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    F/X

    • 19861986
    • RR
    • 1h 49min
    IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    18K
    YOUR RATING
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    Bryan Brown in F/X (1986)
    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.
    Trailer2:33
    1 Video
    75 Photos
    ActionThriller

    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.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.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.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.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.

    • Director
      • Robert Mandel
    • Writers
      • Robert T. Megginson
      • Gregory Fleeman
    • Stars
      • Bryan Brown
      • Brian Dennehy
      • Diane Venora
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Robert Mandel
    • Writers
      • Robert T. Megginson
      • Gregory Fleeman
    • Stars
      • Bryan Brown
      • Brian Dennehy
      • Diane Venora
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 62User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
    • 71Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:33
    Official Trailer

    Photos75

    Bryan Brown in F/X (1986)
    Bryan Brown and Brian Dennehy in F/X (1986)
    Bryan Brown and Jerry Orbach in F/X (1986)
    Diane Venora in F/X (1986)
    Bryan Brown and Cliff De Young in F/X (1986)
    Martha Gehman in F/X (1986)
    Bryan Brown and Diane Venora in F/X (1986)
    Brian Dennehy and Trey Wilson in F/X (1986)
    Bryan Brown and Tim Gallin in F/X (1986)
    Bryan Brown in F/X (1986)
    Grande
    Bryan Brown and Brian Dennehy in F/X (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bryan Brown
    Bryan Brown
    • Roland Tyleras Roland Tyler
    Brian Dennehy
    Brian Dennehy
    • Leo McCarthyas Leo McCarthy
    Diane Venora
    Diane Venora
    • Ellenas Ellen
    Cliff De Young
    Cliff De Young
    • Liptonas Lipton
    Mason Adams
    Mason Adams
    • Colonel Masonas Colonel Mason
    Jerry Orbach
    Jerry Orbach
    • Nicholas DeFrancoas Nicholas DeFranco
    Joe Grifasi
    Joe Grifasi
    • Mickeyas Mickey
    Martha Gehman
    Martha Gehman
    • Andyas Andy
    Roscoe Orman
    Roscoe Orman
    • Captain Wallengeras Captain Wallenger
    Trey Wilson
    Trey Wilson
    • Lt. Murdochas Lt. Murdoch
    Tom Noonan
    Tom Noonan
    • Varrickas Varrick
    Paul D'Amato
    Paul D'Amato
    • Gallagheras Gallagher
    Jossie DeGuzman
    • Marisa Velezas Marisa Velez
    • (as Jossie deGuzman)
    Jean De Baer
    • Whitemoreas Whitemore
    M'el Dowd
    • Miss Lehman (Joyce)as Miss Lehman (Joyce)
    • (as M'eL Dowd)
    Tim Gallin
    Tim Gallin
    • Adamsas Adams
    Patrick Stack
    • Sgt. Littaueras Sgt. Littauer
    John Doumanian
    • The Directoras The Director
    • Director
      • Robert Mandel
    • Writers
      • Robert T. Megginson
      • Gregory Fleeman
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A movies special effects man is hired by a government agency to help stage the assassination of a well known gangster. When the agency double crosses him, he uses his special effects to trap the gangster and the corrupt agents. —Rob Hartill
    fake assassinationfaked deathfilm within a filmspecial effectsfake murder100 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Murder by Illusion
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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
      During the fight scene in the kitchen an orange flame from the stove appears when a teapot is removed. Any stove flame is blue or oxygenated while this is orange or reducing. Therefore this was done for visual effect and is not the correct flame that a stove produces.
    • Quotes

      Rollie Tyler: [Mason grabs the Uzi Rollie has just set down] In this hand is the ammo for the gun. And this is Krazy Glue. A thousand and one uses. Now, a thousand and two.

      [shoves him out the front door]

    • Crazy credits
      Just at the start of the end credits, the camera flashes briefly through out-take type shots of the eight principal players (Bryan Brown, Brian Dennehy, Diane Venora, Cliff De Young, Mason Adams, Jerry Orbach, Martha Gehman, and Joe Grifasi). Each actor smiles out-of-character at the camera as though in appreciation to the audience of their performances.
    • Alternate versions
      The Australian VHS and television version open with a different title logo. Instead of the domestic gray title card, it has the words F/X, in red on a black background. The letters then glow bright and fade out.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Jumpin' Jack Flash/Tough Guys/Children of a Lesser God/'Round Midnight (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      JUST AN ILLUSION
      Performed by Imagination

      Courtesy of Red Bus Records

    User reviews62

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Good film - finally saw, by accident
    I missed this movie when it was originally issued, and after all I read and heard about "Cocktail" (in which Bryan Brown starred a couple of years later) I had no desire to seek it out. But upon just surfing to cable's AMC channel one weekend morning, and finding it having just begun - I watched for a couple of minutes and found myself absorbed in it. After looking at some of the previously-posted comments in this section of IMDb, during commercials, I was even more interested.

    First, my regard for Brown is heightened. Anyone married to Rachel Ward, for 23 years, has to have a lot going for him - even beyond what you see on-screen. And actors with British/Australian accents all provide effective "men-on-the-run, harried, danger-beset" characterizations. The acting here is all good. The late Trey Wilson, as Denehy's unctuous NYPD colleague evokes memories of his small-but-key, scene-stealing roles in "Twins" and "Raising Arizona." Cliff De Young, as the even more unctuous pursuer/would-be killer of the endangered Brown, could (from this and prior roles) be Hollywood's solution to replace Dabney Coleman as the quintessential, smarmy, "horse's ass," now that Dabney is getting well-along in years. As with all his roles, Mason Adams gives a good performance - but I can never watch him without expecting that any moment he is going to take a Smucker's jar from his pocket and begin a spiel.

    Brian Dennehy is always fun to watch, and his "gruff-but-still-likable" persona was never better-suited to a role than here - he's the only one (except for one assistant) who has a clue, literally and figuratively, of the shenanigans occurring and besetting poor Rollie (Brown). Give this film a solid "8." Enjoyed the final minutes and the ending. I'm looking forward to getting a copy of the sequel.
    helpful•20
    2
    • caa821
    • Aug 20, 2006

    FAQ2

    • What was the Justice Department's plan regarding Nick DeFranco?
    • Why was Ellen Keith killed? She couldn't have been mistaken for Rollie Tyler

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 7, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • FX
    • Filming locations
      • Geneva, Canton de Genève, Switzerland
    • Production companies
      • Orion Pictures
      • Dodi Fayed - Jack Wiener
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $20,603,715
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,240,695
      • Feb 9, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $20,603,715
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 49min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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