ActionCrimeScience Fiction

Face/Off

- 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.

Release Date : 1997-06-27

Language :EnglishLatin

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Krane EntertainmentParamount PicturesPermut PresentationsWCG Entertainment ProductionsTouchstone PicturesDouglas/Reuther Productions

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Face OffFace∕Off

Cast

Character Name : Sean Archer

Original Name : John Travolta

Gender : Male

Character Name : Castor Troy

Original Name : Nicolas Cage

Gender : Male

Character Name : Eve Archer

Original Name : Joan Allen

Gender : Female

Character Name : Pollux Troy

Original Name : Alessandro Nivola

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sasha Hassler

Original Name : Gina Gershon

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jamie Archer

Original Name : Dominique Swain

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dietrich Hassler

Original Name : Nick Cassavetes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Victor Lazarro

Original Name : Harve Presnell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Malcolm Walsh

Original Name : Colm Feore

Gender : Male

Character Name : Prison Guard Walton

Original Name : John Carroll Lynch

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hollis Miller

Original Name : CCH Pounder

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tito Biondi

Original Name : Robert Wisdom

Gender : Male

Character Name : Wanda

Original Name : Margaret Cho

Gender : Female

Character Name : Buzz

Original Name : James Denton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Loomis

Original Name : Matt Ross

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ivan Dubov

Original Name : Chris Bauer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Michael Archer

Original Name : Myles Jeffrey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Adam Hassler

Original Name : David McCurley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Burke Hicks

Original Name : Thomas Jane

Gender : Male

Character Name : Leo

Original Name : Tommy Flanagan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lars

Original Name : Dana Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kimberly

Original Name : Romy Walthall

Gender : Female

Character Name : Fitch

Original Name : Paul Hipp

Gender : Male

Character Name : Aldo

Original Name : Kirk Baltz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Agent Winters

Original Name : Lauren Sinclair

Gender : Female

Character Name : Pilot

Original Name : Ben Reed

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cindee

Original Name : Lisa Boyle

Gender : Female

Character Name : Livia

Original Name : Linda Hoffman

Gender : Female

Character Name : Karl

Original Name : Danny Masterson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Priest

Original Name : Father Michael Rocha

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hospital Girl

Original Name : Megan Paul

Gender : Female

Character Name : Hospital Dad

Original Name : Mike Werb

Gender : Male

Character Name : LAPD Cop

Original Name : Tom Reynolds

Gender : Male

Character Name : Interrogating Agent

Original Name : Steve Hytner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reporter Valerie

Original Name : Carmen Thomas

Gender : Female

Character Name : Prison Medical Technician

Original Name : John Bloom

Gender : Male

Character Name : Prisoner (uncredited)

Original Name : Thomas Rosales Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : Port Police Commander

Original Name : Walter Scott

Gender : Male

Character Name : ER Nurse

Original Name : Brooke Leslie

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dispatcher

Original Name : Cam Brainard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bomb Leader

Original Name : David Warshofsky

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bomb Technician

Original Name : John Neidlinger

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cigarette Guard

Original Name : Norm Compton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lock Down Guard

Original Name : Gregg Shawzin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Restorative Surgeon

Original Name : Clifford Einstein

Gender : Male

Character Name : Recreation Guard

Original Name : Marco Kyris

Gender : Male

Character Name : Prison Guard

Original Name : Tom Fridley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Altar Boy

Original Name : Andrew Wallace

Gender : Male

Character Name : Prisoner

Original Name : Jacinto Rodriguez

Gender : Male

Character Name : FBI Squad Leader

Original Name : Chic Daniel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Walsh Clinic Nurse

Original Name : Laurence Walsh

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jim Elsworth (uncredited)

Original Name : Tony Boldi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dietrich's Henchman (uncredited)

Original Name : Khristian Lupo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dietrich's Man (who holds Adam) (uncredited)

Original Name : William Morts

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)

Original Name : Darren Pele

Gender : Male

Character Name : Soprano Soloist (uncredited)

Original Name : Joan Beal

Gender : Female

Character Name : SWAT Leader (uncredited)

Original Name : Neill Calabro

Gender : Male

Character Name : SWAT Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : Jason Thomas Campbell

Gender : Male

Character Name : SWAT Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : Tory Christopher

Gender : Male

Character Name : Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc

Gender : Male

Character Name : Janitor (uncredited)

Original Name : Del Zamora

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

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, and if undetected it will flatten L.A. and kill practically everyone. So, Archer undergoes a revolutionary face-swapping procedure with the now comatose Castor and sets about getting the information from the incarcerated Pollux. But wait!, Castor wakes up and turns the tables by assuming Archer's identity, setting the wheels in motion for each man to live the others life until the Face/Off between the pair will decide their respective fate. Unbelievable? Of course. Who cares? Well nobody should really, because surely going into a film like this one is expecting the ludicrous. Both Cage and Travolta are superbly realising the spectacular nature of the script, and being mesmerising in the duality of the roles into the bargain. Make no bones about it, Woo and his team have crafted a benchmark action movie. There's a trail of thought that suggests that Woo basically keeps making the same movie, that's a fair enough point, sure enough, all of his staple action sequences and traits are evident in Face/Off. Yet Woo has delved into his characters, given them some flesh on their action bones, and then upped the anti in action set pieces to cloak them in chaotic beauty. From the opening Jet escape/pursuit set up, to the outrageous speed boat finale, the film is one long exhilarating breath taker. Joan Allen, Gina Gershon, Dominique Swain & Nick Cassavetes all file into the background playing important characters who are rightly secondary to the protagonists, while a ream of extras come and go as each are dispatched in a hail of Woo inspired carnage. The pace never sags and the eyes and ears are treated to a vibrancy that is often sadly missing from many other big budgeted action blockbusters. This is a masterpiece of action cinema, so even as a Orson Welles crane shot is a magnificent thing, so it be with the sight of two stunt men flailing thru the air in a spray of exploding water. Oh yes sir, this is a classic alright. 10/10

r96sk

@r96sk

2021-06-23

A quality all-out action film! 'Face/Off' 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.

Andre Gonzales

@SoSmooth1982

2023-05-15

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.