Unforgettable

Rating: Null/10 (6 August 2010)

Face/Off is an action picture in every sense of the word. Too many over the top chase sequences? Check. Too-long running time? Check. Nicolas Cage? Check. Bad? No possible way. It's a seasoned original action picture with surprisingly great performance, excellent sound, editing, and visuals, and nail-biting thrills.
Nicolas Cage, possibly the king of action pictures shares the stage with john Travolta and together they have more chemistry than 3/4 of the romantic comedies today. It's a Clairice Starling/Hannibal Lecter pair. Can you imagine if Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins did what Travolta and Cage do here, switch faces? That would've been interesting.
Both deliver to my surprise, terrific performances. Travolta pretty much amazed me here. He has emotional depth for both characters he portrays. It's Oscar nomination work that never gets considered because of the nature of his film (i.e. Matt Damon in Bourne). Both men could've stolen the show in the Nicolas Cage role, and they both are sublime in it. But it is the John Ttravolta character that was the challenge. When Travolta is actually in his original character he's just as solid and great as he is in the Cage character. Cage falls a little behind with Travolta's character, but picks himself up when he confronts Joan Allen. From there on he's on Travolta's level.
Joan Allen, I fell like I talk about her in every review, delivers yet another fantastic performance. How does she do it?
Face/Off is features incredible tech stuff, fine acting, a very original (not always believable) script, and the action may carry on for a while, but it very well-done; 8.