F/X – Murder by Illusion [F/X] *** (1986, Bryan Brown, Brian Dennehy, Diane Venora) – Classic Movie Review 9644

Director Robert Mandel’s bright, pacey 1986 thriller F/X – Murder by Illusion [F/X] has a lot of lively action, and, yes, lots of special effects.

Bryan Brown stars as Rollie Tyler, a film special effects expert hired by the US Department of Justice to fake the murder of a mafia informant, gangster Nicholas DeFranco (Jerry Orbach), about to enter the Witness Protection Program. Then he discovers that he has been set up and that killers are on his trail.

F/X – Murder by Illusion is enjoyable but lightweight, and some of the story’s loose ends don’t tie up. There’s a good cast though. Brown is capable and engaging as the hero, while Brian Dennehy and Joe Grifasi are fun as bumbling New York City police detectives Lt. Leo McCarthy and Mickey Gaglione, who cannot figure out why the Justice Department is unhelpful while they are investigating the faked murder.

The producer is Princess Diana’s lover Dodi Fayed.

It was a hit and F/X2: The Deadly Art of Illusion followed in 1991 with Bryan Brown and Brian Dennehy returning. A spinoff TV series, F/X: The Series, aired from 1996 to 1998.

Also in the cast are Diane Venora, Cliff De Young, Mason Adams, Jerry Orbach, Joe Grifasi, Martha Gehman, Roscoe Orman, Trey Wilson, Tom Noonan, Paul D’Amato, Patrick Stack and Jean De Baer.

F/X – Murder by Illusion [F/X] is directed by Robert Mandel, runs 106 minutes, is made by Orion Pictures and Dodi Fayed – Jack Wiener, is released by Orion Pictures (1986) (US) and Rank (UK). is written by Robert T Megginson and Gregory Fleeman, is shot by Miroslav Ondricek, is produced by Dodi Fayed and Jack Wiener, is scored by Bill Conti and is designed by Mel Bourne.

It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 1986.

Producer Jack Wiener read the unsolicited screenplay by two novice writers, actor Gregory Fleeman and documentarian Robert T Megginson, submitted as a low-budget TV movie, and thought it could be made into a cinema movie. The producers hired John Stears, who had worked on the first eight James Bond films and shared a special effects Oscar for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, to achieve the film’s special effects.

Shooting took place during the summer of 1985 around New York City and in Rye, New York, as well as Toronto, Canada, where locations included Sherway Gardens Mall in Etobicoke.

RIP legendary iconic actor Brian Dennehy, who died on 15 April 2020, aged 81. He is also remembered for First Blood, Gorky Park,  Best Seller, Cocoon, Silverado, Legal Eagles, Presumed Innocent and Tommy Boy.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9644

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