Review of Face/Off (1997) by Stylus84 — 24 Oct 2021

The first American Woo film not to insult the genius of the man!

John Woo's best film in Hollywood and probably will sadly never be surpassed. He has been wasted post Hong Kong but this was a genuinely class action movie. The plot itself is about as logical as flushing the toilet and then crapping, but the convoluted story takes a back seat to interesting character development. Its Sci-Fi elements don't take too much focus which is good, and unlike Woo to do so anyway. The film has John Travolta and Nic Cage both playing opposite characters, Travolta playing a more refined and less showy role than usual and Cage playing his usual extravagant role, then the two roles are traded as their characters get their faces swapped. There is an interesting dynamic as both actors play both to their usual types (very theatrical) and against type (more refined). Not to mention the psychological elements of the character with both having to wear the face of their Nemesis who they despise. It is particularly interesting from Archers point of view because he begins to hate himself and almost can't take what is happening to him. Of course as you expect with Woo the action is first rate, albeit with mucho doubling for Cage and Travolta. What is amazing now though is that face transplants are possible, so who knows perhaps one day soon we could take on someones whole identity.