The Two Faces of January

The Two Faces of January, Hossein Amini

It is a slow grind but, have faith, The Two Faces of January is adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s 1964 novel. American author, Highsmith, wrote clever, suspense novels which are often psychological and disturbing. Her works have been filmed several times, notably by Hitchcock in Strangers on a Train (the best interpretation) and Anthony Minghella’s The Talented Mr Ripley. Anyone who knows Highsmith understands why her unpredictable story lines are a draw for film makers. Expectations have been set but are not entirely satisfied by screenwriter Hossein Amini’s first stab as a director.

The plot is a con and love triangle, held together with three points of fine acting from the leads – Vigo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst and Oscar Isaacs. Mortensen almost expires in a puff of lung cancer as he chain smokes himself through the sultry Greek locations, while on the run with his beautiful wife (Dunst) and a suitcase that never leaves his side. Isaac, fresh from his success in Inside Llewyn Davis, slides easily into his role as the handsome tour guide turned accomplice.

In true Highsmith style neither the con or the love turn out to be straightforward. The crescendo building creeps on but the last 20 minutes are well worth the wait. The twisted plot unravels and culminates with Mortensen scrambling through Istanbul in a scene which is reminiscent of the final chapter in Carol Reed’s classic The Third Man.