[Film] You Take The Face Off (Face/Off (DVD))

Member Name: Andy.mack

Product:	Face/Off (DVD)
Date:	12/05/07 (122 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Superb Direction, Great acting, compelling viewing

Disadvantages: It took so long to see it originally

If I were to compile a list of my favourite actors I think it would be fair to say that Nicholas Cage was pretty high on that list. Likewise John Travolta would have a pretty prominent position on that’s list. So when I first came across Face/Off, a movie that puts both actors together it was almost inevitable that I would end up watching it. In fact I’ve not just watched it once, I’ve probably seen it at least a dozen times, which tends to suggest that it’s a pretty decent movie. An action film staring two of my favourite Hollywood actors seemed to good to miss and once again today I sat down to watch it.

When Special Agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) finally manages to arrest the man responsible for killing his son he thinks his life’s work is all over. However just as Sean is preparing to take an easier desk job he learns that Castor Troy (Nicholas Cage) had planted a bomb in downtown L. A. To find out where the bomb is Archer must undergo a special procedure and become Troy and find out from his brother Pollux (Alessandro Nivola) where the bombs have been hidden. While Archer, in his new guise of Castor races against time the real Castor comes round and assumes Archer’s identity, leaving Archer stuck in his nemesis form.

This is a superb action film and while the concept may be so far fetched its untrue it really does work very well. This is the ideal sort of lad’s film. It’s filled with loud explosions, ferocious gunfights and even a boat case through the harbour. All these elements combine to make this a film that is incredibly easy and enjoyable to watch. If you like your action films to be loud and packed full of fast paced action then you will no doubt love this movie. It isn’t the sort of film you sit down and watch with the family or for a romantic night in but it is a great film if you’re just looking for something entertaining.

After a few films this was really the one that launched director John Woo into the main stream. It followed on from Broken Arrow and Hard Target and really helped to make a name for Woo and his film making abilities. The effects he uses in this film are amazing and in particular the scene’s where Travolta and Cage undergo the surgery. It really does look fantastic and it’s not surprising that this film looks superb. The fight scene’s work really well and the gun fights too are done in a very clever way that adds to the films appeal.

Of course it also helps that the script is as good as it is. While Woo does a great job of bringing the plot to the big screen it says a lot about writers Werb and Colleary. The script they have created really does work and rather than being largely padded out it seems to be a good, pure shot of action. At 138 minutes long you could almost be forgiven for thinking it’d be too long but I think if it’d been any shorter it wouldn’t have worked anywhere near as well.

A good script and a decent director are nothing though without a decent cast and Face/Off seems to work there as well. With a cast that includes Nicholas Cage and John Travolta there was little chance this wasn’t going to work. Of course Woo had worked with Travolta before on Broken Arrow and that partnership seems to have been rekindled. I’ve not come to expect any less from Travolta but it is another amazing performance. He really makes the characters his own and when playing both personalities really pulls off something that could have been very difficult.

The same can be said of Cage. I’ve always thought that he was a good actor but this role shows just how diverse his acting ability actually is. The way both he and Travolta show each of the characters is almost scary as they adopt characteristics from both characters into their roles. Of course you wouldn’t really expect anything less from two of the best actors in Hollywood. The rest of the cast play a good supporting role, with very good performances from both Nivola and Joan Allen but the show really is stolen by the two lead actors.

Overall this is a stunning action movie. It is well directed, the script works not only from a action perspective but also has a form of story about it. The actors have been well chosen and while you wouldn’t expect anything less from the likes of Cage and Travolta they really do excel in their respective roles in this movie. It’s an excellent action movie that I think most people will have seen already, if however you haven’t been fortunate enough to see it I can thoroughly recommend you make an effort and watch it, you won’t be disappointed.

Amazon: £5.97
Amazon Marketplace: £1.99

Summary: A decent Action film with plenty of explosions