The second review of John Woo Month, and the second appearance of John Travolta. Throughout his career he's played goodies (Pulp Fiction, Grease) and baddies (Swordfish, The Punisher), but in today's film, he get the chance to play both. It's one of Woo's most financially and critically successful cinematic escapades, Face/Off.
Released in 1997 and starring Travolta alongside Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen and Alessandro Nivola, Face/Off tells the story of an FBI agent attempting to foil a terrorist's plans to blow up Los Angeles by switching identities with him. One of Woo's smartest, slickest and all round most impressive films, as well as one of his highest grossing, it never ever fails to impress.
The film open with our 2 main characters, FBI agent Sean Archer (Travolta) and international terrorist Castor Troy (Cage), the latter planning to assassinate the former at a fairground. Unfortunately, Troy's bullet does not kill Archer, instead taking the life of Archer's beloved son Michael.
Cut to some years later, and we discover that Archer has an understandably personal vendetta against Troy, who has planted a bomb somewhere in Downtown L.A. Archer discovers that Troys younger sibling Pollux (Nivola) has chartered a private jet. With a unique knowledge of Troy and his habits, Archers know that Pollux would not be making such a move without his big brother, and as such, plans to ensnare him before takeoff. After a shoot-out in which lots of things explode in slow motion, Archer captures Troy and Pollux. Sadly, the former is in a coma and the latter will not divulge the location of the bomb.
Desperate for answers, considering they have no idea how long they have before detonation, Archer agrees to an experimental surgical procedure in which he literally switches faces with Troy, and enters the jail in which Pollux is incarcerated in order to talk the bomb's location out of him.
Thing would progress smoothly from here, where it not for Troy miraculously waking from his coma, taking Archers face, assuming his identity, and reeking all kinds of havoc upon the city.
Most of Woo's flicks are pretty straight forward, but this one is a notable exception. In fact, I'd go as far as to say it's actually fairly complex. Having our lead characters switching identities and exploring each others lives, interacting with each others families and their everyday activities is very interesting and gives the movie a level of depth that we don't often see in Woo's flicks. Travolta & Cage are given the ability to explore both characters, giving us both silly and serious sides of their acting talents. I especially love when Travolta tells Pollux how ridiculous his hair and chin is.
The action scenes, as you would expect, are incredible. Gun fights, prison breaks, boat chases, all of which are handled with style and competence by our talented director, who clearly loves every minute of it. As a result, we get a film that we love too. One of Woo's best, no doubt about. Fast paced, unique, complex but always with that notion that a fight scene is just round the corner, it continues to be one of my favourites.
No comments:
Post a Comment