Plot: What’s it about?
The Two Faces of January tells the story of a con artist named Chester Macfarland (Viggo Mortensen) who is in Athens with his wife Colette (Kirstin Dunst) who gets involved in a murder of a private detective. The investigator is there to question Chester about money he stole from investors. When Chester is dragging the investigator’s body out in the hall of the hotel room, Rydal (Oscar Isaac) witnesses this, and then asks Rydal to help take him to the room. He tells Rydal that the man is simply drunk. Colette and Chester met Rydal earlier in the film and while Chester was a bit skeptical towards him, Colette took to him right away. Eventually Rydal decides to help the Macfarlands by introducing them to someone who can create fake passports for them. The rest of the film is devoted to these three characters trying to flee Athens and escape before they’re charged with the murder. There are several more twists in the story, but those are best left to the viewer to discover.
I was rather impressed by this film. It takes place in the 60’s and successfully recreates that time period with the wardrobes and styles of that era. All three leads give great performances and there’s a great deal of suspense to the story. We don’t see a lot of movies like this anymore and this became a pleasant surprise. I was reminded a bit of The Talented Mr. Ripley. Much to my surprise, it’s based on a novel by Patricia Highsmith who also wrote Ripley. The story unfolds in a very similar fashion, but this time there are a couple more characters involved in the mix, rather than a single character. This is the kind of film that sort of works its way on you. Some viewers might be turned off by the slow start, but I felt it helps to develop the characters and draw us in. The plot is very involving, but what also works here is the attention to the characters and their developments over the course of the film. I liked the way that Rydal and Chester both try to manipulate one another. It’s unpredictable and also a film that would benefit from repeat viewings. Strongly recommended.
Video: How’s it look?
The film certainly has a lot going for it in terms of visuals. Thankfully, the transfer is up for the challenge. Right from the start, colors are strong and bold with clear definition throughout. The various details shine through in almost every scene whether there’s a sun-drenched day scene or a darker scene at night. It satisfies throughout. The print is fine and free of flaws. The image is AVC encoded with a 2.39:1 ratio.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The DTS HD track is also strong. There are plenty of smaller dialogue scenes, but when the tension rises, the track becomes more involving. There are a few chase sequences that add nice depth. I felt like someone was creeping up behind me a few times. That’s just how good it is. The score also comes through nicely. This track accompanies the film well.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Deleted Scenes – About 6 minutes worth and only brief extensions, nothing essential.
- Bloopers
- Traveling In Style – This is just over 2 minutes and talks briefly about the outfits used in the film.
- Shooting the Odyssey – Is just a promotional feature about shooting the film on location.
- A Twist on the Classic Thriller – This one talks about the genre and how these films don’t get made very often any more. Despite its brevity, it’s mildly interesting.
- AXS TV: A Look at The Two Faces of January – Essentially just an extended promo for the film.
- Theatrical Trailer and Previews
