Face/Off (1997)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

John Woo

Writers (WGA):

Mike Werb (written by) &
Michael Colleary (written by)

Release Date:

27 June 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

In order to catch him, he must become him.

Plot:

A revolutionary medical technique allows an undercover agent to take the physical appearance of a major criminal and infiltrate his organization.

Plot Keywords:

Terrorist | Bomb | Prison | Undercover | Identity

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

John Travolta	...	Sean Archer / Castor Troy
Nicolas Cage	...	Castor Troy / Sean Archer
Joan Allen	...	Dr. Eve Archer
Alessandro Nivola	...	Pollux Troy
Gina Gershon	...	Sasha Hassler
Dominique Swain	...	Jamie Archer
Nick Cassavetes	...	Dietrich Hassler
Harve Presnell	...	Victor Lazarro
Colm Feore	...	Dr. Malcolm Walsh
John Carroll Lynch	...	Walton, Prison Guard
CCH Pounder	...	Dr. Holllis Miller
Robert Wisdom	...	Tito Biondi
Margaret Cho	...	Wanda
James Denton	...	Buzz (as Jamie Denton)
Matt Ross	...	Loomis

Also Known As:

Face Off (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated R for intense sequences of strong violence, and for strong language.

Runtime:

138 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Latin

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #34954) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Germany:16 | Finland:K-15 (DVD version) | UK:18 (re-rating) (uncut) (2004) | South Korea:15 (video rating) (cut) | South Korea:18 (original rating) | Philippines:R-18 | Malaysia:18SG | Brazil:14 | India:A (cinema release) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Austria:16 | Belgium:KNT | Canada:18A | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Iceland:16 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 | UK:18 (cut)

Filming Locations:

Agoura Hills, California, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

Originally Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone were in mind to play the lead roles, but when John Woo was brought in to direct, he decided that John Travolta and Nicolas Cage would be more suited to the roles.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Near the end of the raid on Dietrich's place, Loomis busts in armed with a Colt M4, with an underslung M203 Grenade Launcher. He fires the launcher twice in rapid succession. The M203 is a one-shot launcher and requires reloading between shots. There is no indication that Loomis bothered to reload at all.

Quotes:

Dietrich: No more drugs for that man.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: Faith Off (#11.11)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Miserere

John and Nicholas make quite a pair in Face/Off

"Face/Off" is an excellent movie that will never get out of your head, it's that memorable. I saw this movie probably 6 or 7 years ago and I still think about it and finally bought it the other day.

The performances, this is it, folks. We have two of the finest and very popular actors: John Travolta and Nicholas Cage. These two are amazing, to transfer back and forth. John had to go from this kind, loving, and very sensitive man to a looney, cold-blooded, heartless maniac. Nicholas went from being the scary and perverted psycho to a helpless and struggling man trapped in this killer's body. My kudos to Nicholas, that was a tough performance to capture. I felt his pain, no one would believe that he was Sean Archer, who would after all? His body has been kidnapped from Castor Troy who is now playing around with his job, his daughter, and his wife. I felt so scarred for him, because I cannot imagine in a million years what that must feel like, the isolation, the abuse, and the feeling of utter helplessness. In my opinion, these are one of the best performances in 1997. The supporting cast of: Joan Allen, Gina Gershon, and Alessandro Nivola add so much, you get into the film entirely.

This is a very scary movie. This is identity theft gone terribly wrong and beyond any borders. I loved this movie and any other film fanatic will definitely enjoy it as well. It has great action, drama, romance, and dark comedy that bring together a terrific film.

10/10