A live Rewatchables episode celebrating Face/Off as an absurd but highly rewatchable action movie, with lots of praise for Cage/Travolta overacting, John Woo set pieces, and the movie's escalating dumbness-as-spectacle. The discussion is affectionate, joke-heavy, and frequently returns to how the film still works despite or because of its ridiculous premise.
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01The film is packed with multiple rewatchable set pieces, including the airport shootout, prison escape, and the "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" sequence. About 8 min
02Cage and Travolta's extreme performances make the movie fun to revisit as an overacting showcase. Opening minutes
03John Woo's staging, slow motion, and escalation of absurd details give the movie a maximalist action-movie energy. About 8 min
04The film commits hard to its title and premise, including literally saying "take his face off," which the hosts find satisfying. About 16 min
WHAT DID NOT WORK
Their main criticisms
moderateThe CGI and some stunt/double effects look dated. About 24 min
majorThe father-daughter material and Cage's interactions with Dominic Swain are uncomfortable. About 24 min
minorThe prison/magnet logic and other plot mechanics are absurd even by action-movie standards. About 8 min
moderateSome of the sexual/caressing material and the disguised Cage behavior are hard to defend now. About 24 min
SCENES THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO
Standout moments
critical
Opening carousel sniper attack
Archer's son is killed in slow motion by Caster Troy from a sniper perch, establishing the revenge plot and the movie's melodramatic tone.
Opening minutes critical
Pastor disguise and molestation setup
They recall Cage's early disguise as a pastor and the uncomfortable teenage-girl material as part of the opening stretch.
Opening minutes Favorite
Somewhere Over the Rainbow shootout
A trip-hop, absinthe, child-in-danger shootout that the hosts treat as the film's signature rewatchable scene.
About 8 min Favorite
Catalina prison escape
The magnetic-boot prison and escape sequence are praised as peak action absurdity.
About 8 min mixed
Face-swap surgery sequence
The surgery is memorable for its visual absurdity and dated effects, especially the haircut after the face is removed.
About 24 min Favorite
Face-off dialogue moment
They enjoy the scene where the title phrase is actually spoken: 'I'd like to take his face off.'
About 16 min Favorite
Prison fight with emotional breakdown
Nick Cage's prison confrontation with Pollux and the crying fit are singled out as an all-time funny scene.
About 16 min mixed
Church standoff ending
The final church confrontation is praised for quotable lines and escalating absurdity, but also tied to the uncomfortable family material.
About 48 min
WHERE THEY DISAGREED
The biggest debates
They partly agreed About 8 min
Most rewatchable scene
Chris Ryan
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" shootout is the best scene.
Bill Simmons
Prison escape and magnetic boots are the best scene.
Jason Concepcion
Opening carousel/sniper attack is his favorite early sequence.
They left it as a friendly argument About 16 min
Best casting what-if
Jason Concepcion
Stallone and Schwarzenegger would be interesting because the physical mismatch would be funny.
Chris Ryan
Douglas and Ford would be funniest because of their contempt for the material.
Shea Serrano
Van Damme and Seagal would be the worst and therefore most appealing.
No final agreement About 48 min
Which swap performance is better
Bill Simmons
Travolta gets the more fun part as evil Travolta, while Cage's role may be less fun.
Jason Concepcion
Cage still had the more fun role overall.
Chris Ryan
Cage's performance is central to the movie working at all.
They agreed About 56 min
Was Cage bad or good-bad?
Bill Simmons
Cage was great here and only later became worse.
Chris Ryan
Cage has a consistent odd style and this movie shows it well.
Speaker not identified
They cheer that Cage was good.
15 People discussedActors, directors, writers, and producers
