F/X
1986
***½
Director: Robert Mandel
Cast: Bryan Brown, Brian Dennehy, Diane Venora, Cliff De Young, Jerry Orbach, Mason Adams, Joe Grifasi, Trey Wilson, Tom Noonan, Josie de Guzman, M'el Dowd
Special-effects specialist Rollie Tyler is hired to stage the assassination of a mob informant, but when Rollie is double-crossed, he must use his tricks and skills to fight back. This thriller may be gimmicky and implausible, but it is also clever, nicely paced, and solidly entertaining. Bryan Brown and Brian Dennehy give likeable performances, but the characters share a scene only a few minutes before the end. Followed by F/X2.
