Face/Off (1997)

7.3R133 minDirector: John Woo

1997 film by John Woo

Face/Off is a 1997 American science fiction action thriller film directed by John Woo, from a screenplay by Mike Werb and Michael Colleary. It stars John Travolta as an FBI agent and Nicolas Cage as a terrorist, who undergo an experimental surgery to swap their faces and identities. The film co-stars Joan Allen, Gina Gershon, and Alessandro Nivola in his film debut, and features Dominique Swain in her film debut, Nick Cassavetes, Harve Presnell, Colm Feore, CCH Pounder, and Thomas Jane in supporting roles.

Principal photography began on January 4, 1997 in Los Angeles and wrapped on April 1. The film score was composed by John Powell. It was the first Hollywood film in which Woo was given major creative control.

Face/Off was theatrically released on June 27, 1997 in the United States by Paramount Pictures and internationally by Buena Vista International through its Touchstone Pictures banner. It earned critical acclaim for the performances by Cage and Travolta and its stylized action sequences. Face/Off earned $245.7 million worldwide on a $80 million budget, making it the 11th highest-grossing film of 1997. At the 70th Academy Awards, it was nominated for Best Sound Effects Editing. Over the years since its release, Face/Off has gained a cult following and is considered as one of Woo's best films. A sequel is in development.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is Face/Off about?
Face/Off (1997) — Sean Archer, a very tough, rugged FBI Agent, is still grieving for his dead son Michael. Archer believes that his son's killer is his sworn enemy and a very powerful criminal, Castor Troy. One day, Archer has finally cornered Castor, however, their fight has knocked out Troy cold
Is Face/Off based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is Face/Off scary?
Content rating: R. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.