Swap a DVD: F/X (R)

MPAA Rating: R
Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language, Profanity
Movie Release: 1986
DVD Release: 06/13/2000
Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan
Audio Tracks: English, Spanish
Subtitles: French, Spanish
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Number of Discs: 1
Run Time: 1 hrs 48 mins
Studio: MGM
Members Wishing: 0
Genres: Thriller, Action Thriller, Chase Movie

A man who simulates death for a living finds himself unwittingly tied into the real thing in this suspense drama. Special effects man Rollie Tyler (Bryan Brown) makes his living simulating gory mayhem and photogenic violence for movies such as "I Dismember Mama." Tyler is given a chance to expand his professional horizons when he's approached by Lipton (Cliff DeYoung), who introduces himself as an FBI agent and makes an unusual proposal. Mob kingpin Nicholas DeFranco (Jerry Orbach) is willing to testify against his fellow gangsters, but the investigators are worried about his safety. Lipton wants Tyler to help him and his staff fake DeFranco's assassination; if everyone is convinced DeFranco is dead, people will be a lot less likely to look for him. Tyler grudgingly takes the assignment, and while he's able to realistically simulate DeFranco being shot in a crowded restaurant, after the "gag," he discovers that he's been double crossed, and he's wanted for the murder of the man he just "shot." Tyler hides out with his girlfriend Ellen (Diane Venora), but he realizes that whoever set him up wants him dead after she's killed by a bullet meant for him. With the help of fellow effects artist Andy (Martha Gehman), Tyler goes underground and tries to unravel the truth behind the Lipton murder. Meanwhile, police detective Leo McCarthy (Brian Dennehy) is convinced that something is not right when he's called to the scene of DeFranco's murder and is certain that the dead body is not the gangster. F/X was followed by a sequel, and later a short-lived TV series. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Bryan Brown - Rollie Tyler
Brian Dennehy - Leo McCarthy
Diane Venora - Ellen
Cliff De Young - Lipton
Mason Adams - Col. Mason

Perhaps not surprisingly, F/X has dated somewhat since its 1986 release, simply because the special effects techniques depicted in the film seem prehistoric compared to the CGI-based methods of today. However, the likeable pairing of Bryan Brown and Brian Dennehy in the lead roles, and the film's overall sense of fun, make MGM's DVD edition of more than casual interest, even if it is a fairly basic package. There is both a letterboxed widescreen version and a full-frame transfer, of which the latter is clearly the better, with more detail and less noticeable grain. The Dolby 2.0 Sound is powerful and mixed well, if perhaps lacking the depth that a 5.1 track might have provided. The only extra feature on the disc is the motion picture trailer, which is quite a good one and worth watching as a taster for the film itself. MGM could perhaps have done a little more with this release, but this is probably standard for an older film. As it is, the DVD presentation of F/X is competent, if unspectacular. ~ Patrick Lee, All Movie Guide

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