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:

According to producer Barrie M. Osborne, most of the challenging action scenes, including the fight on the deck of the boat and the airplane going down the runway, were originally planned as green screen shots. But they filmed them practically to support the "realism of story".

Goofs:

Factual errors: Near the end of the raid on Dietrich's place, Loomis busts in armed with a Colt M4, with an underslung M203 Grenade Launcher. He fires the launcher twice in rapid succession. The M203 is a one-shot launcher and requires reloading between shots. There is no indication that Loomis bothered to reload at all.

Quotes:

Sean Archer: Any word from the LAPD intelligence? If there IS such a thing?
Loomis: Not yet, sir.
Sean Archer: Of course not, because we're a covert anti-terrorist team that is so secret, that when we snap our fingers NOTHING HAPPENS!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A.R.O.G (2008)

Soundtrack:

The Hallelujah Chorus - Since By Man Came Death

A breakthrough in cinematography!!!!

I liked this movie because of the cinematography and the superb acting. There are tons of movies out there that are great but this movie breaks all barriers. The opening scene with Castor Troy arriving at the airport, is a scene which I have seen at least a billion times. The music that supports that scene is so lavishly put together that it is mind bending. John Powell is a music prodigy. John Woo is a legend, his views of making movies has changed Hollywood. The way he portrays each character is a marvel. Their emotions can be felt, and the way he shows their anger and rage leaves the viewers speechless. The cast is well put together and the music is extraordinary.