This is the first film of Hossein Amini, screenwriter of “Drive” (and of other movie such as “Snow White and the Huntsman”).
Thus, you expect a lot from this man who helped bringing to the screen one of our favorite movies.
An American couple (Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst) travelling in Greece, are noticed by a tourist guide (Oscar Isaac) as the ideal prey for his little scams. But he gets hung by his own rope!
Adapted from a novel by Patricia Highsmith, who also wrote “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” Amini manages to bring to the screen the grace from the sixties that characterizes the writer’s world. The costumes are glamorous, the scenery is beautiful, and the photography is really nice. This is for the glitter.
The actors are very good especially Viggo Mortensen who confirms his huge talent.
Beyond the promises that the film offered at first glance, the screenplay is very predictable and unoriginal. Covering many topics such as false pretenses, father-son problematic, relationships, overall confidence, morale etc. … the movie could have been disturbing and make you stare at our your own demons. In fact, you remain a simple witness of this beautiful postcard without being really touched by what’s going on screen despite some successful scenes with dramatic tension helped by a good soundtrack.
The directing is certainly interesting but fails to catch our intention. The movie seems actually longer than it really is (it lasts 1h36 only).
A movie with beautiful scenes but that you quickly forget after watching it.
