The Two Faces of January

Name: The Two Faces of January
Genre: Thriller
Released: September 26, 2014
Duration: 96 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Oscar Isaac, Viggo Mortensen

2014

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 58 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 58 Ratings

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The Two Faces Of January: Colette On The Bus

Now Playing: The Two Faces Of January: Colette On The Bus

Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: September 26, 2014 | PG-13

Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Oscar Isaac, Viggo Mortensen

Summary: In 1962, the charismatic Chester MacFarland (Viggo Mortensen) and his alluring younger wife Colette (Kirsten Dunst), arrive in Athens by boat via the Corinthian Canal. While sightseeing at the Acropolis they encounter Rydal (Oscar Isaac), a young, Greek-speaking American who is working as a tour guide, scamming tourists on the side. DrawnIn 1962, the charismatic Chester MacFarland (Viggo Mortensen) and his alluring younger wife Colette (Kirsten Dunst), arrive in Athens by boat via the Corinthian Canal. While sightseeing at the Acropolis they encounter Rydal (Oscar Isaac), a young, Greek-speaking American who is working as a tour guide, scamming tourists on the side. Drawn to Colette’s beauty and impressed by Chester’s wealth and sophistication, Rydal gladly accepts their invitation to dinner. However, all is not as it seems with the MacFarlands, and Chester’s affable exterior hides darker secrets.… Expand

Director: Hossein Amini

Genre(s): Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 96 min

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Critic Reviews

Steven Rea

Oct 10, 2014

This is Highsmith, and so things do not go as planned for her protagonists. The Two Faces of January - drop-dead gorgeous to behold - is not a merry tale, but a murderous one. Murderously good. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Feb 14, 2014

Best known as the screenwriter of such subtext-rich adaptations as “The Wings of the Dove” and “Drive,” Amini excels at conveying the subtle, unspoken tensions between characters, selecting a tightrope-risky example with which to make his directorial debut and orchestrating it with aplomb. Read full review

Betsy Sharkey

Sep 25, 2014

Amini has a powerful acting triumvirate in Mortensen, Dunst and Isaac to help him deal with the capricious nature of this particular tangled web. Read full review

Deborah Young

Feb 11, 2014

On his first trip behind the camera, the British-Iranian Amini shows his skill at working with actors and sensing the way they can fill out literary characters. His screenplay generally feels more naturalistic than Highsmith, the dialogue less spare. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Sep 25, 2014

A sun-splashed noir that loses its appeal in the last act. Read full review

Mike D'Angelo

Sep 8, 2014

For a first-time director, Amini demonstrates considerable skill both with actors and with the camera, giving the film a pungent balance of visual elegance and moral seediness. Read full review

Daniel Green

May 21, 2014

Amini has proven his narrative acumen before and will undoubtedly do so again, but his inaugural stint behind the camera offers only fleeting glimpses of Highsmith's seductive, satirical prose that old hands such as Clément, Hitchcock and Minghella have so notably put to good use. Read full review

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User Reviews

foxgrove

Sep 26, 2014

Based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith this suspenseful mystery drama is of the same high calibre that distinguished 'The Talented Mr Ripley' another adaptation with the same classy pedigree. This film is elevated by three compellingly nuanced performances even it's the men who steal theBased on the novel by Patricia Highsmith this suspenseful mystery drama is of the same high calibre that distinguished 'The Talented Mr Ripley' another adaptation with the same classy pedigree. This film is elevated by three compellingly nuanced performances even it's the men who steal the show. Kirsten Dunst with less screen time is still very good, but it is the chemistry between Viggo Mortenson and Oscar Isaac that makes the material zing. Watching them play the cat and mouse games afforded them by the serpentine twists and turns of a very impressive screenplay makes for enthralling viewing. Director Hussein Amir keeps his camera in close creating an edgy claustrophobic atmosphere, whilst not allowing the gorgeous Greek and Turkish locations to distract from the main drama. This may be a low key film, but it is one of high quality. Smooth editing and luminous camera work add to the distinctive achievement. My only misgiving is with the title, the meaning of which completely eludes me.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

inamor417

Nov 8, 2015

A handsome thriller with plot twists that don't always make sense, "The Two Faces of January," moves slowly, but ultimately entertains.

Watch this movie here for free http://www.watchfree.to/watch-29f3e5-The-Two-Faces-of-January-movie-online-free-putlocker.html

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

geewah

Mar 30, 2021

This Hitchcock inspired thriller is big on plot twists but does lose it's way a bit in the final act and at times seems a tad overstylised.
Still an entertaining enough flick.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

beingryanjude

Sep 28, 2014

A suspenseful look at a not-so-traditional few days in Greece during the 1960s. The Two Faces of January has a certain aesthetic which draws you in. Most of the time, you are craving for more.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

zurnzurn

Jan 11, 2015

The writing doesn't quite fully flesh out the characters, or make us care enough, for the suspense to be meaningful. Competently shot and has more promise in the beginning than the end.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

DawdlingPoet

Nov 28, 2021

This is quite a tense sinister film, with constant spooky instrumental stringed music played in the background to accentuate this. There are a fair number of scenes which are very dimly lit and so I found it a little difficult to figure out exactly what was going on but I guess you could sayThis is quite a tense sinister film, with constant spooky instrumental stringed music played in the background to accentuate this. There are a fair number of scenes which are very dimly lit and so I found it a little difficult to figure out exactly what was going on but I guess you could say it adds to the mystery of it. This film definitely has a classic feel to it, which made me think back to old gangster/fraud/crime films of the early to mid 20th century. The plot did seem to be quite detailed, even though I found it a bit hard to follow, what with some noticeably rather undecipherable dialogue at times and the dark lighting making some scenes seem rather chaotic and a bit disorientating, as I say. This film is very much about the characters and character development in general, with the viewer playing the role of a distant PI or detective, I suppose, trying to second guess the eventual outcome, identify any fake characters or moles and so on. Its fairly engrossing, with a strong mystery element to it but I have to say it didn't entirely appeal to me personally. I think the problem with me personally, in relation to this film, is that I'm so easily distracted that I accidentally miss perhaps slightly more subtle but yet important plot details, while briefly looking away from the screen. Also, as I say, yes this is a genuinely rather sinister and mysterious film but I think it may have suffered a bit from being too mysterious and unclear...perhaps? I have nothing against stylish films and undoubtedly this is one of them and the acting is pretty top notch, I couldn't help but feel it was a film that had a fair amount of thought put into it but it didn't really 'work' for me, as I felt confused and the various plot twists (of which there are, as I hint, numerous) only confused me further.

I think this film will appeal to some and it certainly does have an audience but it won't suit everyone. I would say that fans of other stylised crime/thriller/mystery films including the Oceans films (Oceans 11, Oceans 12 etc.) and The Talented Mr. Ripley may well enjoy this.

Time wise, this film has a running time of an hour and a half, so it isn't especially long. Another thing I should probably mention, is that given this film is set overseas, in non-English speaking countries, there are many scenes featuring subtitles, with relatively fast dialogue so you certainly have to stay glued to the screen (and a fairly good/quick reader) to keep track of things.

No, personally I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this film, although I'm sure it'll have its fans. I found it to be quite stylish, fairly engrossing and certainly with a good mysterious element to it but I also found it to be somehow hard to follow entirely, the subtitles were a bit off-putting and the low light in many scenes I found a nuisance and hindered me fully grasping going on but it is a pretty atmospheric film, it just isn't really 'my cup of tea'. As I mentioned previously, I imagine if you were/are particularly keen on the 'Oceans' film or/and 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' then you may well enjoy this but personally, I saw it very much as an average, middle of the road type film I'm afraid.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CPD98

Sep 26, 2014

La película tenía buenos actores y una trama en principio interesante. Lástima que pronto todo se vuelve muy plano y monótono hasta que la intriga prácticamente desaparece. La lucha entre los dos protagonistas se vuelve tediosa y el papel de Dunst es casi anecdótico. Una película un pocoLa película tenía buenos actores y una trama en principio interesante. Lástima que pronto todo se vuelve muy plano y monótono hasta que la intriga prácticamente desaparece. La lucha entre los dos protagonistas se vuelve tediosa y el papel de Dunst es casi anecdótico. Una película un poco pobre.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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