I couldn’t let today go by without recognizing John Travolta. I’ve enjoyed so many of his films over the years, especially movies like GREASE, BLOW OUT, PULP FICTION, and GET SHORTY. But the movie I probably love the most is FACE/OFF. I remember watching it at the movie theater back in 1997 and thinking it was the best movie ever. It came out at a perfect time when I was obsessed with John Woo, and I was still enjoying Travolta’s mid-90’s comeback. I still watch FACE/OFF at least once every year.
Enjoy this excellent scene from John Woo’s FACE/OFF!
Through the Shattered Lens 
Nice one, Brad, as always! I really do like Travolta’s story. Some high-profile romances (with beards?), ONJ, and that woman who has the hyperthymesia, Marilu whatshername. Okay, that last one was a Steve Martin joke, the hyperthymesia part anyway. His rise-and-fall and Tarantino rescue in ‘Pulp Fiction’ (1994). I like stories like that, where someone with advantage can reach back and help someone struggling, like Mel Gibson did with Robert Downey, Jr. and Jodie Foster did with Mel Gibson and Sam Peckinpah and Rudy Wurlitzer did with James Coburn in ‘Pat Garrett’ (1973).
Travolta has done that, too, so full respect for his generosity. He was well-paid for his participation on the Bee Gees soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever (1/3 unit royalties), and gave them a hand up on their 1989 reunion tour, recording a Christmas album with ONJ, and joining every ‘Wecome Back, Kotter!’ reunion.
P.S. – did I tell you about the time when Rudy Wurlitzer, Hal Ashby, and Dustin Hoffman sat on my living room couch and interviewed me for what would become “Rainman”? It’s a whole thing, but will cut to the punchline where I was wearing a suit, coming from a college grad job fair, and Ashby asked me what I was interviewing for. “I’m thinking about getting into plastics.” I deadpanned. Hoffman smirked, and then had to explain it to the other two.
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He would definitely be the one to know! 😉
I really did enjoy Travolta’s comeback years through the end of the 90’s. Ultimately, his inability to consistently choose good roles caught up to him again, but while he was hot, he definitely appeared in some great ones!
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