Adriane Simo (13 May 2013)

Anyone who says this movie is dumb and boring...take your face off!!!

Nicolas Cage is my favorite actor and he and John Travolta are the best inthis movie! Good action and dialogue. Joan Allen was awesome as usual.Recommended for anyone who wants a good action movie and a story. Nicolasand John need to make another movie together!

GnrlGrnt (12 May 2013)

only criticism anyone can level is superficial

That Face/Off achieves what it does with the plot it has only makes itsachievement all the more impressive. The plot is certifiably ridiculous. Obviously the two leads do an amazing job of becoming each other- kudos totwo actors who haven't done a movie this good since (as of March 2001). Joan Allen and Gina Gershon are superb. I got more emotionally involved inFace/Off to a degree I had never been before with any action movie- or anygenre for that matter. John Woo has made his best movie, and while HardBoiled and The Killer come close, the rest of his Asian corpus of work is nocomparison.

(09 May 2013)

You're not supposed to love this---but you just can't help it.

Let's just get it out there--this movie has a glaring hole in its premise. Switching faces doesn't mean a hill a beans when two men have glaringly different body types/voices and mannerism. All that aside this is one heck of a thrilling ride. John Travolta literally looks like a kid in a candy shop in this role while hamming it up for camera. And as for the woman playing his wife- c'mon. Was that changed, too? Plus, why did it seem that the FBI agent left for work one day (to change his face)-get stuck in prision and his wife not even miss him? He just showed up back home with no questions asked. Weird. Again, these small questions are just minor bumps in the road because you can't help but be rivited to the screen. Especially through my favorite scene with 'Somewhere over the rainbow' and the over the top shoot out. Excellent filmmaking.

(08 May 2013)

Greatest Movie Ever!

I have watched this movie over and over again, and it gets better each time I watch it. It's very action-filled and suspenseful, keeps you on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend this movie! I love Nicholas Cage as Castor Troy and John Travolta as Sean Archer in this movie! I especially love it when they switch faces and identities. So cool!

kylopod (01 May 2013)

Too run-of-the-mill for its own good

The body-switch genre is pretty lame when it's used as the basis for acomedy, probably because the idea is just not that funny. Attempting totransfer the same premise to a sci-fi action thriller, however, soundslike a good starting point. And I have to admit that this film'sconcept is quite clever: an FBI agent (John Travolta) goes undercoverthrough a surgical operation in which his own face is replaced withthat of a terrorist (Nicolas Cage) whom he recently apprehended. Butthe killer wakes up from his coma, steals Travolta's original face, andassumes his identity while the real man, who now resembles the killer,rots away in prison.A willing suspension of disbelief is in order. Once the two men switchplaces, each looks exactly like the other, with no visible scars. Inany case, it seems to me that Nicolas Cage's face probably would notfit on John Travolta's head, though my theory is not likely to betested anytime soon.Contrary to what many critics claimed, the actors do little to imitateeach other's styles. Only briefly in the film do we get to see Cage asthe villain and Travolta as the good guy, even though we are told thoserepresent the "real" characters. Once they make the switch, each actoris in familiar territory, with Travolta more or less reprising his hipgangster role from "Pulp Fiction" and "Get Shorty," and Cage playinganother one of his brooding outcast characters. Had the film madeTravolta the fugitive and Cage the hoodlum taking over his life, thatwould have been slightly atypical for these actors.At least the prison scenes are a little creative, albeit inexplicable.Travolta (with Cage's face) is sent to a facility where convicts arekept under control through the use of electronic tracing, high-poweredmagnets, and other improbable technology. These scenes would have mademore sense in a futuristic sci-fi film, which in fact was what theoriginal script intended. The director John Woo changed the setting tothe contemporary world, but left in the bizarre penitentiary without aword of explanation. Regardless of all that, there is little doubt thatthe plot will find a way for Travolta's character to outsmart thisseemingly impenetrable system, because otherwise there'd be no movie.It might have made more sense if they'd established Travolta as somesort of electronics expert; here, the basis for his escape is justarbitrary.The rest of the film runs along similarly obligatory lines. Travoltamust find his way home, get his face back, and prove his innocence, allthe while thwarting the plans of the killer who has taken over hislife. The final segment of the film is a virtuoso sequence ofgunfights, chase scenes, and big explosions. But there's nothing in thestory you couldn't predict a thousand miles off. This is typicalassembly-line Hollywood, where even an ingenious idea gets treated withone cliché after the other, until finally being warped beyondrecognition, kind of like the two characters' faces in this film.

Frank Markland (30 April 2013)

One of Woo's better American efforts...

John Travolta and Nicolas Cage are on the opposite sides of the law.Travolta is Sean Archer an FBI agent who is trying to bring down CastorTroy (Nicolas Cage) while succeeding in almost killing Troy, Archer isfaced with the position of having to get surgery that involves tradingfaces. So Archer does so and becomes Castor Troy to find out thelocation of a nerve gas bomb however when Troy awakens without a facehe forces the doctors to give him Archer's face and now Archer withTroy's face on must not only fight off Castor Troy but also his formerallies who think he is the terrorist they are after. Did you get theplot? Suffice to say Face-Off is ridiculous and of course has gapingplot holes. (Isn't Cage and Travolta different heights and different inbody structure?) Also the movie is way too long and could have beenedited down by thirty minutes. That being said Face Off works fairlywell and the action sequences are exciting if a bit too ludicrous. Alsowhat makes this enjoyable is that Woo has managed to craft a movie thatworks because the characters sell it, Cage is very good as the good guyand provides some excellent acting in the quieter scenes where Travoltais even more impressive in his good guy role and villainous role. Italso has it's share of some exceptionally brutal moments which Wooseems to be employing again after the noticeably tame Broken Arrow.Here Woo seems willing to go over the top and in the end gives us aproduct which feels the closest to his hometown charm that made him oneof the best filmmakers in his country. Some people have balked at it'sludicrous story but really this is Woo operating at almost maximumvelocity.* * * out of 4-(Good)

(28 April 2013)

Action as Art

While the plot of this movie is relatively interesting, this movie is really about two things:First, the lead actors get to do the characters they do best as fully as they know how. Cage is his typical, neurotic, repressed, and emotionally conflicted self. Travolta hams it up in the outlandish, larger-than-life way that he often does. Despite what could be seen as overacting by both the leads, the almost absurd disparity between them is one of central things that makes this movie work.Second, this movie has the most beautiful action sequences of any action movie I have ever seen (excluding epic-type movies, i.e. LOTR, Star Wars, Braveheart, etc.). This is a film that knows it's an action movie and revels in it. The cinematography in the fight scenes simultaneously displays the nature of the characters and the intensity of the battle between them. There are so many moments when you will just delight at the visual art that is every action sequence in this film. Needless to say, this movie has all the gunfights, fistfights, chases, and large explosions that one would expect in a serious action film.If you like action movies, this is the first one I would recommend.

Jimmy (27 April 2013)

Root for the Bad Guy, who is really the Good Guy

Face/Off has to have one of the most absurd plot lines ever devised, but it makes for a very entertaining movie. The plot involves FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) as he attempts to avenge the death of his son by murdering the man who did it, Castor Troy (Nicholas Cage). Archer tries for nearly six years to nail Troy, finally, he gets his chance and takes him out, or so he thinks. Troy is actually place in a coma by the FBI in case they would ever need him. Before Troy was captured, he planted a bomb in Los Angeles that is set to go off soon. Archer is not able to get the location of the bomb from any of Troy’s men, so in order to find the bomb, Archer must transform himself into Troy and enter prison as him to get the information from Troy’s brother. The process involves taking Troy’s face off and placing it onto Archer and changing a few physical features, hence, the plot of Face/Off. Now of course it is eminent that Troy will soon come out of his coma and want Archer’s face planted onto his bloody skull, which raises the question that why didn’t the FBI just kill Troy when the were done with his face?Essentially, Travolta and Cage swap roles and they are seemingly perfect for the roles they play, or the other man’s role. Travolta and Cage are only their true characters for the first half hour of the film. But that half hour sets up both Archer and Troy so well, that Travolta and Cage pull off the other man’s character with perfection. When Troy get the team of doctors together that first performed the surgery to do it again on him, he kills them when it is done, so the process can not be reversed. When Archer finds this out from Troy himself, Archer plans to break out of prison and try to somehow stop Troy. The two men become the men they hate. Troy begins to live with Archer’s wife and daughter and works for the FBI. When he tells them where the bomb is hid, he diffuses it and becomes a hero around the US. His plan is to make a large amount of money for his effort and do something worse than destroy Los Angeles, all while acting as Sean Archer. John Woo, whose credits include Broken Arrow and M:I 2, directs the film. Basically, John Woo is an action thriller kind of guy, and that is exactly what Face/Off boils down to. Woo usually relies more on stunt action than special effects, but in Face/Off he mixes both better than anyone else could have done. All of that is well done, but the high point in the film is the acting from Cage and Travolta. Cage brings a sort of spin to the Troy character, or the Archer character. The first time both characters see each other in the other’s bodies, Troy gives his cynical laugh inside of Archers body and states “It’s like looking in a mirror only, not”. It would seem that Cage is the right man for the Troy character and Travolta for the Archer character, and I thought the film would not succeed because the actors would not be able to make the transition. They do, and they do it as best as they can so after a while, we see Cage walk into a room and think there’s Travolta, or Sean Archer. I did say that Face/Off has an absurd plot line, but I do have to give it credit for it originality. Actors swapping roles was common in some of Shakespeare’s plays, and Woo brings that same idea onto the big screen. The film’s premise is that only the faces will change. For a while though, the characters become the man that they are. When Archer first sees Troy’s face in the mirror, he cannot bear to become the man that he has hunted for six years. When he meets Troy’s girlfriend (Gina Gershon) and meets her son, he begins to call out the name of his own son, Michael. When Archer looks at himself in the mirror a second time, he says, “I am Castor Archer”, which is true because he is Troy on the outside and Archer on the inside, he almost becomes the man he hates. The film was released in 1997, right in the middle of the big budget action films that had very original plot lines. Cage starred in three of them, The Rock, Con Air, and Face/Off. Here, he gives his best performance of the three. The film has great acting, great special effects, and although the plot is crazy, I wish that we would see more movies this original today.

(25 April 2013)

The Face Off

John Woo, uber director of The Killer (1989), Hard Boiled (1992) and Broken Arrow (1996) proves that even after the move to Hollywood, he still knows how to create fantastic action and Face Off is no exception. The film stars Nicholas Cage as Castor Troy, a villain, and John Travolta as agent Sean Archer, the only man who can stop Castor from unleashing a nuclear device.Woo's trademarks are all present here: slow-mo gunfights, explosive action and those perennial doves. And both Nic Cage and Travolta are brilliant, especially Cage, whose eccentric performance is one of his most unrestrained and outstanding. One of the best (if not THE best) action films ever made. Excellent.

Dan Marsh (24 April 2013)

The Ultimate Action Movie!

After moving to Hollywood mainstream, director John Woo hasn't really livedup to the reputation he gained in Hong Kong as the master of action. However, a minor action movie, a made-for-TV pilot and a major blockbusterlater arrives Face/Off.Where do I start? I think, and I'm sure that many other people agree withme, that this film matches and even beats most of his other films in alldepartments.The action is second-to-none, with plenty of his usual trademarks andunderlying meanings of peace, and a shoot-out in the first act which easilybeats the climax shoot-out of most action movies. Woo has never failed toimpress in the action department.Another thing is the plot. Although the idea of switching identities (faceand all) seems like a stupid idea, Woo handles it well and makes it seemplausible. The solid acting helps to enforce the strong plot. The stars,Nicolas Cage and John Travolta, play their own and each others' characterreally well - both play the psychopathic bad guy with the right dose ofOTTness, and both play the troubled FBI agent with enough emotional andsentimental sadness.This is probably one of the best action movies ever made, and if Woo keepsto this standard then he will gain the same reputation that he had in HongKong - as THE master of action. I can't wait for his next projects, andespecially 'Mission: Impossible 2'.

(22 April 2013)

An Intelligent, Fast Paced Adrenaline Rush Of A Movie

Rarely does an action movie manage to rise above its mindless shoot em up execution and offer an indepth character study of both the protagonist and the antagonist that helps us better understand them. John Woo managed to do this with his 1997 movie "Face/Off", an absurd but well thought out movie that many modern action movies should be modelled after.As I said the plot is absurd. Sean Archer (John Travolta) is a ruthless FBI agent out to capture and, if possible, kill Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage), a homeland terrorist who accidentally killed Archer's young son in a botched assassination attempt. When Archer succeeds in his goal, he thinks it's time to retire and go home to his troubled daughter and his wife (Joan Allen). But, as Pacino would he say, just when he think he's out they pull him back in. It turns out that Troy is still alive and has planted a bomb set to go off at the L.A. Civics Center (at least I think that's where it was). Using new science, Archer and Troy trade faces. Archer, as Troy, will infiltrate a maximum security prison and get the scoop on the bombing from Castor's brother, Pollux. Of course, as expected, Castor emerges from his coma and realizes his face is gone. He forces the surgeons to give him Archer's face and then kills them. He torches all the files that proves who's who. When Troy finds out what happened, he goes ballistic. He stages a daring prison escape and delves deeper into the life of Castor Troy. Troy, meanwhile, has a ball being Archer, sleeping with his wife and getting heaps of praise showered on him as he defuses the bomb he planted. Archer will stop at nothing to get his true identity back and kil Archer before it's too late.As I said, the plot couldn't be more absurd. However, it is very easy to understand. It's more unrealistic than it is absurd. It also does a very good job at examining the pysches of both Archer and Troy. Woo gives us revealing looks at the inner aspects of the two, what makes them tick, why they won't stop until one of them is dead. Most action films are just mindless shootout movies with a few bad catchphrases and weak characters. Woo managed to go beyond this and create one of the most intelligent action movies ever.The film is violent and bloody as hell. However, the violence is very stylized and is not overused, as the violence adds a lot to the tension. "Face/Off" is a relentlessly entertaining action thriller that I would highly recommend.

RAF (22 April 2013)

Face-to-Face Mayhem

Face/off is a gripping, edge-of-your-seat joyride from start to finish. From an intense FBI capture to a thrilling speedboat chase, acclaimed action director John Woo brings out non-stop excitement within a clever and fast-paced story. Nicolas Cage and John Travolta deliver powerhouse performance as both Archer and Troy. The action sequences are simply amazing and Woo's clever use of camerawork just elevates the movie's intensity.

Linus Krosse (18 April 2013)

Face/flat!

I liked this movie a lot! Nice action scenes to eat popcorn too. Talkaboutadvanced technology... Nothing more to say!For a year ago this was my favourite movie. It`s not anymore but i canstillenjoy looking at it.See ya`!

famousgir1 (18 April 2013)

One of the best action movies around.

Face/Off is definitely one of the best movies I have ever seen. It's gotgreat action all the way through and a brilliant story-line to go with thisexciting original movie. With Nicolas Cage and John Travolta both givefantastic performances all the way through as the good guy and the bad guy.Face/Off is a movie for everyone and I give it a 10/10.

Mads Jensen (15 April 2013)

Not like wine...

I saw this movie when it just got out in '97 and I thought it wasawesome. At 17 it was the bomb! I write this fresh from a second viewand I must say (older and wiser) that Face/Off has lost some of itsappeal. As a pure no-brainer-action flick it is easily on par witheverything Hollywood can throw at it today and it is surely as a suchit should be viewed. The action is insanely over the top as is to beexpected from Woo, John T and Nicolas C's acting does small wonderswith the often cheesy script and the plot, while ingenious in itsconcept, suffers from numerous, obviously dumb, flaws. I often foundmyself laughing at the turn of events (of course he wakes up withoutface, alone and unguarded only to sum the prior events up within 30seconds and with a phone within grasp:-). The buildup to the epicconclusion seems strained and uninspired and the ending itself wallowsin cheese.To sum it up: great as a Saturday hangover movie with loads of cola andcrisps or with a sixpack and a couple of buddies. Don't watch this withyour...well...with anyone who likes to interrupt the action to pointout that "it wouldn't explode in real life!"...hmmm.

(15 April 2013)

Masterpiece

What can I say? Masterpiece! Face/Off's two greatest points are it's leading actors, Cage and Travolta. They're both magnificent. The music is absolutely breathtaking. The plot is a little confusing, but not all bad. The direction is strong, and the guest cast are great. Unfortunately the action scenes are heavily repetetive, but the performances of the two leads are enough to make you watch it through. It's such an emotional film...it's just outstanding. The special effects (what few there are) are great too. A few people hate it, but I've got no complaints.

anonymous (14 April 2013)

awesome

Face/Off was awesome. John Travolta and Nicholas Cage star in this highlyentertaining action film as men on opposite sides of the law who switchplaces. The action scenes are breathtaking, and John Woo does a superbjobdirecting it. I gave this movie a 9 out of 10

groucho773 (14 April 2013)

No, sorry...

...not actually the greatest Action movie ever, but everything that is wrongwith the unholy alliance of John Woo and American Studio money. Over thetop? And back and around and over again, skippy! Bad script? Arrrg...script bad, bread good. Implausible premise used as an excuse forone bad actor to impersonate another? Oh, my, yes. John Woo needs a lackeyto say: "mmmm, maybe NOT, John?" instead of: "more 'splosions with that?" And, IMDb readers, as a rule, you MUST ignore any review of a film where thereviewer's handle is the name of a character IN THAT FILM. No rationalobjectivity, you see.Mind you, I said CHARACTER, not ACTOR ;)

Jeanne Aufmuth (12 April 2013)

Travolta and Cage are exceptional, performing as their own characters and each other's.

mooncheese_4 (12 April 2013)

Brilliant. High Class Action.

Possibly John Woo's greatest American film yet. Watching it brings outmy emotions from start to finish and the action scenes were done withthe style of a master director known as John Woo. Even though he hasmade some movies that are not that impressive, it seems that he usesthe style of A Better Tomorrow 1 & 2, the emotions of The Killer andthe action of Hard Boiled, and incorporates all of this to make oneawesome blockbuster featuring top actors such as John Travolta andNicholas Cage. These two actors make the movie work and if Woo useddifferent actors it would not have worked. Travolta and Cage changingroles from good to bad and bad to good is superb as both actors changetheir emotions as the characters change their identities. A must seefor all John Woo and action fans and definitely the movie to have as acollectors item. John Woo's American Masterpiece is worth every dollaryou spend on it.