Face/Off (1997)

[Drunk Monk]

More John Woo ultravi. I remember really enjoying this film when it came out despite its over-the-top absurdity with its basic premise. Upon rewatching it, it still works. Travolta and Cage are perfect in achieving Woo’s ridiculous tale, and it achieves these amazing moments that could have only been realized with this trio of talent in harmony (note that while Cage remains one of my guilty pleasures, Travolta is still Vinnie Barbarino to me, which isn’t fair because he has achieved so much but it’s my call so up your nose with a rubber hose if that doesn’t work for you).

I think this is the last of the Woo films I can watch without an additional rental fee. If I get the gig, I may rent The Killer and Last Hurrah for Chivalry but that’s enough of a Woo binge for now. 

Notes:
Face off
So cheesy of a plot but if you buy in, Travolta and cage are pitch perfect
Margaret Cho in a weird straight role
Soundtrack is super sappy but it kinda works
Travolta’s impersonation of Cage’s antics is spot on.
Cage’s meltdowns are great too
Despite its absurdity, it achieves some deep poignant moments
The drug trip is so Cate that it works
Shielding the kid in a fire fight with headphones is a nod to hard boiled
The standoff in the mirror is sheer woo
So much broken glass
The doves and the crucifixes 
Some good real explosions