Willing suspension of disbelief

Rating: 7/10 (16 June 2006)

Every once in a while, you just have to sit down with a big bowl of popcorn and watch an action flick. The trick is finding one that is both fun and intelligent.
Face/Off falls under this category. Unlike brainless shoot-em-up movies, this flick is enhanced by the theatrical talents of Nicholas Cage and John Travolta. Cage's performance reflects similar tones and faces from Con Air, and Travolta's in the same mold as his movie Swordfish.
The key to enjoying this movie, however, is to engage in a willing suspension of disbelief. If you look at this movie with a critical eye and say to yourself 'this is so unreal' before disgustedly turning off the TV, then you're missing out. Once you get past the surreal premise of the film, it becomes exciting and intriguing, and a thrill ride through two great performances by Cage and Travolta.