Aussie icon Bryan Brown ("'Breaker' Morant") makes an ingratiating debut as star of an American film, playing movie special effects expert Rollie Tyler. He is hired by the Justice Department to stage a phony assassination, with a Mafia informer (Jerry Orbach, 'Law & Order') the target. The "hit" goes off smoothly, but then the agents masterminding the operation attempt to get rid of Rollie! He must take it on the lam, relying on his skills to stay one step ahead of both crooked agents in the Justice Department and the NYPD. Brian Dennehy ("First Blood") plays Leo McCarthy, an NYPD detective on the case.
The story (by Robert T. Megginson & Gregory Fleeman) probably *wouldn't* hold up if one were to seriously scrutinize it, but while "F/X" is playing out, it *does* deliver quite a bit of fun. It's fast-paced (these 109 minutes just fly by), action-packed, suspenseful, and humorous at times, and its cinematic illusions & trickery (supervised by the late, great John Stears ("Thunderball", "Star Wars", "Outland") are a joy to watch. It also features some top makeup effects by Carl Fullerton ("Friday the 13th Part 2").
Brown receives able support from the pretty, appealing Diane Venora ("Heat") as Rollies' actress girlfriend, Cliff De Young ("Shock Treatment") and Mason Adams ('Lou Grant') as slimy government agents, the adorable Martha Gehman ("The Legend of Billie Jean") as Rollies' assistant, Joe Grifasi ("Presumed Innocent") as McCarthy's partner, Roscoe Orman ("Willie Dynamite") as the police captain, Trey Wilson ("Raising Arizona") as a jerk detective, and Tom Noonan ("Manhunter") as a henchman. Dennehy does very well, giving his incredibly cliched character (the kind of maverick cop who doesn't play by the rules) some real likeability. Angela Bassett ("What's Love Got to Do with It") made her film debut here in a tiny role as a reporter.
Capably directed by Robert Mandel ("School Ties"), "F/X" is no great shakes but it does pass the time in a very agreeable manner. One highlight is the score by Bill Conti (of "Rocky" fame).
Followed by a sequel, and a TV series.
Seven out of 10.
The story (by Robert T. Megginson & Gregory Fleeman) probably *wouldn't* hold up if one were to seriously scrutinize it, but while "F/X" is playing out, it *does* deliver quite a bit of fun. It's fast-paced (these 109 minutes just fly by), action-packed, suspenseful, and humorous at times, and its cinematic illusions & trickery (supervised by the late, great John Stears ("Thunderball", "Star Wars", "Outland") are a joy to watch. It also features some top makeup effects by Carl Fullerton ("Friday the 13th Part 2").
Brown receives able support from the pretty, appealing Diane Venora ("Heat") as Rollies' actress girlfriend, Cliff De Young ("Shock Treatment") and Mason Adams ('Lou Grant') as slimy government agents, the adorable Martha Gehman ("The Legend of Billie Jean") as Rollies' assistant, Joe Grifasi ("Presumed Innocent") as McCarthy's partner, Roscoe Orman ("Willie Dynamite") as the police captain, Trey Wilson ("Raising Arizona") as a jerk detective, and Tom Noonan ("Manhunter") as a henchman. Dennehy does very well, giving his incredibly cliched character (the kind of maverick cop who doesn't play by the rules) some real likeability. Angela Bassett ("What's Love Got to Do with It") made her film debut here in a tiny role as a reporter.
Capably directed by Robert Mandel ("School Ties"), "F/X" is no great shakes but it does pass the time in a very agreeable manner. One highlight is the score by Bill Conti (of "Rocky" fame).
Followed by a sequel, and a TV series.
Seven out of 10.