An Energy Like No Other Action Film

Rating: 10/10 (24 February 1999)

When Sean Archer (as Castor Troy) carefully put the walkman head set over little Adam's ears and the roars of gunfire, violence and death were overcome by "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", my emotion for "Face/Off" was confirmed. It was the single greatest action film ever made mainly because it was so much more. Its drama within its action is more compelling than any other action film.
The film is driven by two strong performances by Travolta and Cage and helmed by the best action director in the business, John Woo. The originality of the story goes way beyond the usual bad vs. good storyline. The premise of good becoming bad and vise versa is thought-provoking and has incredible possibilities, all of which are exploited beautifully within this film. Imagine the repercussions of taking on the identity of your greatest nemesis and your son's murderer. Looking in the mirror and seeing everything you have come to hate. Knowing that your worst enemy in sleeping with your wife and comforting your daughter. Everyone you trust wants you dead and everyone you hate wants to help. A story with elements such as these has already gone well beyond all action films to date by examining the nature of good and evil and there co-existence rather than showing them. What comes next meets the all expectations of the story.
With action sequences that leave you breathless and always move the story forward, with characters that you really come to care for or really come to hate, and with a level of entertainment which is off the existing charts. The film makes you think, the film lets you let yourself go and it takes action films to a new zenith - one that will now be very difficult to duplicate.