Jesus, that was fast. With production beginning today on "The Two Faces Of January," the filmmakers haven't wasted any time in getting the buzz going around the film, with the first pic of the two leads Kirsten Dunst and Viggo Mortensen arriving.
Marking the directorial debut of "Drive" writer Hossein Amini, the movie is based on the book by famed novelist Patricia Highsmith ("The Talented Mr. Ripley"), and follows a con artist (Mortensen) who is forced to flee Greece with his wife (Dunst) after accidentally (or not) killing a police officer. An American tutor agrees to help him out, and all three hightail it to Istanbul. And oh yeah, playing that tutor? Oscar Isaac. So yes, the movie boasts a pretty great leading trio, some promising source material and a director looking to make his name. Color us very intrigued. Here's the official synopsis:
1962. A glamorous American couple, the charismatic CHESTER MACFARLAND (Mortensen) and his alluring younger wife COLETTE (Dunst), arrive in Athens by boat via the Corinthian Canal. While sightseeing at the Acropolis they encounter RYDAL (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. When Rydal visits the couple at their exclusive hotel, Chester presses him to help move the body of a seemingly unconscious man who he claims attacked him. In the moment, Rydal agrees but as events take a more sinister turn he finds himself compromised and unable to pull himself free. His increasing infatuation with the vulnerable and responsive Colette gives rise to Chester’s jealousy and paranoia, leading to a tense and dangerous battle of wits between the two men. Their journey takes them from Greece to Turkey, and to a dramatic finale played out in the back alleys of Istanbul's Grand Bazaar.
"The Two Faces Of January" will have an international release on December 18, 2013. No domestic details yet, but a fall festival bow next year? We'd bet on it.
A family from Australia, of Greek origin, we were in Athens, Acroplis and Plaka area 15th and 16th October. Saw the film crews, actors and extras. Our 7 year old was totally excited at seeing a film in the making, and especially the "Athenian family" (Mother, Father, girl and boy) that featured in the Acroplis scene on the 16th. We first saw the "family" on the 15th casually strolling in the Plaka area. They looked like genuine wealthy Athenian's on a evening stroll as the 60's fashions are so currently vogue.
I was in Hania (holidays) the last week during the film and we had to extend the walk to go to have dinner with my daughter in my arms and they not even let me say Hello to the "Cuervo" Viggo :S
I am going to buy the book today.
I love Crete, greek people!! Greetings from an argentinian living in Tuscany 😉
this film is being shoot here in Crete in locations 10 min from my house!
The historical area of Hania has been highlighted quite much in both book and movie.
And now the 2014 Oscar race officially begins! We're not even close to done with this one yet…