Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) is the worst kind of criminal: he is smart, vicious, dangerous, he has great resources and he is a total psycho. The man who is closest to catching him is Agent Sean Archer (John Travolta). In attempt to kill Archer, however, Castor accidentally kills Sean’s little son. This results a determined quest on Sean’s part. He eventually catches him. Sean’s doctor wife Eve (Joan Allen) is more than relieved, as she won’t have to be feeling alone and deal with their rebellious teenage daughter Jamie (Dominique Swain) on her own. But one last assignment won’t give Sean the time to catch up with his family and finally find peace:
Castor isn’t dead, but is in a coma. His brother Pollux (Alessandro Nivola) is in a maximum security, top-secret prison and unfortunately he is the only person who knows the place of the bomb they placed in the city: So despite how impossible and difficult it seems, Sean has to agree on an advanced but reversible surgery, which will allow him to “be” Castor: the doctors remove Castor’s and Sean’s faces and implant Castor’s face on Sean. This top secret mission is known only by his doctor, and 2 colleagues.
As much as he hates looking like his son’s killer, Sean (now played by Nicolas Cage) goes to the prison to pretend to be Castor. He gets the info he needs, but he gets a big shock: Castor has woken up and he is more than willing to be Sean for a while, to use his resources. So he gets the surgery, and then kills everyone who knows about the mission. So know, Castor (now played by John Travolta) gets to be with Sean’s wife. As impossible as it might seem, now Sean’s only way out is to break out of the prison, pretend to be Castor to those who don’t know Sean is indeed Castor and he also has try to persuade his wife that he might look like their son’s killer but he is in fact her husband…
Face/Off is a really decent and glorious action film. And once you suspend your disbelief to believe that the technology that allows facial implants/replacements to exist the way it does in the movie, you are in one hell of a ride. It is also fun to have a movie where John Travolta and Nicolas Cage play both of the lead characters for a certain period of the movie and both get to show their acting chops as a villain and the ultimate good guy. It is directed by John Woo (Mission Impossible 2, Broken Arrow), who just knows how to make an action film look good. Written by Mike Werb and Michael Colleary.
It is that over-the-top, full-of-explosions/chases/gun fights action film that keeps you glued to your seat for more than 2 hours. And it is not about how it will end (you know how it will end); but watching how the movie will get there. It helps that the supporting cast is great well. Castor’s girlfriend is played by Gina Gershon. And in a very small role, there is James Denton (Mike Delfino of Desperate Housewives). Intellectual? No. Mind-bending? No. Fun as hell? Oh, yeah.! See it . It never gets old or boring. Yes, I have seen it more than twice.
Other Nicolas Cage Movies and Posts
Lord of War starring Nicolas Cage, Ethan Hawke and Jared Leto
Moonstruck starring Nicolas Cage and Cher
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice starring Nicholas Cage, Monica Belluci, Jay Baruchel, Teresa Palmer
City of Angels starring Meg Ryan and Nicolas Cage
Other John Travolta Posts and Movies
Pulp Fiction
6 Movies with Brilliant Casts feat. Hairspray starring John Travolta
From Paris with Love starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and John Travolta
Basic starring John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson
Phenomenon starring John Travolta, Robert Duvall and Kyra Sedgwick
Favorite Actors to Play Villains feat. Nicolas Cage, John Travolta and more
Actor Musicians and Musician Actors: Feat. John Travolta and Bruce Willis
My “one” John Travolta movie !!! Here, I can’t choose between him and Nicolas…
Both John and Nicolas are terrific here and they have always been 2 of my favorite actors so I refuse to choose:)
It is just perfect that they go to go all nice and sweet and vicious in one movie. Love the concept.