Face/Off (1997)
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An FBI agent and a terrorist undergo an experimental surgery to swap their faces and identities.
The story
After an assassination attempt by a terrorist-for-hire, a determined FBI agent seeks revenge. When the terrorist falls into a coma, the agent undergoes an experimental face transplant to assume the criminal's identity and infiltrate his inner circle. However, the terrorist awakens and demands a reciprocal procedure, leading to a high-stakes game of identity confusion where both men must navigate a world where they are wearing each other's faces while trying to outmaneuver one another in a city filled with hidden explosives.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
FBI Agent Sean Archer seeks revenge against terrorist Castor Troy after Troy's actions killed Archer's son. When Troy falls into a coma, Archer undergoes a face transplant to look like Troy to infiltrate his gang. Troy awakens and demands a reciprocal transplant. Both men now inhabit the other's identity. Archer-as-Troy attempts to find a bomb in Los Angeles, while Troy-as-Archer infiltrates the FBI and gains the trust of Archer's wife and daughter. The conflict escalates into a series of violent confrontations, including a bloody raid on a drug kingpin's headquarters. The tension culminates in a final confrontation at a church and a high-speed boat chase. Ultimately, Archer manages to defeat Troy and reclaim his identity, while Troy is killed. The film ends with Archer and his wife adopting the son of the man he once fought.
- First release year
- 1997
- Runtime (minutes)
- 139
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- John Woo
- Writers
- Mike Werb · writer; Michael Colleary · writer
- Cast and characters
- John Travolta · FBI agent; Nicolas Cage · terrorist; Joan Allen; Gina Gershon; Alessandro Nivola
- Genres
- science-fiction; action; thriller
- Themes
- identity; revenge; duality
- Tone and mood
- stylized; action-packed
- Premise and plot tags
- body swapping; identity theft; terrorism
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim for its performances and stylized action, earning a cult following.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 93% · scale: percentage · review count: 95; Metacritic · score: 82 · scale: 100 · review count: 26
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Sound Effects Editing · 70th Academy Awards · nomination; Saturn Award · Best Director · win; Saturn Award · Best Writing · win
- Production trivia
- The script was originally set in a futuristic setting.; The names Castor and Pollux are a reference to Greek mythology.; The film is considered part of the 'holy trinity' of Nicolas Cage action films.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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