F/X (1986)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Robert Mandel

Writers:

Robert T. Megginson (written by) &
Gregory Fleeman (written by)

Release Date:

7 February 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Murder by Illusion

Plot:

A movie special effects man is hired to fake a real-life mob killing for a witness protection plan, but finds his own life in danger.

Plot Keywords:

Special Effects | Murder | Witness Protection | Detective | Police

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Bryan Brown	...	Roland 'Rollie' Tyler
Brian Dennehy	...	Lt. Leo McCarthy
Diane Venora	...	Ellen
Cliff De Young	...	Lipton
Mason Adams	...	Col. Mason
Jerry Orbach	...	Nicholas DeFranco
Joe Grifasi	...	Mickey
Martha Gehman	...	Andy
Roscoe Orman	...	Capt. Wallenger
Trey Wilson	...	Lt. Murdoch
Tom Noonan	...	Varrick
Paul D'Amato	...	Gallagher
Jossie DeGuzman	...	Marisa Velez (as Jossie deGuzman)
Jean De Baer	...	Whitemore
M'el Dowd	...	Joyce Lehman (Miss Lehman) (as M'eL Dowd)

Also Known As:

F/X - Murder by Illusion
Murder by Illusion

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1986) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Spain:T | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Dodi Fayed - Jack Wiener

Trivia:

Special effects man John Stears claimed that he had been offered money by government agencies to simulate various things as depicted in the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: In Tyler's apartment, when Tyler offers Lipton coffee, the pot is brewing and is over half full. In next shot, when Tyler goes to pour the coffee, the pot is still brewing but is only about 1/8th full.

Quotes:

Rollie Tyler: [Rollie is riding in a backseat and realizes he's sitting on a plastic sheet.] Why all the plastic?
Lipton: I didn't want to get any stains on the seat.
Rollie Tyler: What stains?
Lipton: [points a gun at Rollie] I'm sorry, Rollie. No loose ends.

Movie Connections:

References Fade to Black (1980)

Soundtrack:

JUST AN ILLUSION

A slick film

"F/X" beats most Hollywood action films. It stands out with a slick basic idea developed to a proper script that offers twists and surprises all the way to the end, but luckily not as much as "Mission: Impossible" did.

Bryan Brown is just the right man for the part of Rollie. He and Brian Dennehy make a great pair, although they don't appear together until the end of the film.

Refreshingly original and highly recommendable.