This brutal, stunningly choreographed spectacle weaves together lyrical beauty, blasphemy, sadistic cruelty and grotesque sentimentality with breathtakingly smooth assurance.
Face Off (1997)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 59
Fresh: 55
Rotten:4
Average Rating: 7.9/10
Consensus: John Travolta and Nicolas Cage play cat-and-mouse (and literally play each other) against a beautifully stylized backdrop of typically elegant, over-the-top John Woo violence.
Runtime: 2 hrs 20 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Synopsis: The ordeal of superheroic, singularly dedicated FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) is only beginning after finally capturing his archnemesis, Castor Troy (Nicholas Cage), an elusive, maniacal... The ordeal of superheroic, singularly dedicated FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) is only beginning after finally capturing his archnemesis, Castor Troy (Nicholas Cage), an elusive, maniacal terrorist who claimed the life of Archer's son. While Troy languishes in a coma, Archer surgically "borrows" Troy's face in an attempt to gather evidence about Troy's last bomb--which is currently ticking away in a Los Angeles office building. Trouble ensues when Troy wakes up faceless, borrows Archer's visage, and makes a mess of Archer's life; all the while, both men struggle to adapt to their new identities while struggling to blow each other away. Another balletically filmed, thematically complex action-smorgasbord from Hong Kong-vet John Woo. Academy Award Nomination: Best Sound Effects Editing. [More]
Starring: John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen, Alessandro Nivola
Starring: John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen, Alessandro Nivola, Gina Gershon, Dominique Swain, Nick Cassavetes, Harve Presnell, Colm Feore, John Carroll Lynch, CCH Pounder, Robert Wisdom, Margaret Cho, Jamie Denton, Matt Ross, Tommy Flanagan Trio, Dana Smith, Romy Walthall, Paul Hipp, Kirk Baltz, Chris Bauer, Thomas Jane, Lauren Sinclair, Ben Reed, Del Zamora, Lisa Boyle, Linda Hoffman, Danny Masterson, Michael Rocha, Megan Paul, Mike Webb, Tom Reynolds, Steve Hytner, Myles Jeffrey, Carmen Thomas
Director: John Woo
Director: John Woo
Screenwriter: Mike Werb, Michael Colleary
Producer: David Permut, Barrie M. Osborne, Terence Chang, Christopher Godsick, Jonathan Krane, Michael Douglas, Steven Reuther
Composer: John Powell
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Release:
May 5, 2009
Blu-ray Disc Features:
- Region [unknown]
- NTSC
- Widescreen
Audio:
- Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital EX 5.1, DTS Surround ES 6.1 - English, French, Spanish
- Subtitles - English - SDH
- Subtitles - English, French, Spanish
Additional Release Material:
- Deleted Scenes: Deleted Scenes with optional commentary
- Documentary: John Woo: A Life In Pictures
- Making Of: The Light and the Dark: Making Face/Off
- Trailers: Theatrical Trailer
Audio Commentary:
- 1. Director John Woo and Writers Mike Werb and Michael Colleary
- 2. Writers Mike Werb and Michael Colleary
Additional Products:
- Movie Cash Coupon
Reviews for Face Off
Sets new standards for a genre which plays it safe and predictable too often.
Typical for Woo, the sheer force of the imagery is supposed to carry viewers past plot absurdities ... while at the same time, the director wants the audience to buy into the emotional lives of his obsessed and haunted characters.
The dramatic scenes have emotional gravity, while the exhilarating action sequences defy gravity.
...director John Woo takes an incredibly silly premise and despite its limitations turns it into an entertaining thrill ride.
possibly the greatest, and definitely the most exuberant, action film to come out of the studio system in the '90s
Woo's poetic-kinetic style has evolved, if not to the point of abstraction, then to delirium: he makes a virtue of incredulity.
...a nihilistic thrill ride; a breathless ultra-violent fantasy with real characters and smart actors
After seeing this numbing action flick, I'm still stumped what all the hype is about. So many critics and viewers arond the country marveled at this movie, but for what? It's not a horrible movie, but it certainly isn't very good.
Travolta and Cage are exceptional, performing as their own characters and each other's.
I think I finally isolated what irritates me about this movie: It is the fact that it promotes the idea that you can indulge in hatred and vengeance with a positive result.
All in all, Mr. Woo has made Face/Off into an eye-popping magic show.
The concept of Face/Off is a multifaceted benchmark: it is John Woo’s best American film, a requisite entry in the library of action films, and it is an actor’s dream.
The biggest kick is watching two charismatic actors at the top of their form essentially play each other.
Latest News for Face Off
August 10, 2006:
Box Office Preview: "World Trade Center" Arrives in Theaters
Another frame packed with four new national releases is led by Oliver Stone's 9/11 drama "World Trade Center" from Paramount. A trio of lower profile pics round out... More...
May 18, 2005:
John Woo Makes a "Stranglehold" On Video Game Property
The Hollywood Reporter brings news of an upcoming non-movie project for acclaimed director John Woo ("The Killer," "Face/Off"). It was announced at the 2005... More...
May 17, 2005:
Screen Gems Gets Rolling With Its "Tekken" Adaptation
Variety brings news of the next video game movie to hit production. The title is "Tekken," and the property was picked up by Screen Gems (from Dimension), with a... More...
May 10, 2005:
Clive Barker & John Woo Make a "Demonik" Pair
The Hollywood Reporter brings news of an odd-yet-interesting filmmaking duo: Clive Barker ("Hellraiser") and John Woo ("Face/Off") will join forces to... More...
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