F/X (1986) User Reviews

Fast pace , action , suspense and lots of amusement

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 16 September 2010]

F/X is a great movie because of the idea of a special effects artist trying to get himself out of a mess. It deals with F/X man Rollie Tyler (Bryan Brown) as expert craftsman . FBI agents (Cliff De Young, Mason Adams), ask Rollie to help him to make a setup for hide a mobster named DeFranco (Jerry Orbach) about to enter the Witness Program of Recolocation and Protection . As he accepts thirty thousand dollars by execution the phony work . And the operation was going well when Tyler allegedly kills the mobster . When the agency double cross him on the staging the fake assassination Rollie finds himself embroiled in a deadly cover-up and he uses his special effects to trap the corrupt agents . Obviously FBI is involved with gangster's death, but when the things get worse he calls on Andy (Martha Gehman). The whiz Rollie and Andy team up once more to use their special effects to find those responsible for the death of gangster . Rollie must use his movie magic and wits to discover the true guilty and survive . Meanwhile an obstinate detective named Leo McCarthy (Brian Dennehy) and his helper (Joe Grifasi) are investigating the deeds. As far as the story goes , it involves a bigger scale of corruption in the law enforcement circle .

Entertaining but typical 1980's-type action thriller that has great potential as is fast-paced and well acted film . It has Inspector Dennehy and FX wizard Brown in fine form , and good secondaries Diane Venora, Joe Grifasi , Cliff De Young, Jery Orbach , some involved on corrupt business ; furthermore Angela Basset film debut . Some parts were predictable , but for the most part, it was nicely-paced with some good intrigue and mystery . There are some very exciting scenes as well as some ingenious special effects, including the initial setup that figures prominently in the argument. The cinematography and editing are functional . Action is pretty nicely done and fast moving with some engaging gimmickry . The motion picture is professionally directed by Robert Mandel (The substitute, School ties). Decent if somewhat belated followup to this 86 surprise hit was realized in 1991 titled ¨FX2¨ that does have suspense , however, the entire thing is nowhere near as engaging or thrilling , it was directed by Richard Franklin with similar players and followed by an amiable TV series .

Special effects in New York City

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 21 August 2006]

A movie special effects man is running for his life in "F/X," a 1986 film starring Bryan Brown, Brian Dennehy, Jerry Orbach, and Mason Adams. Strangely enough, the movie also features two actresses from my alma mater, Diana Venora and Josie de Guzman.

Rollie Tyler (Brown) takes on a rush job for the government - they want it to look as if their primo informant (Orbach) has been murdered to take the danger out of getting him to the courtroom and protecting him afterward. But like Rollie's work, things aren't what they seem, and Rollie finds himself on the run.

Despite its name, F/X isn't a big movie, and the special effects are things you can see on any television show. What makes it unique is the way Rollie uses his wits and skill to elude those after him. One of the most exciting scenes occurs as Rollie, in his F/X van, careens through the streets of New York, using every trick he knows to get away from the police. Not your average car chase.

Australian actor Bryan Brown, who achieved fame and a beautiful wife from the miniseries "The Thorn Birds" is terrific as the desperate Rollie. Brian Dennehy plays a rogue cop - he's funny and effective, and the late Jerry Orbach, whose career spanned stage, films, and television, is the perfect mob informant.

F/X inspired a television show of the same name starring Cameron Daddo and also a sequel. For a little movie, it did quite well, managing to entertain with drama, humor, and thrills. It's a lot of fun.

Special-Effects: Always Fun

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 22 June 2006]

This was an excellent thriller, a story that grabs and holds you all the way. In a nutshell, it's about a special-effects expert being set up and how he then tries to get out of the jam he's in. Bryan Brown plays the good-guy "Rollie Tyler" while Cliff De Young and Mason Adams are the bad guys. De Young has the kind of face and attitude that makes you want to slap that sucker every time you see him! All three actors are convincing in their roles. Brian Dennehy plays his usual profane, tough cop role and Diane Venora is kind of unmemorable, to be honest, as Rollie's girlfriend.

The inventive story is the best part of this film, which was even more interesting when it came out because ever since James Bond, "special effects" were still something pretty new to most of us movie viewers and it was fascinating to see how certain things are rigged. Nowadays, special effects are something that seems to be a normal part of movie-watching, although "cool" gadgets are always fun.

Still, there a some very clever things in here and the movie provides good suspense and excellent twists. You never know what to expect. The film was popular enough to spawn a sequel.

It's Just an Illusion: What good 80s action movies were all about (minor spoilers)...

[vertigo_14 · 8/10 · 30 May 2004]

There was something about 80s action movies that recent films in the genre haven't been able to capitalize on. I think a lot of it has to do with lack of originality, as the genre has been notorious for an excess of remakes of old action movies or Hollywood versions of foreign action films, new or old. But, there's just something about them that aren't exciting, anymore. At least not all of them. The 80s, for me, seemed to have some of the best of the genre--The Terminator, the Mad Max trilogy, etc. F/X is one of them. A cool story with good action sequences.

Rollie Tyler (Bryan Brown), special effects genius, is hired by the FBI to use his expertise in a setup to fake the death of mobster Nicholas DeFranco, who they claim is going to be their informant. However, as Tyler will soon become very familiar with, the arrangement is a hoax and the agents aren't who they seem. Unfortunately, Tyler, who thought he was doing something good, and reluctantly so, he is caught in the middle of a game of cat and mouse because he is considered "loose ends."

They kill his girlfriend in the scuffle, and Tyler soon realizes who he's up against because these guys will stop at nothing until he's dead, regardless of who they kill in the crossfire. But Tyler is no dummy. He gets smart and uses his special effects genius to keep one step ahead of the paranoid agents who want him dead. In the meantime, our middleman is Brian Dennehy as the smooth-talking detective, Leo McCarthy. He's the only one with any guts to sense foul play is afoot and the only one really willing to help out Rollie. The object of the game is to find out what kind of dirty business those crooked agents Lipton (Cliff DeYoung) and Mason (Mason Adams) are up to, and what it has to do with faking the death of a notorious mobster (Jerry Orbach).

The movie has some pretty good action and chase sequences, and the finale is a cool idea as Rollie Tyler has to use some clever special effects to put a stop to enemies. He's got a pretty big bag of tricks up his sleeves. Though a little slow at first, the real fun begins once Rollie is hired by those mysterious agents to do a job. Overall, it's a pretty cool movie with a great idea for a story.

If you enjoy this movie, you'd probably like the sequel, F/X 2, which is quite similar, using the story of Rollie Tyler being set up for another mysterious cop scheme. Only with all the corruption going on in that story, Tyler's mishaps in the first look like small potatoes. Plus, Dennehy gets a bigger part, this time teaming up with Tyler (you'll see why in the finale of F/X part 1). They're both worth a try.

A child of its time

[TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews · 7/10 · 30 June 2009]

This is very much an 80's action flick. It's got the tough cop who doesn't play by the rules. The unexpected hero. Car chasing, shoot-outs, and a theme song concocted to perfectly match with the movie it's for running over the end credits. Not every last one of those are good, though they tend to be entertaining. Fortunately, this one is both. And quite original and creative, too. Brown stars as Rollie Tyler, a special effects genius who is hired to help fake the death of a mobster, Orbach, who's going into a witness protection program. However, something goes wrong, and our lead now believes that he accidentally did kill him. The plot holds several surprises and twists, and it's carefully written enough to keep you guessing, without being pretentious or overly difficult to follow, and the pieces of the puzzle fit together nicely after you've seen them all. This has great pacing, it never slows down or is in a hurry. The suspense is quite excellent, and you may find yourself on the edge of your seat numerous times. This is 100 minutes of pure fun, and it never fails to deliver. The humor almost invariably works. Acting ranges. This has incredibly memorable moments, and dialog you can quote. The DVD only holds a theatrical trailer. I recommend this to any fan of this type of film, and/or anyone involved in making it. 7/10

a fun little movie

[MichaelM24 · 19 March 2002]

F/X is a movie I had been hearing about for years, so I finally buckled down and rented it, and I was pretty surprised. It's a good, suspenseful movie with nice effects, a decent story, and some good performances (except for the girl who plays the effects assistant, though she's not on-screen a lot). Bryan Brown plays Roland Tyler, a freelance special effects artist who seeks revenge after some shady Justice Department guys set him up to be the fall guy in a staged execution they had hired him to pull off. Brian Dennehy doesn't enter the film until nearly forty minutes into the picture, but once he does, he's as good as always, even if his character just sort of moves from place to place and effortlessly picks up clues along the way. I would have liked to seen the two stars have more scenes together, but they never even meet up until the final scene of the movie. Cliff DeYoung does his usual weasel villain, though he mysteriously vanishes from the film without explanation, and Jerry Orbach is good in a supporting role as the mobster whose execution is staged. The effects used by Tyler aren't as spectacular as I had thought they would be (disguises to avoid police, smoke bombs, fake blood, etc.), but they're used effectively. F/X is an entertaining little movie with a fair amount of suspense and some good action. Oh, and what I wouldn't give to have that home security system Tyler has inside his front door. The sequel's not bad either.

Great actors in traditional thriller with an FX kicker

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 19 September 2013]

Roland Tyler (Bryan Brown) is a movies special effects master. One day, he's contacted by justice department agents to fake an assassination of a mobster. When the job was done, he finds the people who hired him are now trying to hunt him down. Now he must use all the tricks of his trades to survive. Investigating all the killings is no nonsense Lt. Leo McCarthy (Brian Dennehy) who is just starting unraveling the tangle of corruption.

The only thing that concerned me were the red flags that Roland passed right thru. It seemed kinda naive for Royland not to notice that he was paid in cash, and the hit was in public with his face uncovered. You'd think he was smarter than that. But then John Chambers helped out a CIA operation. It's not unheard of. The bits and pieces of special effects insights were fascinating especially for its times. Brian Dennehy and Bryan Brown are great actors. They're able to put believability into this film.

A slick film

[fletch5 · 7/10 · 8 October 2000]

"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.

FX Murder by Illusion

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 13 December 2018]

This '80s crime drama is centred on Rollie Tyler; a movie special effects man who has been approached by a member of the US Justice Department to make it appear that a mafia boss, who is due to give evidence has been publicly murdered. He is initially less than keen but ultimately agrees. The job appears to go according to plan but as he is driven away afterwards it is clear that he is seen as a loose end needing to be cleared up. He manages to get away but they still want him dead. After a further attempt on his life leaves somebody close to him dead as well as the would-be assassin; this leads to detective Lt. Leo McCarthy investigating these deaths. While he investigates from the police side Rollie is using his special effects skills to evade capture and close in on those who want him dead.

This film does show its age at times but it is still a lot of fun. The story is effective and provides a good excuse for some solid action and inventive use of effects. As well as being a drama there are quite a few good comedy moments... although during a car chase scene the comedy does feel a little too forced. Bryan Brown is solid as protagonist Rollie Tyler and Brian Dennehy impressed as Lt. McCarthy; it was surprising that these two leads didn't meet for most of the film. The rest of the cast, with one or two exceptions was also pretty good. Overall this is a pretty good film that fans of 80's films and real, non-CGI, effects should enjoy.

Good film - finally saw, by accident

[caa821 · 8/10 · 20 August 2006]

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.

Fun little thriller with plenty of action and unexpected twists

[preppy-3 · 8/10 · 6 September 2011]

Movie special effects man Roland Tyler (Bryan Brown) is hired by two Justice Dept agents (Cliff DeYoung and Mason Adams) to fake the killing of a mobster (Jerry Orbach!) who's in the Witness Protection Program. He agrees but the mobster is actually killed by mistake. Soon Roland has the FBI AND the NY police led by Lt. Leo McCarthy (Brian Dennehy) on his tail...but he has plenty of special effects (F/X) tricks to fool them.

If you stop to think about this for one moment the plot has HUGE loopholes and some of the F/X Roland pulls off could never happen in real life...but the movie is SO entertaining you won't care! It moves quickly with a particularly vicious fight scene and a long exciting car chase thrown in. The F/X Roland uses to fight back are a lot of fun if totally implausible. The acting is (with one exception) very good. Bryan is handsome, muscular and lots of fun in his role. His Australian accent somehow helps. Dennehy plays his umpteenth cop role but he's still very good and lots of fun. DeYoung and Adams are great as the slimy villains and Orbach plays a role you've never seen him playing before--a villain! The only debit--Martha Gehman as Roland's assistant. The woman is a TERRIBLE actress and basically shrieks all her lines. Still this is a fun, quick little thriller well worth catching. I give it an 8.

Slick fun

[gcd70 · 7/10 · 3 July 2007]

"F/X: Murder by Illusion" is a well-written, intriguing film from the pens of Gregory Fleeman and Robert T. Megginson. Their sharp narrative constantly keeps you guessing throughout the 109 minute running time. Special effects (F/X) are always entertaining, as is the cast including Bryan Brown and Brian Dennehy, who are always believable, in a clever, quick-witted movie.

Robert Mandell never lets anything get out of hand, which he very easily could have given the nature of the film. Original music by "Rocky" composer Bill Conti is also very effective. I am looking forward to seeing the sequel.

Wednesday, June 26, 1991 - Video

This Thriller Hits A "Home" Run...

[cchase · 26 November 2000]

WARNING!!!POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD!!!! It's a well-known fact that a rivalry has existed between New York and Hollywood, virtually since the first images flickered across a large screen, and that the myth has always been upheld that good movies can only be made with any sense of professionalism or competence in L.A. If F/X didn't finally put that lie to rest, then no other film would, but we all know how that turned out...

A Hitchcock-flavored vehicle for hot Aussie heartthrob Bryan Brown, his charm, good looks and machismo are used to maximum advantage to portray special effects whiz Rollie Tyler, who is hired to stage a murder by the guys at Witness Protection, to enable former gangland kingpin Nicholas DeFranco to testify before a Grand Jury against his one-time associates. In the finest tradition of anything the Master of Suspense ever did, special effects are used as a metaphor for all of the characters and situations that Rollie encounters throughout the film. Nobody turns out to be exactly who or what they appear, most of all, Our Hero...

Brown does a great job with the lead, but the most remarkable and enjoyable part of F/X is the support he gets from some of the finest actors to ever walk across a stage, or in front of a camera. Brian Dennehy gets one of his first breakout roles as the cantankerous but canny detective Leo McCarthy, who is one of the first people to navigate the twists and turns of what's happening (eagle-eyed viewers will remember his role as Chevy Chase's partner in the '70's comedy/mystery FOUL PLAY); seasoned stage vet Jerry Orbach (TV's LAW AND ORDER) makes a fine cad as mob boss DeFranco; Mason Adams (TV's LOU GRANT) and Cliff De Young are also terrific as the not-so-intrepid government guys.

Diane Venora (WOLFEN) gives a much more fleshed-out portrayal of Rollie's actress/girlfriend Ellen Keith than what was probably on the script page, and Martha Gehman as Rollie's assistant/sidekick Andy gives a quirky, naturalistic performance that would seem out of place anywhere else, but works fine here.

Even the bit parts are rendered by some of the best character actors to be plucked from the Big Apple's talent pool: Jossie De Guzman, (whose on-screen chemistry with Dennehy would be criminally wasted in the so-so sequel); Joe Grifasi as McCarthy's partner, Mickey; Roscoe Orman as Leo's gruff boss, Capt. Wallinger (from CTW's SESAME STREET, believe it or not, the same company that would produce Morgan Freeman); M'el Dowd, Trey Wilson (RAISING ARIZONA and A SOLDIER'S STORY) and Tom Noonan (MANHUNTER, ROBOCOP 2). Even future leading lights Angela Bassett and James Pickens Jr. (X-FILES, THE PRACTICE) put in some early appearances.

With all this rich casting, plus a great script by Greg Megginson and Bob Fleeman, taut direction by New York-based vet Robert Mandel and a fantastic Bill Conti score, F/X predicted a long and prosperous future for many more Manhattan Projects.

And though the effects technology seems dated now, the tricks of the trade, which were state-of-the-art for the time, were supervised by John Stears. Name not familiar? John was one of the many effects people who cut his teeth on a little independent film you may have heard of, called STAR WARS. And makeup designer Carl Fullerton would go on to apply his talents to many films, including some of the FRIDAY THE 13TH sequels, (probably the best part about those.)

A highly recommended piece of movie entertainment.

F/X is what good 80s action movies were all about. (minor spoilers)

[vertigo_14 · 8/10 · 30 May 2004]

There was something about 80s action movies that recent films in the genre haven't been able to capitalize on. I think a lot of it has to do with lack of originality, as the genre has been notorious for an excess of remakes of old action movies or Hollywood versions of foreign action films, new or old. But, there's just something about them that aren't exciting, anymore. At least not all of them. The 80s, for me, seemed to have some of the best of the genre--The Terminator, the Mad Max trilogy, etc. F/X is one of them. A cool story with good action sequences.

Rollie Tyler (Bryan Brown), special effects genius, is hired by the FBI to use his expertise in a setup to fake the death of mobster Nicholas DeFranco, who they claim is going to be their informant. However, as Tyler will soon become very familiar with, the arrangement is a hoax and the agents aren't who they seem. Unfortunately, Tyler, who thought he was doing something good, and reluctantly so, he is caught in the middle of a game of cat and mouse because he is considered "loose ends."

They kill his girlfriend in the scuffle, and Tyler soon realizes who he's up against because these guys will stop at nothing until he's dead, regardless of who they kill in the crossfire. But Tyler is no dummy. He gets smart and uses his special effects genius to keep one step ahead of the paranoid agents who want him dead. In the meantime, our middleman is Brian Dennehy as the smooth-talking detective, Leo McCarthy. He's the only one with any guts to sense foul play is afoot and the only one really willing to help out Rollie. The object of the game is to find out what kind of dirty business those crooked agents Lipton (Cliff DeYoung) and Mason (Mason Adams) are up to, and what it has to do with faking the death of a notorious mobster (Jerry Orbach).

The movie has some pretty good action and chase sequences, and the finale is a cool idea as Rollie Tyler has to use some clever special effects to put a stop to enemies. He's got a pretty big bag of tricks up his sleeves. Though a little slow at first, the real fun begins once Rollie is hired by those mysterious agents to do a job. Overall, it's a pretty cool movie with a great idea for a story.

If you enjoy this movie, you'd probably like the sequel, F/X 2, which is quite similar, using the story of Rollie Tyler being set up for another mysterious cop scheme. Only with all the corruption going on in that story, Tyler's mishaps in the first look like small potatoes. Plus, Dennehy gets a bigger part, this time teaming up with Tyler (you'll see why in the finale of F/X part 1). They're both worth a try.

Great and original movie

[Maziun · 7/10 · 28 September 2012]

"F/X" is a underrated little movie from the 80's , that I believe deserves some kind of recognition. It manages to entertain with drama, humor, and thrills. It's a lot of fun. I wouldn't call it an action movie. I agree there is some action here , but personally I think this movie is more of a thriller.

The idea for the story is very original - a special effects expert gets involved with a police and mafia . "F/X" is a great love letter for all those special effects guys (and girls) that were some kind of magicians in the past , when computers weren't involved in creating the movie magic.

"F/X" feels like "Home alone" for adults. The whole movie is basically Rollie Tyler using his skills and toys against his enemies. Bryan Brown ("Cocktail") is great as Rollie , the main hero .He's got a down to earth, normal guy attitude that makes us like him. There is also another Brian - Brian Dennehy ("Rambo : First blood ") as the smooth-talking detective, Leo McCarthy. He's a good supporting character , the only one that suspects what is going on.

The special effects are good. It's not strange , since this movie is a tribute to the movie wizards that help us make our dreams come true (at least on the screen). Action scenes are done well . The acting is good. There are nice twists and good ideas are along the way . There's a great song at the ending credits of the movie - Imagination " Just an illusion".

"F/X" inspired a television show of the same name starring Cameron Daddo and also a nice sequel. It's a good , fun movie. It shows that originality means much . I miss the 80's movies with their originality...

I give it 7/10.

Just the right kind of distraction

[Mr-Fusion · 7/10 · 3 August 2017]

Sometimes it really all comes down to casting. And "F/X" is certainly no exception. The movie doesn't get going until Brian Dennehy shows up, and it's completely fair to say he's the movie's linchpin. Prior to that, it's all about the genial nature of its star special effects guru (Bryan Brown). But eventually it turns into a pretty good cat-n-mouse thriller, so long as you're taking it for what it is. I like this movie, in part for its inherent absurdity. The misdirection is silly, and I think that's why it's fun. Even the ending feels appropriate to the overall tone.

And I can't be the only one who really enjoyed Roscoe Brown as the fed-up police captain. He's a long way from Sesame Street.

7/10

How It's Done

[view_and_review · 7/10 · 1 November 2019]

What better way to give special effects teams their due than to make a movie about special effects?

In this pretty clever movie the Witness Protection division of the D.O.J. wants to employ a top special effects creator to stage a murder. A top mobster named Nicholas DeFranco (Jerry Orbach) plans to testify for the government. That is a deadly task. If the government can stage a public murder then they can hide him until the trial. It makes perfect sense, and everything seemed to go well until the same agent that employed the effect guy, Roland (Bryan Brown) tried to kill him.

From there it's an uphill battle for Roland to stay alive and figure out why the government wants to kill him. It is a good movie and a slick way to show movie buffs some of the tricks of the trade.

Robert Mandel directed

[sjanders-86430 · 10/10 · 8 May 2021]

Bryan Brown and Brian Dennehy star in this fast moving thriller. FX stands for special effects. Brown is hired to fake the death of a mobster with special effects. Then he is the target of the people who hired him. Brown uses his special effects' skills to outsmart his killers. The plot is complex and the use of FX enhances the film. Brian Dennehy is a NYPD detective who follows the FX's trail. Dodi Fayed produced this film. Loved the New York City of 1986. This is a top film.

FX before they were giving 'everything' away...

[buzznzipp1995 · 10/10 · 6 February 2007]

Here is an eighties hit, of a great time. Man this 'story' has a lot! Two Brians, a Diane Venora, who is unconditionally into her roles, she really puts talent into her characters. Even when her 'Ellen', Rollie's friend was cut short. Rollie Tyler, is the man for special effects. He is smart and can set up the 'Set-up' with moderate to no trouble. Then comes the Wit-Sec Program people with a simple request. Put together a murder in a restaurant that would seem real. To get the Mob, off of this mobster in Wit-Sec's Back. Jerry Orbach, Nick DeFranco is the man who needs a 'Pardon' from his past. Rollie even after some thought thinks he can pull-it-off, so to speak. This is the beginning of Rollies troubles. I don't recall Orbach in a lot of tough or badguy roles, but I liked him as the wise-cracking 'wise guy'. Entering into the party mess, Leo (Dennehy) an aggressive New York cop, who doesn't like no for an answer and he doesn't like tricks. He is now on the case of the trick master. (Mason Adams) Col. Mason was quite an inter agency man. I had never seen Adams in a role like this and he creates more intrigue. His assistant and partner 'Lipton' (Cliff De Young) was a sort of trick inter agency man as well. Plays dumb really well, all the while watching everything and everyone, like a crocodile. The ending of this was a surprise as well for me and then as the closing scenes were being shown, they played the best song, I can't find it anywhere anymore. One of those superb 1980's films with a perfect wrap-up. Beautiful scenery and that 'tall' looking cinema scope effect at the movie's ending.

I recommend to those who like action, mystery and the 80's too. This is a thrill of a great time for me. (****)

Effective Hero

[hellraiser7 · 10/10 · 21 July 2020]

This is another of my favorite films of all time and one of my favorite suspense thrillers/action films. It's true that the plotline isn't too special as it's another film in the "Fugitive/Wrong Man thriller" subgenre in the Suspense thriller genre but it's really in the execution that matters and protagonist.

The plotline is sold for what it is and there is bit in intrigue with it, I do like how it's handled almost like an episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" where in the first half we see it's one thing but then suddenly it all turns into something else.

Brian Brown whom is an underrated actor is great as Rollie Tyler. Rollie Tyler in my book of favorite fictional protagonists/pulp heroes and I feel an underrated one at that; in a way Rollie is Mystero from "Spider Man" but a good guy. It was a really cool idea making a special effects guy into an effective action hero, which makes sense in a way but it also was an idea that broke convention, because in the action genre most of the protagonists have to be men of muscle, this is a protagonist whom isn't a man of muscle and who's best weapon isn't his gun but his brain.

His character I think is awesome as he's one that in a business that I love which is making and doing special effects for movies. That's another different thing, most protagonists are in professions that are not my particular interests nor even that useful to the situation at hand when you think about it. Here the protagonist is in a profession that is useful in both the field of movies and for his life and death predicament, let alone the fact the profession is in my particular interest which makes him relatable to me as I'm a person that loves movies and am into special effects work.

I also love the fact this guy does practical effects which is really and kind of makes the film slightly educational as we see certain tricks in action, that made me want to look up how this and that was done; so yeah there is no CGI in this film let alone wouldn't be useful in Rolle's case.

But the character Rollie is really cool he's a guy I can be friends with, he's got that Austie charisma, has this childlike playfulness to him, highly imaginative, is sociable as he's friendly toward good company and likewise with them, this is the kind of person that really has everything going for him. Which all the more makes you feel bad for the guy as his life just suddenly gets flipped upside down, this was a guy that had everything going for him and was doing the right thing for one day, only to discover he's been used by the other side and now he's has to use his wits and every effect in his effects book to get himself out.

His character you could almost say is a bit of a badass (sort of) as he can really hold his own against danger. From a one on one fight scene in an apartment, really like the fact it's not fancy fully chorigraphed as we see Rolle having a heck of a time going fist a cuffs with a blowhole hitman, as we see Rolle is just taking whatever is in the apartment and using it as a weapon.

Which makes sense as he's an effects guy, he's not a trained fighter which makes his character all the more human and the fight more realistic because when in a life or death situation you would and should use whatever you can get as a weapon to defend yourself. But just simply seeing Rollie using his effects to fool even dispatch the bad guys, which I'll get to in a minute.

Supporting character Leo is solid and played well by late actor Brian Dennehy. His character is solid as he's got a sort of a two-fisted detective that has a sort of down to Earth dry charisma. I really like that the film also breaks another convention in suspense thrillers where most of the time the authority figure or lead detective would always work against the protagonist which is why at times their subplots and characters are never very interesting because of what we already know, let alone by it's nature is really just filler crap.

But here this is a detective that is smart that actually knows nothing is that positive, things don't add up. The subplot with him is slightly intriguing as he's Rolle only ally and is the one that can clear his name but also fill in the blanks on the plot so we can get a better handle on the bad guys plot.

Though the only bad effect in the film is the Leo subplot has a lot of build up but very little pay off. This is a bit troubling because it seems like the film was building up to Leo finding Rolle and teaming up to kick bad guy ass but that doesn't really happen. Though even if that doesn't happen it would have been cool seeing Leo in some sort of shoot out, so he'd get his share of ass kicking. This renders the subplot and his character almost pointless, it's like with episodes of "Doctor Who" with companion Clara Oswald who talks a good game but doesn't get to participate or play much.

The music is great as it's done by one of my favorite composers Bill Conti. Really like that theme song which is played out more in the chase scene, it's one of my favorite themes of all time it just has that tone of mysteriousness and then it just ramps up to excitement which fits the film. And I really like the end credit theme another favorite of mine, which is the song "Illusions" which fits the film well.

The action is solid, it's not wall to wall which makes sense as it's more on the realistic side, it's sort of more of an effect's spectacle hence the title. There are some good memorable sequences, from a solid chase scene in the FX van and Rollie's assistant she uses some of the items in the van like some sort of chemical to create some sort of road slick.

And of course the final battle which is one of my favorite final battles of all time as it's a steath attack battle, where Rollie infiltrates the bad guys lair and uses his bag of trick to take them out one by one. Really love seeing those effects which are cool, I'll just say one as I don't want to give too much away, my favorite is this mirror trick which I'm still not one hundred present sure yeah how it's done, but it's really cool as it's some sort of screen that can throw the image, where it looks like your in one place but actually in another, you just have to see it to believe it.

FX is a spectacle to behold.

Rating: 4 stars

Is it illusion or is it reality?

[PredragReviews · 8/10 · 10 May 2016]

F/X was one of my favorite thriller of the 80's, a genuinely fun action film that takes itself just seriously enough to make its story credible but at the same time remains blissfully free of the delusions of grandeur that have led to so many overproduced, ultimately empty headed and painfully dull "thrillers" over the past couple of years. In short, F/X is the type of unpretentious, engaging film that could never be made by a Michael Bay or most of the other directors produced out of the Jerry Bruckhiemer.

The film's main strength comes from the cast who all seem to be having a good time on screen and bring a surprising sense of conviction to roles that could easily have been played as B-movie stereotypes. Bryan Brown is one of those charismatic, obviously talented leading men who rarely gives a bad performance yet for whatever reason (though making movies like "Cocktail" probably didn't help) has never become a bona fide star. Playing the lead in this film, he proves that he did have the talent and the charisma to be a leading man and indeed, his low-key but likable lead performance is responsible for a great deal of F/X's strength. As the gruff police detective who becomes Brown's ally, Brian Dennehey is well, he's Brian Dennehey and, as always, that's more than good enough. That said, he also brings a welcome sense of humor to the proceedings and he proves once again that nobody in the 80's delivered profanity as wittily and skillfully as Brian Dennehey. The rest of the cast is full of character actors who all turn in nicely quirky performances with the standouts being Diane Venora who is sweet as Brown's girlfriend (whose ultimate fate if predictable is also well handled and rather sad), Cliff De Young who gives perhaps his best variation on his standard Yuppie henchman role in this film, Joe Grifasi as Dennehey's put upon partner, Mason Adams who perfectly captures the essence of everyone's kindly but kinda strange uncle, and the great Jerry Orbach who, playing a mobster with an all-important pace maker, overacts as if the world depending on it but is still a lot of fun to watch because, after all, he's Jerry Orbach. Still, there a some very clever things in here and the movie provides good suspense and excellent twists. You never know what to expect. The film was popular enough to spawn a sequel.

Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

highly amusing and entertaining

[myriamlenys · 8/10 · 7 December 2019]

In "F/X", a special effects expert is asked to collaborate on a top-secret plan meant to deal a major blow to organized crime. The expert, who thinks he's participating in a legitimate project sanctioned by authorities, does provide his part beautifully. However, he does not get the reward he expected...

Now this is a very entertaining movie with a clever plot. Much of the amusement derives from seeing the resourceful hero using his creativity and skill in order to extract himself from a cruel trap. (Near the end there's a superbly satisfying trick as the hero demonstrates the many uses of super-strong glue.) The actors too are charming and charismatic, with a special mention to Bryan Brown (as the special effects expert) and Brian Dennehy (as a police inspector with hidden depths).

Finally movie buffs, and especially B-movie buffs, will enjoy the many witty, loving references to the art of special effects. Let's hear it for the unsung workers who create eight-feet-high golems, Siamese-twin dragons or headless Martians preying on Japanese schoolgirls !

Just the right mix!

[pfr1685 · 9/10 · 17 February 2022]

I remembered seeing this movie shortly before it came out, and thought it was quite entertaining. Now, 35 years later, I finally got around to watching it again, and it was actually better than I remembered. Just the right mix of action, mystery, suspense, and comedy, it's well worth watching from beginning to end. There aren't really any lulls in the action; even when the scene switches characters, it doesn't lose any step. Plus, the effects (of course!) are not just for show, but are an integral part of the plot. Part Sherlock Holmes, part McGyver, part James Bond, part Abbott and Costello... and all a nicely-written and well-acted story.

Even the Art of Illusion could stand a little plausibility...

[moonspinner55 · 5/10 · 18 September 2010]

New York City crime boss, soon to go on trial against his cohorts, needs to be eliminated via simulation to distract the Mob; two government agents enlist the aid of a special effects movie-wizard to set up a phony assassination--though the 30 G's they pay him consequently includes the movie-man also pulling the trigger. This original screenplay by Robert T. Megginson and Gregory Fleeman would appear to be a real pip, at least until common sense prevails and the whole thing begins to look like a house of cards. Bryan Brown is fine in the lead, giving us a good sense of his fear and paranoia without losing his dignity, but the rest of the players do not fare as well. Brian Dennehy--portraying one of those put-upon police lieutenants always on the verge of being forced into turning in his badge--slips into wily caricature, while the ladies in the cast are used as either targets or gophers. The film has ingenuity but no spirit, and the final game of cat-and-mouse (though possibly satisfying for those attracted to movie-shorthand) strains credulity. A sequel featuring Brown and Dennehy followed five years later. ** from ****

Your Standard Action Movie...with A Unique Premise!

[gab-14712 · 8/10 · 15 July 2020]

What does F/X mean? No, it is not a complicated math equation. It is actually a short abbreviation for special effects which are obviously used in film and television, such as 1986's F/X. This is a film that is the product of its time. It is an 80's flick with slick action sequences and your usual action movie shootouts. Unlike many action flicks, this is actually an adept psychological thriller that will pull strings and confuse your mind if you are not paying attention. There are so many twists that it is hard to keep count which will cause some haywire. Ironically enough, the film is not laden with special effects. Instead, Academy Award winner John Stears was able to integrate them into the characters and the plot.

The film was written by two novice writers, a documentarian named Robert Megginson and actor Gregory Fleeman. The original plan for the script was to be made into a low-budget television movie. When the producers read the script, they decided it would work better as a cinematic film, which obviously is the better choice given the material. They were against hiring an action director and instead wanted to focus on someone who can develop characters. Robert Mandel was their first choice. As an off-Broadway director, he developed an artsy reputation and wanted to rid himself of that. Despite his experience (or lack thereof) of working with action, he proved himself capable. They do not blow you out of the water or anything, but they were staged well and came across as professional. This could also be attributed to the tight editing and good use of special effects.

The film's premise is unique and that gives it a sense of freshness. Rolland Taylor (Bryan Brown) is a special effects artist who made a name for himself working with special effects in horror or slasher films. The federal government wants to see for themselves. The mastermind behind this entire plot is Lipton (Cliff De Young) who wants to use Taylor's skill to stage the murder of a gangster informant Nicholas DeFranco (Jerry Orbach). Eventually, Leo McCarthy (Brian Dennehy) an NYPD cop gets involved and is confused why the FBI is acting strange. So many questions are asked. Is DeFranco really dead? Who can Taylor trust? Who wants Taylor dead?

The performances are solid all the way through. I did not find a poor performance anywhere. My personal standout is Brian Dennehy as the cop. He has a commanding screen presence. Watching him trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together was fun. Bryan Brown also gave a solid, professional performance and he really made it seem like he was a special effects wiz. I also cannot forget Diane Venora who plays Taylor's ill-fated girlfriend in typical fashion.

Overall, F/X is a good time at the movies. It is your typical 80's action flick that is slightly elevated by its unique premise. Instead of being straight action, Mandel incorporated some psychological thriller elements. Perhaps too much of them. The film also benefits from strong technical work such as its editing and production design. As a television movie, it probably would have been garbage. At least we got a fun little action movie. This is one that no one knows about, so if you like these kind of flicks, check this out.

My Grade: B