FX-2 - THE DEADLY ART OF ILLUSION
US, 1991, 107 minutes, Colour.
Bryan Brown, Brian Dennehy, Rachel Ticotin, Philip Bosco, Joanna Gleason.
Directed by Richard Franklin.
FX-2 - The Deadly Art of Illusion is an enjoyable sequel to FX (1986), a star vehicle for Bryan Brown as a special effects man and Brian Dennehy as a cop.
This film is mainly a reworking of the original rather than a sequel. Bryan Brown brings his laconic charm to the central role. He gets on well with Brian Dennehy, this time the ex cop, but skilled in investigation. There is a good supporting cast including Philip Bosco as a corrupt policeman and Joanna Gleeson as a corrupt lawyer. Rachel Ticotin is the strong leading lady.
There are some very enjoyable sequences from the opening credits with the filming of an alien thriller and the use of special effects (gone berserk), a clown who mimics human behaviour (used for the ending of the film) and the final confrontation with the criminals. Direction is by Australian Richard Franklin (Patrick, Road Games - and, overseas, Psycho II, Link, Cloak and Dagger).
1.Entertaining thriller? Sequel/reworking?
2.New York atmosphere, the use of the city, the world of crime, prison, the affluent world? The musical score?
3.The opening credits, the spectacular use of special effects? Rollie's clown? The techniques for the surveillance of the crime? The episode in the supermarket? The finale and confrontations?
4.Bryan Brown as Rollie: his style, personality, relationship with Kim, a second father to Chris? His work, the demonstration of the clown? Friendship with Mike, the surveillance, the risks, the video? The identification of the killer, the attack with the knife? Encounters with the police, Silak and his crooked approach? Death, truth? The investigation, contacting Leo - the spoof of Bryan Brown's role in Cocktail? Leo giving him a fright? The dangers, the computer information, the chase in the supermarket and his use of his skills? Pursuing the criminal to St Patrick's Cathedral? The investigation, the final set-up, his tricks, the confrontation - the pursuit of the criminals? Silak in the helicopter? In Rome, the Vatican, giving up the coins - and the comment about Sydney and pizza?
5.Brian Dennehy as Leo, friendship, the joke, the revenge, his bar? His reaction to Silak? His friendship with Velez, charming her, the promise, the outing, the meal, her being shot dead? The computer link? The visit to Sing Sing, discovering Neeley with Curt? His friendship with Liz, their common background and growing up, in court, the sentence for Neeley, Liz's help, the set-up, giving her the gun? The revelation and her shooting him? The false death? The final confrontation, and going to Rome with Rollie?
6.Kim, attractive, relationship with Rollie, relationship with her son, with Mike? The clown? The dangers, the supermarket chase? Chris, his computer skills?
7.Silak, the investigations, the set-up, in court, Mike and the undercover work? Silak and the pressure, the truth about his connections, his contacts, relationship with Liz, the confrontation at the end, killing Neeley, the flight in the helicopter?
8.Neeley, the court case, Liz in the court, the sentence to Sing Sing, going to Carl? The information, St Patrick's Cathedral, discovering the coins? The final confrontation with Silak, his death?
9.Wealthy criminals, the Mob, the expensive house on Long Island, their returning the coins to the Vatican? Deals, negotiations, bodyguards? Rollie and Leo and their outwitting them?
10.Liz, in court, a good lawyer her background, friendship with Leo, turning on him, shooting him? And her being arrested? Legal corruption and ambition?
11.The Vatican, the Mafia in good relationship by returning the medallions? The final Roman scenes?
12.Interesting police thriller, crime story - with the touch of humour?
