"Face/Off" John Woo's masterpiece action that shakes the emotions to the extreme

A genius visual aesthetic that enlivens the confrontation between men and men.

Wu's films have some well-known trademarks. For example, there must be a scene in which a pigeon flies. In this film, during the climactic scene in the church, pigeons fly in the background as Archer and Troy head towards their deathbed. Needless to say, Wu is a pacifist, and the pigeon is a symbol of this, and in the film it functions like a prelude to battle, leaving a strong impression in this film as well.

The depiction of battles involving two pistols and slow-motion footage are also director Wu's trademarks. The former is an element that enhances the speedy scenes, and the scenes where characters are shot sideways are particularly exciting. The latter can be effectively used in special scenes such as explosions and falls in addition to those highlights. Director Wu's action direction is sometimes described as "opera-like violence," but once you see the variety of visual expressions in this film, you'll understand.

“Face/Off” (c)Photofest / Getty Images

Particularly beautiful is the gunfight that takes place in Troy's friend's luxurious apartment. In order to protect his young child from the horrors of battle, Archer puts headphones on and plays `` Somewhere Over the Rainbow '', and the melody beautifully colors the slow-motion depiction of the gunfight. The studio refused to pay royalties for the song, sung by Olivia Newton-John , so Woo used it at his own expense. The studio later recognized the effect and reportedly paid Woo a fee for using the song. Incidentally, a scene similar to this is also found in Wu's masterpiece ` `Hard-Boiled New A Better Tomorrow '' (1992) from his time in Hong Kong, so please take a look and compare.

Hard action driven by passion