If he hasn’t been inactive all this time, it’s been more than fifteen years since John Woo presented a film in French cinemas. After 3 Kingdoms released on March 25, 2009, his next feature films were released on other channels, such as Silent Night, which is available on Prime Video.
So here he is again with The Killer, which is a remake. Not the 2023 David Fincher movie, but directed by…John Woo himself, in 1989 and released in our theaters in 1995. The original directed by Chow Yun-fat averaged 3.8 out of 5 on AlloCiné. and therefore not his best-rated feature film, a status held by one of his American period opuses.
Without much surprise, given the popularity rankings, it’s Volte/Face who wins the prize. Not much, since it has the same average, 3.9 out of 5, as Bullet in the Head and Mindless. But thanks to the higher number of ratings (32,217 against 1,088 and 1,434), which allows it to separate itself from the other two feature films.
Released in 1997, Volte/Face is still known for its action scenes (certainly its one-liners, apparently), as well as its pitch that sees a CIA agent and the terrorist he’s chasing exchange faces. So their life. John Travolta and Nicolas Cage rarely get the chance to deliver memorable and unhinged performances that give the feature film its charm and make the follow-up/remake project all the more difficult to imagine without them.
Some excerpts from reviews from Internet users who rated Volte/Face 5 out of 5
HawkMan: John Woo made an excellent action film: the story of fire, namely, a policeman against a gangster who will exchange their faces and therefore their lives, the best actors with Nicolas Cage in the main role, music and a more successful atmosphere and finally action. Scenes from the most experienced people in an amazing short: unique and legendary!”
bobmorane63: A quirky and suspenseful action film from the master of the Asian genre, what he did best in his long Hollywood journey, Mr. John Woo! (…) I think that everything would be different if it weren’t for the most inspired comedians, in this case John Travolta and Nicolas Cage, who go from bad guy to good guy and vice versa, with great credibility, with the tricks of one and the other bordering on admiration and a kind of play. Physical discomfort in certain moments of the character, I find it very powerful.”
Ranger: “Action, you want something, it never stops! Through many twists and turns, John Woo takes us throughout the film with these two talented actors. A film that has managed to carve out a place for itself with age. Our DVD libraries, so much so that over time, we never get bored That, and as proof, it hasn’t aged a bit!
Action, if you will, it never stops!
scrat28: “John Woo is one of the masters of action, and ‘Flip/Face’ is probably his best film. Imagine the result: non-stop action and suspense for the original script, the Nicolas Cage/John Travolta duel is thrilling.”
locked: “Simply a great movie! Solid script, stunning direction and masterful performance. Travolta is so good, and what can we say about Nicolas Cage?! He goes from ‘nice’ to ‘bad’ with disturbing ease. His smile in front of the psychopathic mirror is a scene to remember.”
Kevin T: “One of the most devastating duels that ever happened. Nicolas Cage/John Travolta, Castor Troy/Sean Archer, spectacular scenes, a real adrenaline rush every time! The last scene with a long chase after the gun is the church Dantesque. The face reaches its climax , it’s great. The script is great and full of originality, the idea of swapping looks is outstanding!
and you Did Volte/Face go crazy?
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
