We learned a while ago that hossein amini, who wrote the original draft of drive, is planning to make his directorial debut with a new adaptation of the book the two faces of january. Rydal keener is a young drifter looking for adventure. The two faces of january by patricia highsmith bookchor. Discussing what appealed to him in patricia highsmiths simmering thriller the two faces of january, firsttime director hossein amini landed on the deliberate lack of character motivation. His script for 1997s the wings of the dove earned him a nomination for. The two faces of january is a 2014 americanbritishfrench thriller film written and directed by hossein amini, in his directorial debut. Amini and viggo mortensen are developing an adaptation of patricia highsmiths the two faces of january, according to a person familiar with the project who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to talk about it publicly.
It is based on patricia highsmiths 1964 novel the two faces of january and stars viggo mortensen, kirsten dunst and oscar isaac filming took place on location in greece and turkey, and at ealing studios. Now comes hossein aminis the two faces of january, which clearly comes closer to the minghella film than to the others, probably for commercial reasons, but also likely because the late minghellas estate was crucial in getting the movie made. The film makes something powerful and explicit from the ideas about sexuality that highsmith implicitly recognised but did not develop. Biographer andrew wilson, in his 2003 publication beautiful shadow. Hossein amini thinks the two faces of january is a unique crimethriller.
Viggo mortensen and hossein amini interview viggo mortensen and hossein amini talk about the genesis of the project and how their partnership helped it come together. Writerdirector hossein aminis the two faces of january, based on the patricia highsmith novel, has its world premiere here tonight as a berlinale special screening. Tom kalin savage grace talks hossein aminis the two faces of january. An elegant shadow hangs over hossein aminis sleek thriller the two faces of january. The two faces of january is based on a 1964 patricia highsmith novel about two affluent american tourists vacationing in europe. Adapted by academy award nominee hossein amini drive, and produced by working title and timnick films.
Two faces of january hossein amini 876964007955 hpb. The two faces of january is based on a 1964 patricia highsmith novel. Its title alludes to the two faces of the roman god janus, after whom the month of january was named. Filming took place on location in greece and turkey, and at ealing studios. Thrills but viggo mortensen proves a weak link thriller fans have reason to be thankful for hossein amini s the two faces of. Director hossein amini understands dread is a dish best served slow. Hossein amini bided his time before stepping behind a movie camera. May 15, 2014 the two faces of january directed by hossein amini starring viggo mortensen, kirsten dunst and oscar isaac on general release in the uk from 16 may 2014. A look at the two faces of january theatrical trailer also from magnolia home entertainment set up audio english 5. The two faces of january is a psychological thriller set in 1960s europe, starring viggo mortensen, kirsten dunst and oscar isaac. The two faces of january, directed by hossein amini times.
The two faces of january is a 2014 americanbritish french thriller film written and directed by hossein amini, in his directorial debut. Courtesy magnolia pictures viggo mortensen, oscar isaac and kirsten dunst. A film version of the two faces of january, starring viggo mortensen, kirsten dunst, and oscar isaac drive, inside llewelyn davis is in production. Mary evans on a film adaptation of patricia highsmiths 1964 novel that questions the. Chester macfarland is a conman with multiple false identities, near the end of his rope and on the run with his young wife colette. The two faces of january tells the tale of compatriots. Sep 26, 2014 director hossein amini understands dread is a dish best served slow. Amini admits the two faces of january is not the best of highsmiths books, yet it had him hooked from the first time he read it 20 years ago. Feb 14, 2014 hossein amini s adaptation of a patricia highsmith novel is an elegantly pleasurable experience, says tim robey 4 the two faces of january. Hossein aminis adaptation of a patricia highsmith novel is an elegantly pleasurable experience, says tim robey 4 the two faces of january. Ripley, directed by hossein amini screenwritter of drive, and starring viggo mortensen eastern promise, kristen dunst spiderman and oscar isaac w. He also won a best adapted screenplay award from the austin. While sightseeing, they encounter rydal oscar isaac a young, greekspeaking american.
It was written and directed by hossein amini, and starred viggo mortensen, kirsten dunst and oscar isaac. The two faces of january by patricia highsmith two men meet in the picturesque backstreets of athens. The two faces of january, from a highsmith novel the new. The iranianborn writer has been at work in film for 20 years, penning screenplays for lavish period pictures the four feathers, jude, bigbudget fantasies snow white and the huntsman, 47 ronin, and nicolas winding refns arthouse thriller, drive. Oct 26, 2015 a film version of the two faces of january, starring viggo mortensen, kirsten dunst, and oscar isaac drive, inside llewelyn davis is in production. The film makes something powerful and explicit from the ideas about sexuality that highsmith implicitly recognised but. Courtesy magnolia pictures viggo mortensen, oscar isaac and kirsten dunst in the two faces of january, a magnolia pictures. The director hossein amini sets up all these pieces and looks, these covert glances and hushed exchanges, with economy and borderline geometric precision. The two faces of january by hossein amini overdrive.
The two faces of january by hossein amini curtis brown. Adapted by academy award nominee hossein amini drive, and produced by working title and timnick films the talented mr. The two faces of januarys viggo mortensen, hossein amini. The tv movie covered the murder of sean devereux, an aid worker who was murdered in somalia in 1993 for criticizing arms sales. Leon nealafpgetty images we were incredibly lucky to film at the acropolis when we made the two faces of january, which i adapted for the.
This very obfuscation drew attention at the time of the novels 1964 publication, when the reader at highsmiths publisher identified a. The two faces of january by hossein amini director viggo mortensen actor. The novels of american author patricia highsmith for which the term. The two faces of january, directed by hossein amini.
Tom kalin savage grace talks hossein aminis the two faces of. May 16, 2014 the two faces of january is conventional as highsmith goes, the plot playing out more or less precisely as you expect, and yet there is a genuinely surprising sting in the tail. With viggo mortensen, kirsten dunst, oscar isaac, daisy bevan. The two faces of january by hossein amini hossein amini. The characters in the two faces of january are cut from that same amoral cloth. Starring viggo mortensen, kirsten dunst and oscar isaac. Nevertheless, amini wrings stellar performances from isaac and mortensen, which.
Like the films of those largely middlebrow directors, the two faces of january is too neatly wrapped around a sense of gradually unraveling characters. The idea is for amini to make his directing debut with the film and mortensen to star, the person said. The two faces of january, only lovers left alive, frank and more a patricia highsmith adaptation is dressed to kill, tilda swinton. The film surrounds a glamorous american couple, the charismatic chester macfarland viggo mortensen and his alluring younger wife colette kirsten dunst, as they arrive in athens. A thriller centered on a con artist, his wife, and a stranger who flee athens after one of them is caught up in the death of a private detective. Screenplay written and directed by academy award nominee hossein amini 42 ronin, snow white and the huntsman, drive. Patricia highsmiths novels have consistently fascinated. The two faces of january, from a highsmith novel the new york. Ripley, strangers on a train and brought it to the screen. The first feature directed by hossein amini, who wrote the scripts for drive and snow white and the huntsman, the two faces of january doesnt aspire to much more than being a. The two faces of january a wealthy american couple on a sightseeing tour of athens draw a shady tour guide into a treacherous game of deception in this international thriller adapted from a novel by patricia highsmith. A life of patricia highsmith claims the title is appropriate for the janusfaced, fluxlike nature of her protagonists. Nevertheless, amini wrings stellar performances from isaac and mortensen, which lessens some of the films more wooden elements.
The two faces of january news newspapers books scholar jstor october 2008 learn how. The two faces of january directed by hossein amini starring viggo mortensen, kirsten dunst and oscar isaac on general release in the uk from 16 may 2014. A first time director here, but a longtime screenwriter, hossein amini adapted the novel by patricia highsmith the talented mr. This special edition includes a foreword by director and screenwriter hossein amini. An interview with two faces of january writerdirector. Viggo mortensen, kirsten dunst, oscar isaac, daisy bevan, david warshofsky, hossein amini. He was nominated for numerous awards for the 1997 film the wings of the dove, including an academy award for best writing adapted screenplay. Based on the novel, the two faces of january, by patricia highsmith talented mr. Now comes hossein amini s the two faces of january, which clearly comes closer to the minghella film than to the others, probably for commercial reasons, but also likely because the late minghellas estate was crucial in getting the movie made. After adapting the wings of the dove and drive for other directors, hossein amini makes his directorial debut with his take on highsmiths 1964 novel. Viggo talks about how he has been choosing which project to take on, and his character in the film. On paper, there are any number of reasons to be excited for the two faces of january, which screens during the berlin film festival this week.
The two faces of january par hossein amini avec kirsten dunst et. Sep 26, 2014 the director hossein amini sets up all these pieces and looks, these covert glances and hushed exchanges, with economy and borderline geometric precision. Hossein amini celebrity profile check out the latest hossein amini photo gallery, biography. Thrills but viggo mortensen proves a weak link thriller fans have reason to be thankful for hossein aminis the two faces of. Viggo mortensen looks to team up with drive screenwriter. Jan 30, 2015 director and screenwriter hossein amini.
New director turns to an old favorite, 2 faces of january. After so much emphasis on the ugliness of humanity, the third act dovetails into a cathartic grace note that is emotionally rewarding if not redemptive. The two faces of january is a psychological thriller novel by patricia highsmith. Hossein amini was born in iran, and when he was 11 years old, he and his family moved to england. A thriller centered on a con artist, his wife, and a stranger who flee. Amini has worked as a screenwriter since the early 1990s. It is based on patricia highsmith s 1964 novel the two faces of january and stars viggo mortensen, kirsten dunst and oscar isaac.
Who did curiosity kill in the two faces of january. Filmmaker hossein amini on athens travel the guardian. Mar 19, 2020 amini admits the two faces of january is not the best of highsmiths books, yet it had him hooked from the first time he read it 20 years ago. The two faces of january kirsten dunst and viggo mortensen overview a wealthy american couple on a sightseeing tour of athens draw a shady tour guide into a treacherous game of deception in this international thriller adapted from a novel by patricia highsmith. Even if you were unaware that hossein aminis sly, attractive thriller was adapted from a patricia highsmith novel you would if familiar with a few key works deduce that fact after only. The screenwriter makes his directorial debut with the film adaptation of patricia highsmiths. A life of patricia highsmith claims the title is appropriate for the janusfaced, fluxlike. A look at the two faces of january theatrical trailer.
The two faces of january stars viggo mortensen and kirsten dunst and oscar isaac, and is the directorial debut by hossein amini. Amini s first screenplay was for the 1994 tv movie the dying of the light, which was directed by peter kosminsky. It was amazing, seeing a blackandwhite movie on that scale for the first time and seeing how bizarre it was, the oscarnominated screenwriter of. Listen to songs and albums by hossein amini, including gelayeh feat. Hossein amini celebrity profile check out the latest hossein amini photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. The two faces of january, from a highsmith novel the. The two faces of january written and directed by hossein amini. Buy the two faces of january virago modern classics by patricia highsmith from amazons fiction books store. Viggo mortensen, kirsten dunst, oscar isaac, hossein amini. The two faces of january 1964 is a psychological thriller novel by patricia highsmith. For those unfamiliar, highsmith created tom ripley and provided alfred hitchcock with the source material for strangers on a train. Writer and firsttime director hossein amini, along with talented cinematographer marcel syskind, capture all this and more in their elegant adaptation of highsmiths 1964 novel, the two faces.