Movie: Face Off(1997)

It would not be a Frenchman. It would not be an Italian. In fact it would not even be a Eurpean. It would be a Hong Kong director who would waltz into Hollywood and give critcs, actors and technicians a great lesson in glamour in action movies.

That director is John Woo. Nobody brings in style in movies like Woo. Add two veteran stars like John Travolta and Nicolas Cage and we have an enjoyable flick. I'll never forget watching Nicolas Cage playing the bad guy in the beginning of the movie when he reaches into a jewel box and removes two gold plated pistols. Then there is Travolta. Midas like, he brings out his golden starlike quality in anything it touches.

Agent Archer(Travolta) assumes the face of a maniacal terrorist Troy(Cage) to penetrate the underworld. Troy strikes back taking his face. Now Cage plays Archer and Travolta plays Troy.How can Archer win back his family and his life?

The movie then becomes a deadly game of cat and mouse as Troy poses as Archer and steals the latter's family from him. Yes an implausible plot but as the saying goes, anything is possible in show bussiness. Both actors get to show off their versatility. Travolta especially is simply superb dancing his way into the villain's role.

My favorite line in the movie is when Troy sees that Archer has assumed his face(Transalation: Travolta is now Troy and Cage is Archer.), he spontaneously says,'Hey goodlookin'.
In a TV interview,Director Woo attested that this dialog was Travolta's on-the-spot improvisation.

The end of the movie however has a stereotypical boat chase. Woo could have been more imaginative here. Nevertheless, this movie is a must for action movie buffs.

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