- Film Review
- Reviewed By Adrian Turner
-
4 out of 5
In director John Woo's over-the-top blockbuster, Nicolas Cage plays Castor Troy, a lunatic terrorist who, having planted a bomb somewhere in LA, is put into a coma by his FBI agent nemesis, Sean Archer (John Travolta). So, of course, Archer uses ultra-modern plastic surgery to swap faces with Troy to dupe the villain's associates - including brother Pollux (Alessandro Nivola) and old flame Sasha (Gina Gershon) - into revealing the bomb's location. The mix of bizarre plotting, high-octane thrills and sentimental drama doesn't always gel, but there are some nice moments, especially when Cage begins to revive Travolta's stale marriage to Joan Allen, and Woo more than delivers in the overblown action stakes. It's also patently evident that both stars are having a ball sending up each other's mannerisms.
Plot Summary
John Woo's action thriller, starring John Travolta and Nicolas Cage. Terrorist Castor Troy is apprehended after an FBI operation, but in his coma-ridden state is unable to divulge the whereabouts of a bomb that is primed to blow up Los Angeles. With the clock ticking, Detective Sean Archer undertakes a face-transplant operation in order to impersonate Troy and locate the device. But things take a turn for the worse when Troy regains consciousness, steals Archer's face and assumes the lawman's identity.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Sean Archer
- John Travolta
- Castor Troy
- Nicolas Cage
- Eve Archer
- Joan Allen
- Pollux Troy
- Alessandro Nivola
- Sasha Hassler
- Gina Gershon
- Jamie Archer
- Dominique Swain
- Dietrich Hassler
- Nick Cassavetes
- Lazarro
- Harve Presnell
- Dr Malcolm Walsh
- Colm Feore
- Prison Guard Walton
- John Carroll Lynch
- Hollis Miller
- C C H Pounder
- Tito
- Robert Wisdom
- Wanda
- Margaret Cho
- Buzz
- Jamie Denton
- Loomis
- Matt Ross
- Leo Fry
- Tommy Flanagan
- Lars
- Dana Smith
- Kimberly
- Romy Windsor
- Fitch
- Paul Hipp
- Aldo Adino
- Kirk Baltz
- Dubov
- Chris Bauer
- Burke Hicks
- Thomas Jane
- Agent Winters
- Lauren Sinclair
- Pilot
- Ben Reed
- Cindee
- Lisa Boyle
- Livia
- Linda Hoffman
- Karl
- Danny Masterson
- Michael Archer
- Myles Jeffrey
- Adam Hassler
- David McCurley
Crew
- Director
- John Woo
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