Face/Off

Starring: John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen, Gina Gershon
Directed by: John Woo
Released: Paramount Pictures, 1997

Consider this the definitive proof for the argument that John Woo (Broken Arrow) knows how to make a smart, stylish, exuberant action film. Featuring a pair of just-as-energetic performances from John Travolta and Nicolas Cage, Face/Off has enough adrenaline-pumping action to get audiences to ignore the relatively circumstantial nature of the plot. Travolta and Cage star as arch enemies on opposite sides of the law, but switch faces early in the film (don't ask) and continue to do battle -- essentially a literal exposition of that saying about walking a mile in another man's shoes. Joan Allen and Gina Gershon are on hand as the love interests who must contend with all of this double-identity nonsense, and actually add a little something to the story rather than fawning over their beaus like useless prop parts. Definitely recommendable over the other Cage action film of 1997, Con Air.