No Way Out (1987)
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97% of critics liked it
(29 reviews) -
66% of users liked it
(19,884 ratings)
No Way Out is told in flashback as Naval officer Tom Farrell (Kevin Costner) is grilled by his superiors regarding a recent "unpleasantness." While at a Washington party, Tom meets Susan Atwel (Sean Young), and they're soon sharing a steamy love scene in the back of a limo (marvelously… More No Way Out is told in flashback as Naval officer Tom Farrell (Kevin Costner) is grilled by his superiors regarding a recent "unpleasantness." While at a Washington party, Tom meets Susan Atwel (Sean Young), and they're soon sharing a steamy love scene in the back of a limo (marvelously parodied in 1993's Hot Shots! Part Deux). Several months pass before Tom meets Susan again; he discovers she's the mistress of the US Secretary of Defense David Brice (Gene Hackman). When Susan is murdered by Brice, his loyal aide (Will Patton) dutifully destroys the evidence and invents the fallacious theory that a KGB mole was responsible. Tom is assigned to locate that mole -- a perilous situation, since Tom knows that no such mole exists, but must go along with the charade since he was the last person who was seen with Susan. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Roger Donaldson
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense
R,
- In Theaters
- Aug 14, 1987 Wide
- Studio
- HBO Video
Critic Reviews
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Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
Viewers who arrive at the movie five minutes late and leave five minutes early will avoid the setup and payoff for the preposterous twist that spoils this lively, intelligent remake of 1948's The Big Clock.
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Variety Staff, Variety
No Way Out is an effective updating and revamping of the 1948 film noir classic The Big Clock.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
It's the kind of intricately plotted suspense film with juicy secondary parts (Will Patton, George Dzundza, Iman, Howard Duff) that used to be churned out in the 1940s.
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, Time Out
A very convincing nightmare, and if Hackman gives too rounded a performance to approach the omniscient evil of Laughton's original, Patton assumes the mantle as Brice's henchman, while Costner confirms his arrival as a star.
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
It's so effective, in fact, that when it's all over, you might want to sit through the beginning again just to see if the end is justified by the means. I suspect that it is.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Kevin Costner
as Lt. Cmdr. Tom Farrell
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Gene Hackman
as David Brice Secretary of Defense
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Sean Young
as Susan Atwell
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Will Patton
as Scott Pritchard
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Howard Duff
as Sen. Willy Duvall
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George Dzundza
as Dr. Sam Hesselman Computer Dept. H
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Iman
as Nina Beka
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Fred Dalton Thompson
as Marshall CIA Director
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Leon Russom
as Kevin O'Brien CIA Official
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Dennis Burkley
as Mate
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Marshall Bell
as Contra
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Michael Shillo
as Schiller
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Nicholas Worth
as Cup Breaker
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Leo Geter
as Ensign Fox
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Matthew Barry
as Bellboy
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Jason Bernard
as Maj. Donovan
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Terence Cooper
as N.Z. Ambassador
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Chris D.
as Contra
- Secretary of Defense
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Edith Fields
as Lorraine Secretary to the Secretary of D...
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Scott Freeman
as M.P.
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Eugene Robert Glazer
as C.I.D. Man
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Darryl Henriques
as C.I.D. Man
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John Hostetter
as C.I.D. Man
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Paul Austin Kelly
as Cab Driver
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Robert Kerman
as C.I.D. Man
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Joan McMurtrey
as Programmer
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David Paymer
as Technician
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Charles Walker
as Technician
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Peter Bell
as Seaman Dufor
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Jay Arlen Jones
as Marine Guard
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Rob Sullivan
as Marine Guard
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Jill Clark
as Maori Dancer
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Frederick Allen
as Enlisted Man
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Stephen R. Asinas
as Filipino Urchin
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June Chandler
as Margaret Brice
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Michael Hungerford
as C.I.D. Man
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LeNoel
as Gregory/Quartermaster
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Noel Manchan
as Computer Clerk
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Gordon Needham
as Limo Driver
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Dorothy Parke
as TV Reporter
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Lee Shael
as Band Singer
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Jeffrey Sudzin
as Man with Lighter
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Tony Webster
as Helmsman
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John D'Aquino
as Lt. John Chadway
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Mathew Evans
as J.O.D.
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Charles Middleton
as Airport Cop
