violence ensues, and the trio and forced to run for there lives.

It’s been a long time since we have endured the pleasure of Viggo Mortensen. And if he was waiting for a good line up to launch his return to the world of film, then he had done very well. As The Two Faces of January defiantly has the ingredient and collaboration to be great. Coming together to make this film are the producer of Tinker Sailor Solider Spy, the author of The Talented Mr Ripely and the writer of Drive. Well this as all the tools to make a tense thriller about a con artist.

Mortensen has not lost any skill in his time away from the screen, neither have any of the cast. As all Mortensen, Dunst and Issac come together with brilliant performances, providing tense and powerful drama. Mortensn an Dunst are a married couple taking a nice relaxing holiday in Athens on the well earned money of the works of a con man. Then when the people coming wanting there money back as they always do Issac is forced to intervene, a tour guide with an eye for Dunst and tr nerve to rip of a con man running from the law. When this is all thrown together with brilliant actors on top form its a joy to watch. As the character drama matches the tense direction and storyline for potent dialog delivery.

On top of this the direction was surprising effective. From fist time director Hossein Amini ( the author of Drive, so he as some minor experience in the art of tense thrillers) makes his directional debut with a great performance and promise. Creating true edge of your set thrills, most notable of which is a scene set as the passengers get off the boat, the old time scene of making it through customs without being found out. As all these sorts of scenes normaly have a predictable out come, Amini was able to make you doubt yourself. Of corse the scenes such as these were brought together by the brilliantly believable performances of the actors. This all made for the a brilliantly stylish triller, a story and script that will not be remembered, but it is a undeniable quality production. And the location of shooting was just a nice bonus to see a bit of Athens.

 

Verdict :  Amini proves himself now as an effective thriller director as well as screen writer, he is a artist to watch. Full of thrilling suspense and brilliantly acted character drama.

 

Verdict : 4/5

 

Quote : “Now look at you, a real criminal”