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The Two Faces of January

Literate, sexually charged, and atmospheric thriller

As his directorial debut, screenwriter Hossein Amini (Jude, Wings of the Dove, and Drive, but also 47 Ronin) takes on a Patricia Highsmith Oedipal triangle. It’s 1962. Chester (an underplayed, genuinely scary Viggo Mortensen) is a shady, middle-aged American businessman vacationing in Greece with his much-younger wife (Kirsten Dunst).

When he accidentally kills the PI sent to sniff him out, he enlists the help of their young Greek-American guide (Oscar Isaac), who is clearly attracted to his wife, and tangled webs are weaved. Literate, sexually charged, atmospheric, and smolderingly suspenseful. Japanese title: Girisha ni Kieta Uso. (98 min)