THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY

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From the producers of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the writer of Drive, and the author of The Talented Mr. Ripley,  The Two Faces of January (12A) is screenwriter Hossein Amini’s directorial debut.

Set in the 1960s among the beautiful backdrops of Athens, Crete and Istanbul, The Two Faces of January tells

Oscar Isaac steals the show as Rydal

the story of Rydal (Oscar Isaac), an American con artist working in Greece as a tour guide, where he meets glamorous American couple Chester and Collette MacFarland (Viggo Mortensen andKirsten Dunst). After finding himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, Rydal ends up entangled in the couple’s lives and it soon becomes apparent that he is not the only con artist around.

First and foremost, The Two Faces of January is visually stunning. Not only do the sunny villages and ruins of Greece provide the film with beautiful scenery, but the 6os era makes way for a subtle yet time-appropriate costuming, and the entire tone of the film feels very traditional of the classic film noir genre.

The story itself is fascinating from the offset; the concept of both leading men being a little on the shifty side makes for an interesting watch as you’re never sure who you can trust or who is telling the truth. For example, upon meeting the couple Rydal says that he was drawn to them due to Chester reminding him of his father, however, is this just a ploy to get closer to Chester’s beautiful wife?

Perfectly paced by Hossein Amini in his directorial debut, as the story unravels so do the characters with Chester becoming increasingly paranoid of Rydal’s intentions which ironically leads to him to destroy everything that he loves. On the other hand, Rydal’s increased wariness of the unstable Chester leaves him more and more desperate to find a way out of the mess that he has somehow found himself involved in.

Whilst Dunst and Mortensen each give incredibly strong performances as the MacFarlands, it is Oscar Isaac who steals the show as Rydal. Commanding the screen with charm and charisma, Isaac adds to the film’s noir style with a presence uncannily similar to that of the leading men from old Hollywood classics of yesteryear, cementing his position as an up-and-coming actor to watch.

The cast have a brilliant on-screen chemistry and every aspect of their very complex relationships was riveting and believable to watch. Their understated performances were just as engrossing as the underlying tension and intrigue of the story.

Unpredictable from start to finish, The Two Faces of January provides a nostalgic look at cinema with timeless performances, backdrops and costumes that makes the film seem fresh and innovative despite being set over 50 years ago.

All in all,The Two Faces of January will quickly become a timeless classic in the thriller genre, with a great story and impeccable pacing leaving you unable to guess what the next scene will bring. Strong performances all round create a chemistry that transcends through the screen and into the hearts of the audience with Oscar Isaac proving himself yet again as a leading man and firmly announcing himself as a bold new face of cinema.

★★★★☆

The Two Faces of January is in cinemas from today, 16th May!

Check out our Q&A with the cast here!
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Love,

NON-STOP

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Non-Stop sees real-life action man, Liam Neeson, back on the big screen for yet another edge-of-your-seat action thriller. Neeson takes on the role of Bill, a US air marshal who recieves a series of threatening texts during a transatlantic flight. The anonymous terrorist vows to kill somebody on board the plane every 20 minutes unless the airline transfers $150 million into his account. However, as Bill attempts to find the culprit he realises that others believe that he is in fact the terrorist. 

From the film's opening scenes every single passenger as painted as a potential suspect. As much as you would like to think you can scoff that you would be able to figure it out, you really can't - and that puts you on edge from the get-go because you don't know who to trust.

The majority of the film is set on the airplane, and this makes for claustrophobic viewing, which only adds to the tension. By the time the film ends you feel like you were on that plane journey yourself and it is a relief to be walking out of the cinema all in one piece! The audience receive information and clues at the same time as Bill, and you're constantly trying to guess who the culprit is, but red herrings are often thrown into the mix to put you off the scent in very clever directorial decisions. 

Liam Neeson plays the troubled air marshal with ease and although his character is the typical tough guy you come to expect from this genre, he isn't without his depth and layers that make him a much more likable watch. Bill's dedication to saving his fellow passengers is nothing short of admirable and even when the pilots, ground control and passengers turn against him, he doesn't give up. 

Julianne Moore is also strong as Jen, a fellow passenger in the seat next to Bill, who you quickly discover is one of he few people on the plane that you can trust. When everybody turns against Bill, Jen and air hostess Nancy (Michelle Dockery) stand by him, which makes it much less of a frustrating watch. It is impossible to not get angry when Bill's plans to save the plane are hindered due to almost everyone's complete lack of faith in him and the fact that there are two solid characters throughout who aren't pointing the finger and throwing around accusations makes it much less stressful viewing than if absolutely everybody was against our leading man.

The best thing about Non-Stop is that you get so involved in trying to work out who the suspect is that the viewing time flies by. I am a serial clock-watcher, even if I am really enjoying the film I am prone to occasionally glancing down at my watch throughout a film but with this I was literally on the edge of my seat throughout. The mystery alone makes it compelling, but the clever cinematography of text messages coming up on the screen, the array of different characters that add layers of realism to the otherwise unrelatable situation, and Neeson's strong and emotive performance makes the film an enjoyable roller-coaster from start to finish.

The downside of Non-Stop is the incredibly underwhelming revelation of who is behind the terrorism. Although not entirely implausible it simply doesn't match the high standards set by the rest of the film. It just doesn't feel as shocking as i should be and there were other options that could have been explored for maximum impact. The reasons given for the hijack aren't particularly strong and there are many questions that are left unanswered as the story quickly shifts from a mystery thriller to full-blown action as gun shots and explosions lead to an epic slow-motion battle that we have come to expect from Neeson's films.

Despite this slight hiccup in the narrative, the real crux of the film is the mystery and although the reveal doesn't quite hit the mark it doesn't take away from the 90 minutes of expertly-played intrigue and tension. Although not without its flaws, the climax of the film is so dramatic and intense that you step out of the cinema with a pounding heart, bated breath, and a minor fear of flying. The revelation of who was behind the murders soon becomes irrelevant and that's what makes it one of the biggest must-see action films of the year!

★★★★☆

Non-Stop is in cinemas now!

Liam Neeson's Top 5 Movie Roles

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Love,

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET

Me on The Wolf of Wall Street red carpet

The Wolf of Wall Street was without a doubt my most anticipated film of 2014, and as a life-long fan of Leonardo DiCaprio you can only imagine how thrilled I was to attend the London premiere for the film last night! Although unfortunately director Martin Scorsese wasn't in attendance at the premiere, nor did my luck extend to actually meeting the God that is Leonardo DiCaprio, I had a brilliant time and couldn't believe that one of the biggest stars on the planet, one of my idols, was stood just a mere two feet away from me.

On top of all of the excitement of the night, I am pleased to say that The Wolf Of Wall Street lived up to my expectations and then some as Scorsese and DiCaprio united for the fifth time to make yet another cinematic masterpiece.

Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio), The Wolf of Wall Street documents Belfort's corrupt rise to a multi-millionaire stockbroker who lives a life of sex, drugs and excess. By 1998 the FBI are on Belfort's case with suspicions of security fraud and money laundering, which leads the film to a climactic and unpredictable conclusion.

Leo & Margot introducing the film at the premiere

At three-hours long, The Wolf of Wall Street managed to hold the same high-quality throughout with powerhouse performances, great direction and an intense and entertaining narrative, all cleverly matched with comedic undertones that made the 180 minute run time fly by. Every scene is fast-paced and exhilarating to watch and the audience are not given the opportunity to get bored or lose interest in the story as just when you think that it might be starting to die down, Scorsese throws in another curveball; be it an unexpected scene of DiCaprio writhing around on the floor, off his face on drugs, or a sudden party with booming music and such extravagance and shenanigans it would put Gatsby to shame. 

All in all, the film is a steady flow of entertainment and shock tactics as Scorsese steps out of his comfort zone to make a film almost incomparable to his other major crime movies through the heavy use of black comedy and glossy cinematography; making The Wolf of Wall Street shiny and artificial-looking, miles away from Scorsese's usual gritty thrillers but appropriately reminiscent of Belfort's lifestyle. 

Leonardo DiCaprio gives another winning performance

Unsurprisingly, Leonardo DiCaprio gives yet another show-stopping performance as the corrupt, anti-hero Jordan Belfort and proves that over years in the industry he hasn't lost his sense of humour as he delivers some brilliantly hilarious scenes, which you can just tell were performed with good banter and Leo's tongue firmly in his cheek. DiCaprio's voiceover carries the film as it keeps the audience up to speed with what is going on and even though you may know absolutely nothing about stocks or Wall Street, the voiceover cleverly tells you just enough for you to understand the criminal activity that is making them so rich, without being patronizing or taking up too much time.

Despite DiCaprio's powerhouse performance, the relatively humble supporting cast held their own and were just as fascinating to watch as the leading man. Shunning the possibility of fading into the background against a Hollywood superstar, Margot Robbie, who played Belfort's long-suffering wife Naomi, Jonah Hill, playing Belfort's best friend Donnie, and the rest of Belfort's various friends, foes and accomplices helped bring The Wolf of Wall Street to another level of entertainment. The entire cast had a great connection which showed through their on-screen rapport as the expletive-ridden dialogue bounced between the characters as though they weren't actors portraying a character but old friends for whom the conversation came naturally and realistically.

My only criticism of The Wolf of Wall Street comes with the film's very final moments. The few scenes prior are a pulse-pounding mix of violent, domestic disputes, suspenseful 'will-he-won't-he' interrogations and a wicked turn of events which all feels like it is leading up to a mind-blowing climax that in fact turns out to be a little bit underwhelming. Being based on a true story leaves Scorsese relatively powerless when it comes to how Jordan Belfort's story ends, however, the ending felt a little bit sudden and left me wanting more. A want that was only intensified when the film's credits started rolling without any of your closed-caption summaries of what became of Belfort and the rest of the characters that are typical (and expected) of film's that are based on true life stories.

All in all, The Wolf of Wall Street is an exciting, entertaining and exhilarating watch. A three-hour action-fest that is full of excessive lifestyles, great performances and big laughs, ensuring that Scorsese and DiCaprio are back exactly where they belong: firmly at the top of the game.

★★★★✯

The Wolf of Wall Street is out nationwide from 17th January!

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Related Article: The 5 Oscars Leonardo DiCaprio Should Have Won By Now

Love,

I may not have met Leo, but here is me walking past him on the BBC News!

PRISONERS

I was really excited to see Prisoners. The trailer sold it to me, the cast sold it to me, the comparisons to Se7en and The Silence of the Lambs sold it to me -on paper it really is a sure winner.

Prisoners tells the story of Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman). After his six-year-old daughter and her friend go missing, he takes matters into his own hands as the police detective (Jake  Gyllenhaal) appears to be pursuing the wrong leads. How far will a desperate father go to save his child?

The film gets off to a strong start; a cozy, homely, family-orientated opening of the girl and her friend's families spending Thanksgiving together - an environment that instantly connects the viewer to nostalgic festive memories of their own (whether Thanksgiving or Christmas!) and makes the families relatable and accessible. Just an average Thanksgiving with an average family and it is this averageness that makes the girls disappearance all the more poignant as it instills the concept that it could happen to you.

An average family

It gets to the action right away: the girls are taken and the main suspect is identified very early on in the film, which is an interesting albeit welcome technique as it means that the main story begins without any fuss or fluff leading up to it. With the audience finding out information at the same speed as Jackman's Keller, the entire cinema were on the edge of their seat with their heart in their mouth within thirty minutes of the film's beginning.

However, at a needless two and a half hours long, the initial excitement gradually starts to fade as the film goes from a fast-paced, high-tension, emotion-driven thriller to a story so saturated with 'twists' and curveballs that you eventually just get a bit bored of it all. Arguably attempting (and failing) a Christopher Nolan-esque shock-fest, director Denis Villeneuve dedicates far too much time attempting to shock the audience with plot-twists galore and in doing so the film starts to drag and the actual reveal at the end of the film is underwhelming  and feels a bit rushed. As a viewer, you feel a bit cheated that you have dedicated two and a half hours to this film only for the revelation to lack depth and detail; alongside half a dozen other curveballs that had been thrown in without being given a full explanation. Don't get me wrong - you know the basics of what has happened; you know the skeleton of each turn of events and every character that we are introduced to but that is all we get - the bare minimum amount of detail with absolutely none of the fleshing out that makes other such films so great.

I personally found the big reveal a bit silly and any detail that was given was only the repetition of hints and tips that had been scattered throughout the film and I had actually picked up on, so nothing new for the viewer to learn. I feel that I desperately wanted more to be added to the reveal in order for the film to reclaim some credibility - it felt lazy and half-assed and I feel that it was only included in order to shock the audience, not to give maximum impact.

The brilliant cast ultimately carry the film with Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal both giving powerful, believable performances as two totally different characters in roles that I haven't really seen them take on before. The true star of the show though is without a doubt Paul Dano. The mute from Little Miss

Paul Dano has definitely grown up!

Sunshine has well and truly grown up with a performance that was so raw and so disturbing that I actually felt my blood boiling with rage. As the main suspect in the case, Alex, Dano was unrecognizable and the fact that I hated his character with an unsympathetic passion is only a testament to what a convincing performance he gave.

Although Prisoners was much longer than necessary (and to it's detriment), it did maintain my interest. Admittedly by the end of the film I was much less involved than I was in the first hour and a half but the interest was still there; I would not have been able to leave the cinema without learning of the story, no matter how disappointing the story turned out to be, and the strong performances are what made it so watchable whilst the narrative was lagging. I also really enjoyed the final scene, it was an ending that I didn't see coming and although I feel that the ultimate outcome is obvious to the viewer it is always good for a film to end with a collective gasp that fills the cinema as Villeneuve clearly couldn't resist throwing in one final surprise.

To conclude, the film-makers should have known better than to make Prisoners so long; it is common fact that if a film exceeds a certain amount of time it is near-impossible to maintain the same level of quality throughout. Some sections of the film are brilliant with so much attention to detail but others are underwhelming and overlooked and should probably have ended up on the cutting room floor. The film's reveal is trying to be much more intelligent than it is and feels like a bit of a desperate cop-out in order to shock the audience, but the final scene made up for this in a way. Many elements of the actual narrative are highly controversial and can spark many interesting debates; it is interesting and at times shocking but it simply does not come close to the likes of Silence of the Lambs,Se7en, or any other thriller classic that you may have heard it be compared to.

As a relatively exciting watch I give Prisoners ★★★★☆  but if Villeneuve left his Nolan aspirations at home and followed a more personal style rather than trying to make the film into something that it is not, it would have been miles better.

Prisoners is in cinemas nationwide from tomorrow:  Friday 27th September!

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Love,