How does this sound for a night out at the movies? You have Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst and Oscar Isaac. You have source material from thriller writer Patricia Highsmith, the author of The Talented Mr. Ripley. You have screenwriter Hossein Amini (Drive) making his directorial debut. And you have an intriguing crime story shot in some stunning European locations. There is certainly a lot of promise for The Two Faces of January, currently screening at the Berlin Film Festival and getting a European release in late spring, but unfortunately, its first trailer gives away a bit too much.
Recently, the National Association of Theater Owners changed the guidelines for movie trailers, with one of the rules being that previews could only run for two minutes at most. This spot, however, seems to give away just a few too many pertinent plot details. Fans of The Talented Mr. Ripley, Drive or any of the three actors above – and I presume that covers a wide spread of our readers – should watch at their own risk.
If you thought that Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence had a wide age gap for a married couple in American Hustle, then perhaps you have similar thoughts about Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst. They play Chester and Colette MacFarland, who befriend a young tour guide (Oscar Isaac) during their vacation in Greece. However, after con artist Chester murders a police officer, all starts to go awry.
Based on the steamy looks Dunst and Isaac are giving each other here, expect a bit of erotic tension to spice up an already unraveling story. Unlike the trailer, I would rather not give too much away, so I’ll stop there. Perhaps get a taste of the sun-drenched Athens action below for about a minute and then stop watching if you don’t want anything spoiled.
The Two Faces of January does not have a North American release date yet but with a strong ensemble, a talented writer-turned-director and an intriguing potboiler plot, this could be a lovely late summer thriller.