Face/Off (1997)

Director:

John Woo

Writers (WGA):

Mike Werb (written by) &
Michael Colleary (written by)

Release Date:

27 June 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

In order to catch him, he must become him.

Plot:

A revolutionary medical technique allows an undercover agent to take the physical appearance of a major criminal and infiltrate his organization.

Plot Keywords:

Terrorist | Bomb | Prison | Undercover | Identity

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

John Travolta	...	Sean Archer / Castor Troy
Nicolas Cage	...	Castor Troy / Sean Archer
Joan Allen	...	Dr. Eve Archer
Alessandro Nivola	...	Pollux Troy
Gina Gershon	...	Sasha Hassler
Dominique Swain	...	Jamie Archer
Nick Cassavetes	...	Dietrich Hassler
Harve Presnell	...	Victor Lazarro
Colm Feore	...	Dr. Malcolm Walsh
John Carroll Lynch	...	Walton, Prison Guard
CCH Pounder	...	Dr. Holllis Miller
Robert Wisdom	...	Tito Biondi
Margaret Cho	...	Wanda
James Denton	...	Buzz (as Jamie Denton)
Matt Ross	...	Loomis

Also Known As:

Face Off (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated R for intense sequences of strong violence, and for strong language.

Runtime:

138 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #34954) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Germany:16 | Finland:K-15 (DVD version) | UK:18 (re-rating) (uncut) (2004) | South Korea:15 (video rating) (cut) | South Korea:18 (original rating) | Philippines:R-18 | Malaysia:18SG | Brazil:14 | India:A (cinema release) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Austria:16 | Belgium:KNT | Canada:18A | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Iceland:16 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 | UK:18 (cut)

Filming Locations:

Agoura Hills, California, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [John Woo] [reflection]Castor Troy reflected in Dr Walsh's glasses.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After Pollux falls through the skylight, Troy (as Archer) is visibly upset. When Loomis enters the room, you can clearly see the "bullet hole" covered up on his forehead; it is also visible when he says "It's just Pollux Troy" and Troy shoots him in the head, exactly where the makeup-covered mark is. You can see it explode with the impact of the shot.

Quotes:

[Sean Archer and Castor Troy, each wearing the other's face, meet]
Castor Troy: It's like looking in a mirror. Only... not.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Horizon: The World's First Face Transplant" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Don't Lose Your Head

Greatest action movie ever made, period.

This is simply the best action movie I have ever seen. Very few movies come close, but don't overtake, this masterpiece. John Woo has unleashed an action movie that all should see at least once. And all action fans should own. The action scenes are fast and furious, the script is great, and the story is pretty good, and John Travolta and Nicholas Cage give excellent performances. See this movie now if you haven't already, or if you just haven't seen it recently you will not be disappointed. This movie would get 10 out of 10 from me.