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Action, Crime, Science Fiction 139 min R
Rotten Tomatoes93%Metacritic82IMDb
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.
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Relentless, unpretentious, resolved and effortless.
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Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Taste Buds's numbers.
**Score: 9/10 — A Glorious, Unhinged Masterpiece of Maximum Overacting** Some films are subtle. Some films are restrained. And then there is *Face/Off* a film that takes the concept of "going for it" and launches it into orbit with a rocket strapped to its back. Directed by the inimitable John Woo, this is a movie that operates on a wavelength entirely its own: a gloriously unhinged, operatically ridiculous, and utterly mesmerising symphony of overacting, bullet ballets, and preposterous plotting. It earns a massive 9/10 for its sheer audacity, its commitment to the bit, and the undeniable electricity of watching two of Hollywood's most committed performers at the absolute peak of their powers. **The Premise: So Ridiculous It's Genius** The plot is, on paper, absurd: FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) undergoes a radical facial transplant surgery to assume the identity of his arch-nemesis, the terrorist Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage), only for Troy to wake up and assume *his* identity. It's the kind of premise that could only exist in the fever dream of a 90s action movie, and John Woo directs it with absolute, straight-faced sincerity. The result is not just entertaining, it's tran
Read the whole review on TMDB“Troy” (Nicolas Cage) is a nasty piece of work, and his latest bombing plot has attracted the attention of FBI man “Archer” (John Travolta). Now he has some personal skin in the game, as his nemesis was responsible for the death of his young son - an event both he and wife, physician “Eve” (Joan Allen) are still coming to terms with. When they apprehend him, though, the boffins come up with an unique plan that will enable "Archer" to infiltrate the terrorist gang and bring them all to justice whilst saving the city of Los Angeles from a grizzly fate. The trick? Well that involves some groundbreaking technology that will change his features from those of his own to those of “Troy”. All he has to do now is master a few of his more nasty character traits and then convince his girlfriend “Sasha” (Gina Gershon) - then he’s home and dry. Meantime, though, the real hoodlum awakens in an hospital bed and before we know it, he has assumed a counter-identity that he knows can not only put the kibosh on “Archer” and his cunning plan, but can enable him to mislead the investigators who are not in on the swap. The one woman who wasn’t read into the plot was “Eve” and so when her ‘husband” turns
Read the whole review on TMDBA quality all-out action film! <em>'Face/Off'</em> 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.
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“Is Castor Troy the real protagonist?”
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77 profiled raters. Loved most by The Thrill Chasers; disliked most by The Ironists.
If you loved this film, the television, the book, the music, the game.
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