We’ve been alternating each night and deciding what to watch. To my absolute shock, and delight, Lianna’s pick was the #1997 #johnwoo film Face/Off. That’s totally a movie I would’ve picked, so it felt like I got to pick three nights in a row! #faceoff is even more surreal and bonkers than you might remember, and it’s glorious! We were truly blessed that, quite possibly, the greatest action movie director in the world made some Hollywood films for a time. Face/Off is the distillation of all the Woo tropes that make him an excellent action director. The way he orchestrated and shot his action scenes are something to behold. It’s a shame because, at the time, Michael Bay ended up influencing American action for years, to its detriment! Why couldn’t Woo have been the one they mimicked? Maybe because he’s one of a kind. Anyway, the story is ludicrous; Caster Troy (#nicolascage) is a terrorist for hire who is dogged constantly by his arch nemesis Sean Archer (#johntravolta). It’s personal for Archer since Troy killed his son while trying to assassinate him. The opening set piece at an airport is outrageously awesome, and you get to see Cage in a priest’s outfit hamming it up. This is quintessential out of control Cage, at least for the beginning. You see, once Troy is caught, they need to get info from his brother, but can’t crack him. They decide to put Troy’s face on Archer so that he can get the info. Very few know about the switch, and Troy escapes using the same method, putting on Archer’s face and killing those that know. They each have to act like the other and it’s amazing to see what Travolta and Cage do to mimic the other. The setting is this strange mix of contemporary and sci-fi. Besides the face off process, there’s also this high tech prison that has magnet boots on the prisoners. Woo pulls out his favorite elements; such as dual wielding, doves, and a boat chase. The mix of fun acting and spectacular action make this one of the best American action movies of the #1990s. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#1997 #johnwoo #faceoff #nicolascage #johntravolta #1990s
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