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Face/Off (1997) DVD Review
Face/Off (1997) DVD Credits:
Face/Off (1997) Directed by:
John Woo
Face/Off (1997) Written by:
Michael Colleary, Mike Werb
Face/Off (1997) Cast:
John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen, Alessandro Nivola, Gina Gershon, Dominique Swain, Nick Cassavetes, Harve Presnell, Colm Feore, John Lynch
Face/Off (1997) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
Face/Off (1997) DVD Release Date:
10th September 2007
Our Rating: Extras Rating:

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Face/Off (1997) Synopsis:

FBI agent obsessed with the murder of his son trades faces with the boy's killer. High-style, large-caliber action from the master, John Woo, who keeps a thoroughly insane story on an even keel aaaaaalllllmost till the end.

Face/Off (1997) DVD Review:

John Woo certainly knows how to mix human drama with stylized action, and he sets up both immediately in the opening sequences of Face/Off. First showing a horrific sequence in which F.B.I agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) is targeted by terrorist Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) for unknown reasons. Archer is enjoying a day off with his young son, who is killed in the attack, although Archer survives to avenge his son. Six years later Troy is still free and in the middle of his latest terrorist attack, which Archer sets out to stop. They are successful in capturing Troy, but they don’t know where his next attack is planned for, except that it will be in Los Angeles. In a last attempt to find out Archer undergoes radical operations in order to take on the exact physical traits as Troy to go undercover as him. This plan works because Troy is a coma patient after his capture and they are able to remove this face and transfer it onto Archer’s.

Archer is able to fool everyone, including Troy’s brother in prison. This helps him to find out about the terrorist attack, but he also fools everyone else and has some difficulties getting out of prison when Troy wakes up and steals his face. It is nearly science fiction at this point, but Face/Off is also the kind of film where a great deal of disbelief must be suspended in order to be enjoyed. There is a lot of flashy and exciting action on top of the emotion charged melodrama and that may be enough for some, but if realism is of concern this film doesn’t quite live up to standards. Some of the more creative elements of the film, such as the high security magnetic prison, are the least realistic and also the strong points of the film along with the formalistic action. This action includes all of the signature elements for Woo, including many face-off situations, plenty of doves and explosions.

Disc one of the 2-Disc Special Collector’s Edition has two commentary tracks and the deleted scenes while disc two contains all of the featurettes. Surprisingly the writers, Michael Colleary and Mike Werb, are on two commentary tracks; one with just the two of them and the other joined by John Woo. It seems that a solo track with Woo might have been more enticing, although the writers have many set stories to let us know that they were there for the whole process. This doesn’t always mean what they have to say is all that interesting and one of the writers speaks far more than the other. The deleted scenes also include commentary. There is also an alternate ending which is weird and doesn’t really make a lot of sense.

Disc two has a featurette about the films and life of John Woo with interviews and incredible photographs. His stories are great also, especially when talking about his life as a young thug. There is also a making-of documentary, split into five sections; science fiction/human emotion, cast/characters, Woo/Hollywood, practical/visual effects, and future/past. There is also a theatrical trailer.

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Face/Off (1997) DVD review written by: Ryan Izay

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