Today’s quick review: Face/Off. After years of hunting, FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) finally catches Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage), the deranged terrorist who killed Archer’s son. To determine the location of a bomb Troy planted, Archer undergoes a cutting-edge procedure to swap faces with Troy and assume his identity. But when Troy escapes wearing Archer’s face, Archer must find a way to reclaim his face and his life before it’s too late.
Face/Off is an action thriller from director John Woo. Face/Off pits John Travolta and Nicolas Cage against one another in a battle of wits, deception, and raw aggression. Featuring a unique premise, a memorable pair of leads, and gratuitous amounts of action, Face/Off has everything a certain type of action fan could want. However, its quirks won’t appeal to everyone; it’s geared towards viewers who value thrills and fun over realism or heavy drama.
Face/Off stands out in a crowded genre thanks to its premise, its stars, and its sheer energy. The movie takes full advantage of the unique acting styles of its leads. Castor Troy is violent, eccentric villain, and his face swap with Sean Archer gives both actors the chance to share in his lunacy. Face/Off milks its premise for all it’s worth, not just settling for a simple case of mistaken identity but layering on more drama and higher stakes.
The outlandish plot goes hand in hand with a heaping portion of action. The action sequences in the film are anything but subtle, starting big, getting bigger, and going well beyond the bare minimum needed to tell the story. The film also manages to pack a surprising amount of variety into its action scenes. The usual gunfights and pyrotechnics blossom into elaborate chases, standoffs, prison breaks, and more, all without distracting from the story.
The end result is the action formula writ large: big stunts, exaggerated characters, and a story that has no business being as entertaining as it is. Face/Off brings nothing sophisticated to the table, just honest thrills and a clear love for the story it’s telling. Action fans looking for some well-executed popcorn should look no farther. Those looking for subtlety, realistic action, or grounded characters should steer well clear.
For another action movie in the same vein starring Nicolas Cage, try The Rock or Con Air. For a series with a similar sense of freewheeling fun, try Fast & Furious and its sequels. For a tongue-in-cheek action comedy with some of the same appeal, try True Lies. For more over-the-top action, try Bad Boys II, Armageddon, or the Mission: Impossible franchise.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for well-paced, energetic execution on a unique premise.