The Two Faces of January Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of the Blu-ray for "The Two Faces of January," shot digitally by Marcel Zyskind using the Arri Alexa camera, exhibits an impressive 1080p AVC/MPEG-4 encoded transfer. The detailed image is film-like without harsh digital edges, capturing the exotic locations with sharpness and clarity that make the characters appear isolated and out of their element. The Blu-ray skillfully renders a range of environments, from sun-drenched Athens with pale golden hues to the dark, richly colored interiors of the Grand Bazaar, and even the night scenes have solid blacks and deep shadows crucial for sequences in the caverns beneath the ruins at Knossos.

Color balance is skillfully managed, starting with warm palettes of whites, browns, and tans that cool as the narrative progresses. The high contrast ensures rich blacks and bright whites, enhancing both day and night scenes without any loss of detail or overblown highlights. Textures of clothing, actor's facial features, and the stunning landscapes are all presented with utmost clarity and accuracy. Magnolia Home Entertainment's decision to place this 97-minute feature on a BD-25 disc with an average bitrate of 22.004 Mbps has proven sufficient, resulting in a digitally clean image free from artifacts, banding, or crush, and maintaining exceptional detail regardless of the ambient lighting conditions.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track for "The Two Faces of January" delivers a nuanced blend of environmental and dialogue-driven elements that carefully uphold the film's atmospheric demands. The mix captures the shifting environmental ambiance across various tourist sights, markets, hotels, and forms of travel, enhancing the overall narrative experience. Special attention is periodically given to specific sounds, such as a local fisherman’s net slapping on rocks off-camera, which is designed to awaken one of the characters after a night of heavy drinking. The dialogue is generally clear and natural-sounding, even when murmured in hushed tones, ensuring that critical conversations remain easily discernible.

However, the mix sometimes overly prioritizes the film’s effectively urgent score by Alberto Iglesias, reminiscent of Bernard Herrmann’s style. This occasionally diminishes the presence of ambient sounds, leading to periods where the rear channels seem underutilized, while the front speakers bear the brunt of audio delivery. Despite this, during moments when the rear channels do engage, the soundfield becomes notably immersive. The balance of dialogue, typically anchored in the center channel and sometimes diffidently shared with the front left or right channels, retains clarity amidst bustling marketplaces or the persistent crashing waves at sea.

Overall, despite minor inconsistencies in the use of atmospheric noise and rear channel engagement, this DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track offers a clean and crisp listening experience. When provided with the opportunity to shine, it indeed delivers a strong and effective auditory presence that enhances the viewer’s immersion in the film’s intricate settings and dramatic sequences.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Two Faces of January" exhibit a mix of character-driven deleted scenes and brief promotional featurettes that provide insight into the film's production. While the lack of a director's commentary is unfortunately noticeable, the included features do offer some glimpses behind the scenes and into the film's stylish execution. The deleted scenes, though brief, add depth to the characters. The bloopers provide an amusing contrast to the film’s serious tone. Promotional shorts discuss costume design, filming locations, and narrative construction, collectively giving a rounded but somewhat superficial look at the film’s creation. Additionally, typical trailers and standard promotional material from Magnolia are included.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Four scenes offering additional character development.
• Bloopers: A gag reel with lighthearted moments from the shoot.
• Traveling in Style: Focuses on the 1960s-inspired costume design.
• Shooting the Odyssey: Insights on filming on location.
• A Twist on the Classic Thriller: Discusses the adaptation of the novel to screenplay.
• AXS TV: A Look at 'The Two Faces of January': Combines previous interviews and trailers.
• Theatrical Trailer: The film's promotional trailer.

The Two Faces of January, based on a novel by Patricia Highsmith, delves into the narrative of deceptive facades and shifting identities. Directed by Hossein Amini, known for his screenwriting in Drive and The Wings of the Dove, this film marks his directorial debut. Set in 1962 Greece, the story introduces Chester MacFarland (Viggo Mortensen) and his wife Colette (Kirsten Dunst), who appear as prosperous American tourists. They soon cross paths with Rydal (Oscar Isaac), a small-time scam artist posing as a tour guide in Athens. As events unfold, Rydal finds himself entangled in the MacFarlands’ precarious circumstances after a dangerous encounter forces them to flee. The film meticulously explores themes of survival and improvised deception, contrasting characters who are moral improvisers rather than cunning masterminds.

Amini's adeptness at maintaining the narrative within the period's detailed setting is commendable. The characters are well-developed against the backdrop of early 1960s Greece, their psychological complexities subtly unraveling amidst the historical ruins. Chester's paranoid yet commanding presence, Rydal’s opportunistic charm touched with past trauma, and Colette's seemingly passive yet pivotal role amalgamate into a thrilling narrative. While the narrative attempts to delve into the darker recesses of human nature, it occasionally falters in fully exploiting the psychological potentials, particularly in the unexplored father-son dynamic between Chester and Rydal and the tangible but underdeveloped sexual tension between Rydal and Colette.

Visually, the film is stunning, thanks to cinematographer Marcel Zyskind’s masterful use of lighting and scenery, coloring the narrative with a rich, golden hue until darker events cloud the horizon. Despite its atmospheric strength and compelling performances, some aspects feel superficial, leaving thematic explorations incomplete. The Two Faces of January succeeds as a visually sumptuous thriller with potential unfulfilled depths, underlining Amini’s skill while hinting at greater intricacies yet untapped.

"The Two Faces of January" on Blu-ray offers an engaging adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel, marked by vivid performances and keen directorial choices. Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, and Oscar Isaac deliver exemplary portrayals that drive this character-centric thriller. Despite some editorial decisions that truncate the narrative depth, the film retains a compelling tension and dynamic interactions. Watching the deleted scenes highlights the potential for deeper character exploration which could have enriched the film, suggesting a more comprehensive story left on the editing room floor.

Technically, the Blu-ray presentation excels with superb visual quality and very good sound design that heighten the cinematic experience. The transfer ensures crisp, clear visuals and detailed textures that enhance the period setting. The audio complements the visual storytelling, providing an immersive atmosphere crucial for a thriller. Although the supplemental materials are on the lighter side, they still offer valuable insights into the filmmaking process and add to the overall viewing experience.

Rarely do I wish that a film were longer, but after watching the deleted scenes for TTFOJ, I found myself wondering whether Amini had been too aggressive in the editing room. He has said that he learned in editing the film that he could tell almost the same amount of story in 90 minutes as in two hours, but TTFOJ is a character-driven thriller. The deeper we see into the three main characters, the greater the tension, and Mortensen, Dunst and Isaac all do exceptional work. Then again, TTFOJ may be one of those films where the performances reveal new layers on subsequent viewings. Watching it again will certainly be no effort on this superior Blu-ray presentation. Highly recommended.