| F/X | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Robert Mandel |
| Produced by | Dodi Fayed Jack Wiener |
| Written by | Gregory Fleeman Robert T. Robert Mandel is a Film producer and director and Television director from Oakland, California. Emad El-Din Mohamed Abdel Moneim Fayed ( Arabic عماد الدين محمد عبد المنعم الفايد) ( April 15, 1955 &ndash Megginson |
| Starring | Bryan Brown Brian Dennehy Diane Venora Cliff De Young Mason Adams Jerry Orbach |
| Music by | Bill Contillui |
| Cinematography | Miroslav Ondrícek |
| Editing by | Terry Rawlings |
| Distributed by | Orion Pictures |
| Release date(s) | February 7, 1986 |
| Running time | 109 minutes |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $10,000,000 |
| Followed by | F/X2: The Deadly Art of Illusion |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
F/X (also known as, or subtitled Murder by Illusion) is a 1986 action film about Rollie Tyler (Bryan Brown), an expert in the art of Special Effects (F/X) with a reputation built on many low-budget hack and slash films (Including such titles as I Dismember Momma). Bryan Neathway Brown AM (born 23 June 1947 in Sydney) is an Australian actor Brian Mannion Dennehy (born July 9 1938 is an American two-time Tony Award -winning Actor who has appeared in movies, on television and performed Diane Venora (born August 10, 1952) is an American stage television and film actress. Clifford Tobin DeYoung (born February 12, 1946) is an American actor and musician Mason Adams ( February 26, 1919 &ndash April 26, 2005) was an American Character actor. Jerome Bernard Orbach ( October 20 1935 – December 28 2004) was an American Tony Award -winning Actor, Miroslav Ondříček is a Czech Cinematographer with a body of work spanning over 40 films including Amadeus, Ragtime Terry Rawlings (born 1933 in London England) is a Film editor and Sound editor with several BAFTA nominations and one Academy Orion Pictures Corporation was an American company that produced movies from 1978 until 1998 Events 457 - Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire. 1074 - Battle of Montesarchio in which the Prince Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States F/X2 (also known as F/X2 The Deadly Art of Illusion) is a 1991 film directed by Richard Franklin and starring Bryan Brown In books and other works a subtitle is an explanatory or alternate title Events April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries Action movies are a Film genre where action sequences such as fights, Shootouts Stunts Car chases or explosions either take precedence Bryan Neathway Brown AM (born 23 June 1947 in Sydney) is an Australian actor The illusions used in the Film, Television, Theater, or Entertainment industries to simulate the imagined events in a story are traditionally called The Department of Justice hires him to stage the murder of a gangster about to enter the Witness Protection Program. For animal rights group see Justice Department (JD The United States Department of Justice ( DOJ) is a Cabinet department The United States Federal Witness Protection Program is a Witness protection program administered by the United States Department of Justice to protect threatened He agrees, but then things get complicated. Meanwhile, a New York City police detective, Leo McCarthy (Brian Dennehy), is investigating the faked murder and cannot understand why the Department of Justice is even less helpful than usual. The City of New York Brian Mannion Dennehy (born July 9 1938 is an American two-time Tony Award -winning Actor who has appeared in movies, on television and performed
A sequel, F/X2, (also known as F/X2: The Deadly Art of Illusion) was made in 1991. A sequel is a work in Literature, Film, or other media that portrays events following those of a previous work F/X2 (also known as F/X2 The Deadly Art of Illusion) is a 1991 film directed by Richard Franklin and starring Bryan Brown F/X2 (also known as F/X2 The Deadly Art of Illusion) is a 1991 film directed by Richard Franklin and starring Bryan Brown The year 1991 in film involved some significant events Events April 28 - Bonnie A spin-off TV-series entitled F/X: The Series was produced from 1996 to 1998. F/X The Series was a television series based on the film F/X, starring Cameron Daddo, Christina Cox, Kevin Dobson (season Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar)
Contents |
Synopsis
Tyler is hired by the Department of Justice to stage the fake murder of a mob informant, Nicholas DeFranco (Jerry Orbach). For animal rights group see Justice Department (JD The United States Department of Justice ( DOJ) is a Cabinet department Jerome Bernard Orbach ( October 20 1935 – December 28 2004) was an American Tony Award -winning Actor, DeFranco is set to testify against his former mafia bosses and the Department of Justice is afraid he'll be killed before the trial can begin. The Mafia (also known as Cosa Nostra) is a Sicilian Criminal Secret society which is believed to have first developed in the mid-19th century Tyler rigs a gun with blanks and fixes DeFranco up with radio transmitters and fake blood packs to simulate bullet hits. The Department of Justice supervisor, Colonel Mason (Mason Adams), specifically asks Tyler to be the "assassin" and wear a disguise. Mason Adams ( February 26, 1919 &ndash April 26, 2005) was an American Character actor.
DeFranco wears Tyler's rig to a public restaurant. The assassination appears to go flawlessly, however, when Tyler is picked up by the Department of Justice agent in charge, Lipton (Cliff DeYoung), the agent tries to shoot him. Clifford Tobin DeYoung (born February 12, 1946) is an American actor and musician A struggle for his gun ensues and the car crashes, allowing Tyler to escape. Tyler is nearly killed in a phone booth a short time later and retreats to his girlfriend Ellen's (Diane Venora) apartment. Diane Venora (born August 10, 1952) is an American stage television and film actress. In the morning, Ellen is shot by a sniper aiming for Tyler. READ DISCUSSION PAGE BEFORE MAKING ANY EDITS TO CAPTION BELOW http//en Tyler kills the sniper when he enters the apartment to finish the job.
A Manhattan homicide detective, Leo McCarthy (Dennehy) becomes interested in the case because he's been pursuing DeFranco for several years. He discovers that the assassination was an illusion and that Tyler planned it.
Using an elaborate phone prank, Tyler brings Lipton out in the open and kidnaps him in his squad car. He stuffs Lipton into the trunk and tortures him for Mason's address, believing that DeFranco is hiding there, waiting to be transported out of the country. Tyler steals back his impounded van and escapes following a furious chase through Lower Manhattan. Lower Manhattan (or downtown Manhattan) is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the Tyler goes to Mason's mansion. Using his special effects expertise, he kills several of Mason's guards.
Suspecting that Tyler will kill him next, DeFranco shoots out several windows in Mason's study. Tyler falls through one of the windows, appearing to be dead. DeFranco tries to leave the house when the helicopter arrives but receives an electric shock from the house's security system (which Tyler may have specially rigged). The shock disrupts DeFranco's pacemaker and he dies of heart failure. For other uses see Pacemaker (disambiguation A pacemaker (or artificial pacemaker, so as not to be confused with the heart's natural pacemaker Before he dies, he gives Mason a key to a Swiss safe deposit box containing all the funds he stole from the Mafia. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation A safe deposit box (sometimes incorrectly called a safety deposit box) is a type of Safe usually located in groups inside a Bank vault or in the back of
Mason prepares to leave and is confronted by Tyler, who points a UZI SMG at him. Mason tries to bribe Tyler with the key he took from DeFranco. Tyler considers the offer and places his gun on a table, hovering over it for a moment. He tells Mason that the plan won't work with the police outside. Mason grabs the gun Tyler had set down. Tyler shows Mason that he has the bullets for the gun and a tube of Krazy Glue, which he used to glue the gun to Mason's hands. Cyanoacrylate is the generic name for cyanoacrylate based fast-acting Glues such as ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate (commonly sold under trade names like Superglue and Krazy He shoves Mason out the front door where he's shot by the police waiting outside. Among them is Leo McCarthy.
Tyler is taken to the morgue, still alive, and jumps out a window. He's immediately found by McCarthy. The film ends with Tyler impersonating DeFranco and retrieving the Mafia funds from the bank in Geneva. Geneva (Genève is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French -speaking
Cast and characters
- Bryan Brown as Roland "Rollie" Tyler
- Brian Dennehy as Lt. Bryan Neathway Brown AM (born 23 June 1947 in Sydney) is an Australian actor Brian Mannion Dennehy (born July 9 1938 is an American two-time Tony Award -winning Actor who has appeared in movies, on television and performed Leo McCarthy
- Diane Venora as Ellen
- Cliff De Young as Lipton
- Mason Adams as Col. Diane Venora (born August 10, 1952) is an American stage television and film actress. Clifford Tobin DeYoung (born February 12, 1946) is an American actor and musician Mason Adams ( February 26, 1919 &ndash April 26, 2005) was an American Character actor. Eddie Mason
- Jerry Orbach as Nicholas DeFranco
- Joe Grifasi as Mickey
- Trey Wilson as Lt. Jerome Bernard Orbach ( October 20 1935 – December 28 2004) was an American Tony Award -winning Actor, Joseph G Grifasi (born June 14, 1944) is an American Character actor of film stage and television Donald Yearnsley Wilson III ( January 21, 1948 – January 16, 1989) was an American Character actor known for playing rural Murdoch
- Tom Noonan as Varrick
- M'el Dowd as Joyce Lehman (Miss Lehman)
Production
The unsolicited screenplay was written by two novice writers, actor Gregory Fleeman and documentary filmmaker Robert T. Tom Noonan (born April 12, 1951) is an American Actor and film writer-director M'el Dowd or Mel Dowd (born February 2, 1940) is an American stage and screen actress whose career has spanned over 50 years Megginson. [1] Producer Jack Wiener read their script, which was submitted as a low-budget television movie, and felt that it should be made into a theatrical release. Wiener and his co-producer Dodi Fayed hired Robert Mandel, an Off Broadway director, because they did not want to hire an action director. Emad El-Din Mohamed Abdel Moneim Fayed ( Arabic عماد الدين محمد عبد المنعم الفايد) ( April 15, 1955 &ndash Robert Mandel is a Film producer and director and Television director from Oakland, California. Off-Broadway plays or musicals are performed in New York City. [1] They wanted a director that would bring a realistic touch and make the audience care about the main character. [1] To pull off the film's special effects, the producers hired John Stears, who had worked on the first eight James Bond films and shared a special effects Academy Award for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. John Stears ( August 25, 1934 - June 28, 1999) was a special effects supervisor most famous for his work on early James Bond films James Bond 007 is a Fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve Novels and two Short story "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope (originally released as Star Wars) is a 1977 Space opera
Reception
While F/X performed well at the box office, grossing over $20 million in North America (well over its $10 million budget)[2], executives at Orion Pictures, which financed and distributed the film, felt that it could have performed even better with a different title. Orion Pictures Corporation was an American company that produced movies from 1978 until 1998 [1] One executive claimed that no one understood what the title meant and accepted it because it was what the producers wanted. Wiener admitted that they thought that the two letter together would be "provocative" like MASH and admitted that they had made a mistake. See also M*A*S*H (TV series, M*A*S*H MASH is a American satirical Dark comedy Film directed by Robert Altman [1]
Vincent Canby praised the look of the film in his review for the New York Times, writing, "although the movie, which looks as if it had been made on an A-picture budget, has a lot of the zest one associates with special-effects-filled B-pictures. Vincent Canby ( July 27 1924 &ndash September 15 2000) was an American film critic. "[3] In his review for the Globe and Mail, Jay Scott wrote, "F/X is simply out to give a good time, which it does superbly. The Globe and Mail is a Canadian English language nationally distributed Newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities Jay Scott was the Pen name of Jeffrey Scott Beaven (1949 — July 30, 1993) a Canadian Film critic. "[4] Paul Attanasio praised Brian Dennehy's performance in his review for the Washington Post: "Dennehy brings magic to the role - he's large, and he enlarges it. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D With his sly eyes and little can opener of a nose, his shoulders a yard wide, his hair massing in gray curls behind his ears, he dances through the movie like a mastodon in toe shoes. "[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e Harmetz, Aljean. "F/X, A Suspense Film with a Mysterious Title", New York Times, March 31, 1986. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar)
- ^ "F/X", Box Office Mojo. Retrieved on 2007-12-03. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1800 - War of the Second Coalition: Battle of Hohenlinden, French
- ^ Canby, Vincent. "F/X", New York Times, February 7, 1986. Events 457 - Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire. 1074 - Battle of Montesarchio in which the Prince Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar)
- ^ Scott, Jay. "F/X is filmmaking in the fast and furious mode", Globe and Mail, February 7, 1986. The Globe and Mail is a Canadian English language nationally distributed Newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities Events 457 - Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire. 1074 - Battle of Montesarchio in which the Prince Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar)
- ^ Attanasio, Paul. "Some Special F/X", Washington Post, February 7, 1986. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D Events 457 - Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire. 1074 - Battle of Montesarchio in which the Prince Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar)
External links
- F/X at the Internet Movie Database
- F/X at Allmovie
- F/X at Box Office Mojo
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