FACE/OFF
A film review by Neal Richardson
Copyright 1997 Neal Richardson
Principal Actors: John Travolta, Nicolas Cage Written by: Michael Colleary and Mike Werb Directed by: John Woo
3.5 out of 4 stars
Imagine what it might be like to wear the face of the person you hate the most. What would that do to you?
This is the dilemma at the heart of John Woo's latest action thriller, "Face/Off." The premise the screenwriters use to make us believe that the two leads "swap" faces is ludicrous but when this occurs we aren't really concerned with suspending our disbe lief. This movie has already sucked us in.
What makes this movie work is the intensity that Travolta and Cage bring to their roles as they play themselves and then switch roles a quarter of the way through the film. The scenes become more poignant as the audience knows who's really who and everyo ne else does not. A very interesting human drama unfolds as the best in these characters is brought out due to the role reversal.
If none of this grabs you as you watch this in a multiplex, John Woo's direction and outrageous stunts will. This is without a doubt his most Hong Kong like of his American films. Those who are familiar with Woo's style will undoubtedly smile knowingly at some of these shots throughout this picture.
This is an action movie with a lot of heart. You'll be hard pressed to find a better action film this summer.
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