It's a new year, so it's time for a new Blu-ray round-up! Our first of 2024! Things are a little sparse here in at the start of the year, but there's still some great stuff to check out. We have Eli Roth's holiday slasher "Thanksgiving" to carve things up. Also, the fine folks at Kino Lorber have released John Woo's bonkers action extravaganza "Face/Off" on 4K! "Face/Off" is technically a December release, but we're including it now. Speaking of action, we also have a 4K release of Gareth Evans' "The Raid," aka "The Raid: Redemption." Finally, on the non-action movie front, we have the Criterion release of John Sayles' Western neo-noir character drama "Lone Star."
So let's get to it. And remember to keep spinning those discs.
Read more: The 15 Best Horror Franchises Of All Time, Ranked
Thanksgiving
"Thanksgiving" started as a joke. When the experiment known as "Grindhouse...
So let's get to it. And remember to keep spinning those discs.
Read more: The 15 Best Horror Franchises Of All Time, Ranked
Thanksgiving
"Thanksgiving" started as a joke. When the experiment known as "Grindhouse...
- 1/31/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
John Woo’s maximalist style and taste for melodrama allowed him to ply his wares in Hollywood with far less friction than usually arises when an Asian auteur attempts to adapt their m.o. to meet American filmmaking demands. Despite issues with the more aggressive oversight of Hollywood execs, his Hard Target and Broken Arrow were both box office successes that, especially in the case of the former, retained a remarkable amount of Woo’s signature aesthetic flourishes and artistic philosophy. But the purest and maddest canvas on which he painted one of his American yarns remains Face/Off, a film that magnifies the over-the-top methods of its lead actors as adroitly as his Heroic Bloodshed films reflected the practiced cool of Chow Yun-fat.
Apart from a brief, functional opening flashback that introduces the personal connection between F.B.I. agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) and career criminal Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage...
Apart from a brief, functional opening flashback that introduces the personal connection between F.B.I. agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) and career criminal Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage...
- 12/17/2023
- by Jake Cole
- Slant Magazine
The Vampire’s Kiss episode of Wtf Happened to This Horror Movie? was Written by Ric Solomon, Narrated by Travis Hopson, Edited by Jaime Vasquez, Produced by Lance Vlcek and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.
Nicolas Cage has brought us some truly unhinged performances. From Castor Troy in Face/Off, to his supporting role as Eddie in Deadfall, and even Edward Malus, a woman-punching policeman in the 2006 remake of The Wicker Man. There is no stopping his extreme method acting. But where did it all come from? In 1989, Nicolas’ seedling was born in the horror comedy Vampire’s Kiss (get it Here). Back in the 80’s, some would say that his performance was too chaotic and horrendous. If you were to ask a millennial’s opinion today, they would tell you it’s one of the greatest films ever made. This film might have begun Cage’s method acting, but...
Nicolas Cage has brought us some truly unhinged performances. From Castor Troy in Face/Off, to his supporting role as Eddie in Deadfall, and even Edward Malus, a woman-punching policeman in the 2006 remake of The Wicker Man. There is no stopping his extreme method acting. But where did it all come from? In 1989, Nicolas’ seedling was born in the horror comedy Vampire’s Kiss (get it Here). Back in the 80’s, some would say that his performance was too chaotic and horrendous. If you were to ask a millennial’s opinion today, they would tell you it’s one of the greatest films ever made. This film might have begun Cage’s method acting, but...
- 7/19/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
There he was, sauntering into the Paramount Theatre like he owned it. (Wait, does he own it? The man bought castles and dinosaur skulls and albino king cobras. [One quick Goggle search later] Ok, no, he does not.) The cheers grew louder, then deafening, as he nodded, waved, greeted a few folks and then took his seat. He had on a plaid suit, which he would later explain by saying that he loves shortbread, and this was his tribute to the boxes that house this delicacy. There were a number of famous and noteworthy people...
- 3/13/2022
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
Paramount continues developing a sequel to director John Woo's 1997 science fiction action feature "Face/Off":
"...in the original film, 'Sean Archer' (John Travolta) is an 'FBI' agent obsessed with capturing 'Castor Troy' (Nicolas Cage), a ruthless lowlife who years before accidentally killed Archer's son. Archer's single-minded pursuit of Troy has caused serious harm to his marriage, but Archer thinks the light may have appeared at the end of the tunnel when a seriously wounded Troy is captured in a bloody shootout.
"However, it turns out that Troy has planted a time bomb, with a biological payload that could destroy the entire city of Los Angeles -- and Troy isn't about to say where it is.
"The only other person who knows the bomb's location is Troy's brother, 'Pollux' (Alessandro Nivola), who is no more helpful than Castor.
"FBI scientists hatch a plan: they have developed...
"...in the original film, 'Sean Archer' (John Travolta) is an 'FBI' agent obsessed with capturing 'Castor Troy' (Nicolas Cage), a ruthless lowlife who years before accidentally killed Archer's son. Archer's single-minded pursuit of Troy has caused serious harm to his marriage, but Archer thinks the light may have appeared at the end of the tunnel when a seriously wounded Troy is captured in a bloody shootout.
"However, it turns out that Troy has planted a time bomb, with a biological payload that could destroy the entire city of Los Angeles -- and Troy isn't about to say where it is.
"The only other person who knows the bomb's location is Troy's brother, 'Pollux' (Alessandro Nivola), who is no more helpful than Castor.
"FBI scientists hatch a plan: they have developed...
- 3/9/2022
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
John Travolta and Nicolas Cage get facials in this John Woo actioner, which should lift the summer out of its boxoffice doldrums and propel Paramount to stunning grosses, both domestic and worldwide. A mesmerizing, pulsating blast, "Face/Off" is brainy and brawny, traits that are wonderfully exhibited by its two stars, whose deliciously ripe performances are highly entertaining.
While there are, not surprisingly, bullets and gunfights in this Woo wonder to approximate the Battle of the Bulge, there's also a lot of heart, comedy and wizardry. In between all these colossals, there's not a moment of dead space, including a medical operation scene that is so amazing and credible that it's likely to cause the phones to ring off the hooks for Beverly Hills plastic surgeons.
The apt title, "Face/Off," is a double-edged sword, indicating both a duel and, well, faces off. That's what happens in this Good vs. Evil epic as good-guy Sean (Travolta), a law enforcement leader in the battle against international terrorism, duels Castor Troy (Cage), a sociopathic terrorist whose savagery and technical skills make him far more lethal than some dumb slug who puts fertilizer in a rental truck.
And screenwriters Mike Werb and Michael Colleary have smartly charged their explosive scenario with a personal fuse -- Castor has killed Sean's young son in a botched attempt at the latter's life.
Overall, Sean and Castor could not be more different: In addition to their ethics, they are complete opposites in style and personality. Sean is cautious, tenacious and sweet, while Castor is adventurous, flippant and cold. In many ways, this is a classic tortoise-vs.-the-hare contest, but one that ultimately relies on each knowing the other's habits, quirks and ways. And, in this Crichton-esque scenario, both Sean and Castor not only have to assume the other's identity but take on the other's face, literally.
Grounded in the scenarist's solid character development and topped off by the delicate and robust performances, "Face/Off" is a true rarity -- a summer popcorn film whose personal stories are not secondary to the effects. Travolta and Cage are a terrific pair of adversaries.
As the stolid crime fighter, Travolta smartly conveys not only his character's flat-footed virtues but demonstrates his light-footed capabilities when the situation calls for more. As the megalomaniacal Castor, summer action man Cage is deliriously evil, a Lucifer as loony and deadly as there is. Most wondrous about their performances is that both Travolta and Cage, when put behind the other's face, can pull off stunningly deft approximations of the other's character and style. And that's where the fun erupts. The switched-identity scenes are at once chilling, hilarious and utterly amazing.
The supporting players are similarly terrific, including Joan Allen as Sean's neglected wife and Dominique Swain as his nymphette daughter. Alessandro Nivola is outstanding as Castor's whiz-kid "bro," a peculiar twerp with deadly dimension, while Gina Gershon is well-cast as Castor's sexy squeeze.
There's not one ounce of film fat in this ripped and buff production, chiefly owing to Woo's cinematic sorcery. While his balletic violence has at times been stylishly pretentious in the past, his rapid-fire shooting here is terrifically lethal: In short, he has found a story and players worthy of his skills, too often in the past wasted on generic, dummy rounds and soft slugs.
Hats off to the "Face/Off" production team, chiefly cinematographer Oliver Wood for the formidable framings and composer John Powell for the supple and rousing score. Special mention to Kevin Yagher for the impressive makeup effects, as well as to second unit director Jamie Marshall for some buoyantly wild action sequences.
FACE/OFF
Paramount Pictures
A Douglas/Reuther production
AWCG Entertainment production
A David Permut production
A John Woo film
Producers David Permut, Barrie M. Osborne,
Terrence Chang, Christopher Godsick
Director John Woo
Screenwriters Mike Werb, Michael Colleary
Executive producer Jonathan D. Krane
Executive produced by Michael Douglas,
Steven Reuther
Director of photography Oliver Wood
Production designer Neil Spisak
Editor Christian Wagner, Steven Kemper
Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick
Music John Powell
Co-producers Michael Colleary, Mike Werb
Associate producer Jeff Levine
Casting Mindy Marin
Visual effects supervisors Richard Hollander,
Boyd Shermis
Special makeup effects created by Kevin Yagher
Second unit director Jamie Marshall
Sound mixer avid Ronne
Color/Stereo
Cast:
Sean Archer John Travolta
Castor Troy Nicolas Cage
Eve Archer Joan Allen
Pollux Troy Alessandro Nivola
Sasha Hassler Gina Gershon
Jamie Archer Dominique Swain
Dietrich Hassler Nick Cassavetes
Lazzaro Harve Presnell
Dr. Malcolm Walsh Colm Feore
Running time -- 136 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
While there are, not surprisingly, bullets and gunfights in this Woo wonder to approximate the Battle of the Bulge, there's also a lot of heart, comedy and wizardry. In between all these colossals, there's not a moment of dead space, including a medical operation scene that is so amazing and credible that it's likely to cause the phones to ring off the hooks for Beverly Hills plastic surgeons.
The apt title, "Face/Off," is a double-edged sword, indicating both a duel and, well, faces off. That's what happens in this Good vs. Evil epic as good-guy Sean (Travolta), a law enforcement leader in the battle against international terrorism, duels Castor Troy (Cage), a sociopathic terrorist whose savagery and technical skills make him far more lethal than some dumb slug who puts fertilizer in a rental truck.
And screenwriters Mike Werb and Michael Colleary have smartly charged their explosive scenario with a personal fuse -- Castor has killed Sean's young son in a botched attempt at the latter's life.
Overall, Sean and Castor could not be more different: In addition to their ethics, they are complete opposites in style and personality. Sean is cautious, tenacious and sweet, while Castor is adventurous, flippant and cold. In many ways, this is a classic tortoise-vs.-the-hare contest, but one that ultimately relies on each knowing the other's habits, quirks and ways. And, in this Crichton-esque scenario, both Sean and Castor not only have to assume the other's identity but take on the other's face, literally.
Grounded in the scenarist's solid character development and topped off by the delicate and robust performances, "Face/Off" is a true rarity -- a summer popcorn film whose personal stories are not secondary to the effects. Travolta and Cage are a terrific pair of adversaries.
As the stolid crime fighter, Travolta smartly conveys not only his character's flat-footed virtues but demonstrates his light-footed capabilities when the situation calls for more. As the megalomaniacal Castor, summer action man Cage is deliriously evil, a Lucifer as loony and deadly as there is. Most wondrous about their performances is that both Travolta and Cage, when put behind the other's face, can pull off stunningly deft approximations of the other's character and style. And that's where the fun erupts. The switched-identity scenes are at once chilling, hilarious and utterly amazing.
The supporting players are similarly terrific, including Joan Allen as Sean's neglected wife and Dominique Swain as his nymphette daughter. Alessandro Nivola is outstanding as Castor's whiz-kid "bro," a peculiar twerp with deadly dimension, while Gina Gershon is well-cast as Castor's sexy squeeze.
There's not one ounce of film fat in this ripped and buff production, chiefly owing to Woo's cinematic sorcery. While his balletic violence has at times been stylishly pretentious in the past, his rapid-fire shooting here is terrifically lethal: In short, he has found a story and players worthy of his skills, too often in the past wasted on generic, dummy rounds and soft slugs.
Hats off to the "Face/Off" production team, chiefly cinematographer Oliver Wood for the formidable framings and composer John Powell for the supple and rousing score. Special mention to Kevin Yagher for the impressive makeup effects, as well as to second unit director Jamie Marshall for some buoyantly wild action sequences.
FACE/OFF
Paramount Pictures
A Douglas/Reuther production
AWCG Entertainment production
A David Permut production
A John Woo film
Producers David Permut, Barrie M. Osborne,
Terrence Chang, Christopher Godsick
Director John Woo
Screenwriters Mike Werb, Michael Colleary
Executive producer Jonathan D. Krane
Executive produced by Michael Douglas,
Steven Reuther
Director of photography Oliver Wood
Production designer Neil Spisak
Editor Christian Wagner, Steven Kemper
Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick
Music John Powell
Co-producers Michael Colleary, Mike Werb
Associate producer Jeff Levine
Casting Mindy Marin
Visual effects supervisors Richard Hollander,
Boyd Shermis
Special makeup effects created by Kevin Yagher
Second unit director Jamie Marshall
Sound mixer avid Ronne
Color/Stereo
Cast:
Sean Archer John Travolta
Castor Troy Nicolas Cage
Eve Archer Joan Allen
Pollux Troy Alessandro Nivola
Sasha Hassler Gina Gershon
Jamie Archer Dominique Swain
Dietrich Hassler Nick Cassavetes
Lazzaro Harve Presnell
Dr. Malcolm Walsh Colm Feore
Running time -- 136 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 6/23/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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