Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Face/Off’

Written by Scott Edwards

​Agent Sean Archer is on the man hunt once again for the man that killed his son. Castor Troy is running free on the streets and even with Archer keeping the chase alive, Troy does not give up on his aspirations of bringing death and despair to the city. With a bomb in place and knowing that there is no way that the police can find it, Castor is ready to leave on his jet plane to safety, but a little tip gives Archer the whereabouts of his greatest foe. Being able to stop Troy before he is able to escape the city, Archer now feels fulfilled in his duties to the service, and wants to make up for all of the lost time he has had with his family.

With only a few minutes to celebrate, Archer gets put back on the case after finding out that there is a bomb set to go off in the middle of the city. Being asked to join the hunt again, Archer is ashamed to see that his own agency is keeping Castor Troy alive for one reason, to use his face. Being asked to go under cover, Archer has to change everything about himself to assume the life and face of his greatest foe. Needing to protect the people of the city before the bomb goes off, Archer is put into the shoes of Castor Troy and embarks on the greatest assignment of his career.  

With his new face, Archer becomes the man he has hated for many years and has to befriend Troy’s brother. Getting the location of the bomb, Archer is ready to be taken out of his role as the criminal, but little does he know what has happened in the outside world. With Troy coming out of his coma and using the same practice that Archer did, there is a new sheriff in town, but it is not the same man behind the face. Archer has to find a way to get back to the land of the living and prove that he is the man under the mask, but with everything that Troy is changing, he will have little chance to do so.

Having to call on all of those he has been trying to lock up in the pursuit of Castor Troy, Archer has to find a way to get back in the government's good graces and get his face back. But Troy is aware of what is happening as well and turns his back on those he has loved and depended on for so many glorious years. Knowing where the hideouts are, Troy brings in task forces to bring them to the ground before Archer is able to use them for his own benefits. Refusing to fall into the full Castor Troy mold, Archer will not kill an officer that is doing his job, but when all of his new friends are killed in front of his eyes, Archer will have to change his tune to ensure his and his family’s survival throughout this body swapping ordeal that is Face/Off.  

When this movie first came out, I thought it was a silly idea. I mean, come on, who would want to change their face for any reason, but when the lives of many innocent people have been put at risk, I can see where it was going. The movie does start a little bit slow, with the exception of Castor Troy who seems to love his life, his work and everything that he can do to harm people, even a poor choir girl, but that is never enough, even for him. Sean Archer is a man of his own that will not give up at any point to make sure that his son’s life is avenged. I hate to say it but becoming the man he has hated for so many years makes him into a more dynamic character, and it seems to open his eyes to what is really in front of him. I do enjoy watching this movie whenever it is on, there are so many things you have to keep an eye on the background, and the more you find out, the better the story becomes. Happy Viewing.

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