F/X: Murder By Illusion
| Year: | 1986 |
| Production Co: | Orion Pictures |
| Director: | Robert Mandel |
| Cast: | Bryan Brown, Brian Dennehy, Cliff de Young, Jerry Orbach |
In today's world where Hugh Jackman, Nicole kidman, Heath Ledger, Naomi Watts, Eric Bana and Russell Crowe are household names, the Australian invasion into Hollywood is more or less complete.
There was a time however when an Australian actor headlining a Hollywood movie was a delightful anachronism, and if any Aussie star had the experience and profile to warrant it in the late eighties, it was Bryan Brown.
In a slightly prophetic role, he plays Rollie Tyler, an Australian special effects wizard called upon by a law enforcement agency to stage the murder of a mob boss to allow him to slip unnoticed into a witness protection program.
When he's saved from a subsequent hit on his own life by fate alone, Rollie goes on the run, the agents who enlisted him corrupt, and apparently a murderer after the fake gun for the staged hit was substituted with a real one.
A classic trying-to-clear-his-name-from-hiding story ensues, with Rollie using his knowledge of movie magic to get one up on his pursuers. At the same time, a very cinematic cop (brash, funny, good-hearted but uncontrollable) Leo (Dennehy) is on the same case and the two eventually cross paths and realise they have to work together.
Good fun and entertaining.
There was a time however when an Australian actor headlining a Hollywood movie was a delightful anachronism, and if any Aussie star had the experience and profile to warrant it in the late eighties, it was Bryan Brown.
In a slightly prophetic role, he plays Rollie Tyler, an Australian special effects wizard called upon by a law enforcement agency to stage the murder of a mob boss to allow him to slip unnoticed into a witness protection program.
When he's saved from a subsequent hit on his own life by fate alone, Rollie goes on the run, the agents who enlisted him corrupt, and apparently a murderer after the fake gun for the staged hit was substituted with a real one.
A classic trying-to-clear-his-name-from-hiding story ensues, with Rollie using his knowledge of movie magic to get one up on his pursuers. At the same time, a very cinematic cop (brash, funny, good-hearted but uncontrollable) Leo (Dennehy) is on the same case and the two eventually cross paths and realise they have to work together.
Good fun and entertaining.