In order to trap him, he must become him.
In order to foil a terrorist plot, an FBI agent undergoes facial transplant surgery and assumes the identity of a criminal mastermind. The plan turns sour when the criminal wakes up prematurely and seeks revenge.
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Character
Relentless, unpretentious, earnest and resolved.
- contemplativerelentless
- unpretentiousprestige
- earnestironic
- resolvedopen-ended
- effortlessdemanding
Who loves it, who doesn't
77 profiled raters. Loved most by The Thrill Chasers; disliked most by The Ironists.
Where do you stand?
Answer first; then see how everyone, and your circle, split.
“Is Castor Troy the real protagonist?”
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“Is this John Woo's best work?”
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“Does the pace leave no room to feel anything?”
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A yes-or-no question, answered from what people wrote here, on TMDB and on Wikipedia. Never made up.
Reviews
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Curator Co.'s numbers.
- John Chardon TMDB · Jul 201910/10
It's like looking in a mirror, only, not. There's a tendency to undervalue the action movie. Certainly there's a wide expanse of land in cinema world where film fans reside, where the thought of praising an action film for being "classic" cinema is considered treason against the very word. Yet some of the artistry involved in the genre's leading lights is purely sublime, regardless of how bizarre and unlikely the plot is. Enter John Woo's berserker, ear splitting, high octane actioner, Face/Off. Rightly sitting along side the likes of Die Hard and Predator as genre pieces that showcase how good things can be when it all comes together, Woo's movie is as much fun as you could wish to have for over two hours of explosive, fantastical, unadulterated cinema. The plot sees John Travolta's serious family man cop, Sean Archer, devote his life to catching unbalanced maniacal bad guy Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage). There's some bad history between the two and when Archer manages to capture both Troy and his equally vile brother, Pollux (Alessandro Nivola), it would seem to be closure for Archer and his family. However, it's found that the Troy's have left a ticking bomb somewhere in Los Angeles
Read the whole review on TMDB - r96skon TMDB · Oct 20209/10
A quality all-out action film! <em>'Face/Off'</em> isn't one that'll stick out in my memory as something deep meaning, incredibly written or anything of the sort. However, as an action film it's superb. There's barely a chance to rethink what you've just seen due to the prevalent and manic nature of onscreen events. You also have fascinating performances from the two leads. Nicolas Cage and John Travolta are awesome in this. I won't spoil the plot, but all I will say is that those two bring it to life brilliantly - it felt, at least to me, very believable; which is impressive. Across the opening portion I thought it was going to be Cage stealing the show, but as things progress Travolta really comes up big to match Cage. Away from NC and JT, there isn't really anything to scream about cast-wise; although, I gotta give shoutouts to Mike Delfino and Gavin Harris; if you know, you know. Nothing much more to note, to be honest. The terrific action means I'd highly recommend this.
Read the whole review on TMDB - Andre Gonzaleson TMDB · May 20238/10
Never seen a concept for movie this way. They literally trade faces. Good versus evil and not only do they trade faces but there characters and personalities have to change as well. 2 of the best that could ever do it. John turns into Nicholas and Nicholas turns into John. I would say Nicholas Cage played it better then John Travolta did.
Read the whole review on TMDB - CinemaSerfon TMDB · Jan 20266/10
“Troy” (Nicolas Cage) is a nasty piece of work, and his latest bombing plot has attracted the attention of FBI man “Archer” (John Travolta). Now he has some personal skin in the game, as his nemesis was responsible for the death of his young son - an event both he and wife, physician “Eve” (Joan Allen) are still coming to terms with. When they apprehend him, though, the boffins come up with an unique plan that will enable "Archer" to infiltrate the terrorist gang and bring them all to justice whilst saving the city of Los Angeles from a grizzly fate. The trick? Well that involves some groundbreaking technology that will change his features from those of his own to those of “Troy”. All he has to do now is master a few of his more nasty character traits and then convince his girlfriend “Sasha” (Gina Gershon) - then he’s home and dry. Meantime, though, the real hoodlum awakens in an hospital bed and before we know it, he has assumed a counter-identity that he knows can not only put the kibosh on “Archer” and his cunning plan, but can enable him to mislead the investigators who are not in on the swap. The one woman who wasn’t read into the plot was “Eve” and so when her ‘husband” turns
Read the whole review on TMDB - misubisuon TMDB · Jul 20268/10
**Score: 9/10 — A Glorious, Unhinged Masterpiece of Maximum Overacting** Some films are subtle. Some films are restrained. And then there is *Face/Off* a film that takes the concept of "going for it" and launches it into orbit with a rocket strapped to its back. Directed by the inimitable John Woo, this is a movie that operates on a wavelength entirely its own: a gloriously unhinged, operatically ridiculous, and utterly mesmerising symphony of overacting, bullet ballets, and preposterous plotting. It earns a massive 9/10 for its sheer audacity, its commitment to the bit, and the undeniable electricity of watching two of Hollywood's most committed performers at the absolute peak of their powers. **The Premise: So Ridiculous It's Genius** The plot is, on paper, absurd: FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) undergoes a radical facial transplant surgery to assume the identity of his arch-nemesis, the terrorist Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage), only for Troy to wake up and assume *his* identity. It's the kind of premise that could only exist in the fever dream of a 90s action movie, and John Woo directs it with absolute, straight-faced sincerity. The result is not just entertaining, it's tran
Read the whole review on TMDB
Cast
- John TravoltaSean Archer
- Nicolas CageCastor Troy
- Joan AllenEve Archer
- Alessandro NivolaPollux Troy
- Gina GershonSasha Hassler
- Dominique SwainJamie Archer
- Nick CassavetesDietrich Hassler
- Harve PresnellVictor Lazarro
- Colm FeoreDr. Malcolm Walsh
- John Carroll LynchPrison Guard Walton
Crew
- John WooDirector
- Mike WerbWriter
- Michael CollearyWriter
- Oliver WoodDirector of Photography
- John PowellOriginal Music Composer
- Steven KemperEditor
- Christian WagnerEditor
- Terence ChangProducer
- Barrie M. OsborneProducer
- David PermutProducer
Where to watch
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