Synopsis
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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Cast
- John TravoltaSean Archer
- Nicolas CageCastor Troy
- Joan AllenEve Archer
- Alessandro NivolaPollux Troy
- Gina GershonSasha Hassler
- Dominique SwainJamie Archer
- Nick CassavetesDietrich Hassler
- Harve PresnellVictor Lazarro
- Colm FeoreDr. Malcolm Walsh
- John Carroll LynchPrison Guard Walton
- 100
Rolling Stone
Exciting and then some, Face/Off blends the director's supercharged images of balletic brutality and spiritual catharsis with an off-the-wall humor that allows John Travolta and Nicolas Cage to really let it rip. - 90
Chicago Reader
Woo's third Hollywood movie, Face/Off, is the first to balance his visual imagination with the emotional intensity of his Hong Kong films. - 90
The New York Times
Before we go numb from such prefab excitement, here comes a mega-movie that actually delivers what mega-movies promise: strong characters, smart plotting, breathless action and a gimmick that hasn't been seen before. - 90
Washington Post
A delirious mixture of spectacular gun battles, furious explosions and breathtaking stunt work, it's also one of the strangest stories to ever get the green light at a Hollywood studio. You have to take your hat off to Paramount Studios for allowing such inspired weirdness to see the light of day. - 90
Washington Post
As an example of the art of casting, the movie is brilliantly engineered. It allows two major stars to each play the showy villain for a time, and also for each to do an imitation of the other. - 89
Austin Chronicle
Face/Off works like a charm right on down the line thanks to brilliant, exhilarating performances from Cage and Travolta, and the many tremendously enjoyable action set-pieces that are Woo's hallmark. - 80
Salon
Florid, passionate, frequently hilarious and loaded with messy emotions that nobody in his or her right mind should even attempt to explain, it's operatic in its nutball intensity. - 75
Chicago Sun-Times
The high-tech stuff is flawlessly done, but the intriguing elements of the movie involve the performances.