Technical aspects and cinematography in John Woo's Face/Off

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Face Off

Face/Off

John Woo (1997)

Face/Off

In 1997, John Woo directed Face/Off movie that is action thriller movie. The report studies the roles played by actors and the plot of the movie critically. It sorts out the quality of sounds used in the movie and the styles adopted by actors and directors. The movie uses concept of face changing faces which are not new yet the movie makes an effort towards elaborating the concept. The movie is based on blood-shed genre with thrilling adventure that goes on as the characters fight to get to the bomb ticking in L.A. Movie is not only about the story but it is also about the cinema experience that is based on quality of acting, style, direction, sounds, lights, timing and use of technology. The report covers different technical aspects as used in the movie Face/Off by John Woo.

Storytelling

The story of the movie revolves around two FBI agents Sean Archer played by John Travolta and Castor Troy played by Nicolas Cage. There is a bomb ticking in Los Angeles and Sean is looking for it. For discovering, Sean needs to swap face with bad egg Castor Troy. But Troy assumes Sean's identity and the reality are concealed for a time. Sean's son has died five years ago and he drops on Castor (Face/Off, 2012). He uses Castor's identity but gets tricked. Castor, in the face of Sean, kills anyone knowing or involved in the secret. The movie becomes pop Heat that is kind of self-parody. A dissident tremor arrives in the movie as daughter of Castor (who is in disguise of Sean) appears. Now Castor needs to secure his family in the massive shoot-out and also to pursue his goal.

Acting

Woo casted a phenomenal cast in the movie. John Travolta acted Sean Archer, Nicolas Cage in his ever fresh energetic appearance played Castor Troy; John Powell played Dr. Eve Archer. Other actors include Alessandro Nivola, Gina Gershon, Dominique Swain, Myles Jeffrey, Nick Cassavetes, Harve Presnell, Colm Feore, C.C.H. Pounder and John Carroll Lynch (Face/Off, 2012). Most of the actors casted in the movie are popular for their action scenes and fast motion. Woo hired middle age actors to count the element of maturity in the movie that is quiet unlike the teen-age violence. Cage knows how to mix mission with fun like what he performed in The Rock. The director used actors to play a role where the character has aim as well as family to care about. The character needs to justify his double role and to balance the expression of feelings. Hence the actors particularly Joahn Travolta and Nicholas Cage seem just the perfect match for the characters in movie.

Cinematography

Like many other movies presenting action, Face/Off used action in the dark. Most of the scenes are recorded in dark with appropriate use of indoor lights. Graphics are well matched in unique stylistic approach that suits violence and bloodshed scenes (Maslin, 2003). The director often uses light reflections with the help of mirrors and glasses and adds style to the action.

Sounds

The movie sound track is released by Hollywood Records. Orchestra was carried out by Lucas Richman and Bruce Fowler, Steven Fowler, Walt Fowler, Yvonne S. Moriarty, Ladd McIntosh and Lucas Richman orchestrated. The sounds match the action thriller theme that involves the viewer and takes him on a trilling adventure (Face/Off, 2012). The movie is actually action and has bloodshed therefore sound of bullets is very often. The director has used double sound effects of guns by using double guns. Sounds are perfectly matched to the scenes of approaching danger, humor scenes and thrill.

Genre

The action movie Face/Off is based on bloodshed genre. Action movies were normally brutal up till early 1990 are when the killer would be the most cold-hearted person around. He would kill and shoot anyone in his way. John Woo has been making action and blood-shed movies since 1983. He is using different approaches to make action. His blood-shed movies are not cold and he adds style in it. He adds comedy in the movie as well to make it more enjoyable and to release the tension of viewer that he gets on seeing bodies. In the blood-shed shoot outs, Woo adds musical element that is so synchronized with the action that a viewer forgets if he is watching action or a dance scene. John Woo does not believe in cold violence and does not believe in shooting without aim. Is characters fight for greater good and shoot when confronting evil. Doves, animals and birds are the friends of hero hence a humanist soft touch is also added to the strong cruel appearance of the action genre.

Editing

When a movie is produced, the editing job starts. Every movie is edited before its final launch because it adds creativity in the movie. These are the additional works done on the movie involving digital technology to add effects that could not be included by camera or actors.

A producer takes raw footage and selects shots and puts them together in order to develop a final series of scenes. These scenes are less creative and exciting because of human limitations for example the motion and sounds are in raw shape. In action movies, the editing plays the artistic role of improving quality of scenes in order to make them more attractive and thrilling on cinema screens. The editor does not simple arrange the scenes and shots in order work works on images in layers. He adjusts images with dialogue delivery and overall story and theme of the movie.

The movie Face/Off was edited by St. John O'Rorke. He enhanced the action element in the movie and used digital editing technology to create sensually stimulating mixtures. The length of scenes played a vital role in raising thrill particularly in scenes of upcoming danger. However, editing should avoid blunders or errors since it spoils the 'reality' feeling of the movie. The editor made some minor mistakes while editing Face/Off.

One mistake is seen when Sean and Tito are driving Hummer and there is a jet which is at a small distance form them and then in the next scenes the distance is quite long that seems ridiculous considering the speed associated with jet. Then near the end, Sean and Castor are lying side by side in ambulance with no blood on Sean's shirt collar but in a scene between no blood scenes, a shot showed blood in his color that is again gone in the next scene (Maslin, 2003). These mistakes and like tell that after editing, a proper proof-viewing was not conducted.

The editor should ensure that such mistakes in editing are avoided to maintain the action and thrill in the movie so that the viewer does not feel he is fooled with movie editing.

Impact of society on the film

Electronic media generally and movies particularly spread messages in the society much more effectively and speedily than any other media. It was movies that worked a lot on discrimination issues and changed the minds of masses and helped them absorb the constitutional rights of minorities and women. However, negative messages also spread through movies and have a danger of creation of an uncivil, insensitive, rebellious and undisciplined society. It is unfortunate that the action movies are so commonly showing bloodshed and violence that even the best moral lessons are not remembered under the blood scenes. The movie could be highly no recommended for youngsters but again unfortunately it is the young generation that mostly watches action movies. The movie was produced in 1997 and since then, hundreds of action movies are produced showing excessive violence and bloodshed and are watched by all generations. Such movies make youth particularly insensitive of violence. The movies like Face/Off make it look simple to shoot someone.

Massive shoot out scenes affect child psychology and they find it fun to repeat shooting scenes in the role play games. It develops a concept in child's mind that to kill many for one is alright and killing anyone in our way is appropriate. The movie does however show the sense of belongingness to family members yet fails to convey the message that every life is sacred and that justice should be done in courts and not streets. The Face/Off movie also tries to teach that it is easy to change someone's face identity easy and does not show the side effects of such efforts. This may misguide viewers that it is simple to do medical procedures and cosmetic surgery. The impact on personal and social life as well as side effects must not be concealed as a result of changing face identity.

analysis and interpretation

The movie Face/Off seems to deal with achieving the greater good where a bomb is set to explode in Los Angeles and masses are about to be hurt. The movie tries to convey the message through action and fun. The humor is presented to make the movie dose lighter and digestible. Besides the great action, the movie is overwhelmingly violent. The viewer of 1990's did not like violence as much as is liked by the viewer of today hence the shootout scenes seem to be over numbered.

Role of FBI is always presented as a sophisticated, dedicated job towards nation's wellness and comfort. The idea is continued in the movie. FBI agents are shown as always willing to die for cause. The profession is depicted as a height of professional behavior where dedication is at its peak. The movie also shows light on humanistic affiliations that are present even in the most violent people. It is generally thought that violent people are violent to all but the movie tries to explain that there is a father and a friend inside a man and he cannot forget his emotional attachments even in the hardest of jobs he does.

The movie showed fun and action. It can be interpreted that even in the hardest times of life, there can be times when a person can enjoy and laugh. Happiness is all about a feeling that can be felt when a person wants even in battles. The happiness can be achieved from meeting targets, having time with family or the happiness of being away from danger. The director has added action suiting situations. Viewer can relate that to his life as different occasions in life require to behave in different actions, sometimes speedy, sometimes hidden, sometimes exposed and brave and sometimes undercover.

Overall textual themes

Not every movie can be colorful and not all the movies need to have shining tingling scenes in bars. The textual themes of the movie depend greatly on the audience. While movies on Lincoln will not need many colorful scenes, the action movies will use contrasting colors and speedy movements. Textual analysis of any movie is based on observation of all the scenes and the elements used in acting, directing, lighting, cinematography, motion etc. The movie Face/Off does not only fits the individual scenes to show the theme of action but overall shots are developed and edited to fit the concept of movie (Face/Off, 2012).

The movie genre has a significant impact on use of textual themes. Black and dark scenes with beams of light from a corner are commonly used in action movies. This is also true for Face/Off. Woo used the violent culture depiction that is energetic and full of energy. In the American culture, the movie can be seen as a fight for social good and to achieve peace. The language of the movie is suggestive of efforts to create a livable society without fears and insecurities. The movie is an attempt towards achieving a mind setup that is ready to live for the honor of society.

Conclusion

The movie made a right use of sounds and images to offer a thrilling action experience in cinema. It is based on the quality production that proved a basis of many upcoming action movies like the Mission Impossible casting Tom Cruise as a central character. It also offered base for upcoming projects that combined humor and action to enrich the movie.