No Way Out (1987)

96% of critics liked it
(28 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(19,340 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 parodied in… 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

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 54 min.
Directed By: Roger Donaldson
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Aug 14, 1987 Wide
On DVD: Jun 19, 2001
Studio: HBO Video

Critic Reviews

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.
Variety Staff, Variety
No Way Out is an effective updating and revamping of the 1948 film noir classic The Big Clock.
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.
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.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
The film makes such good use of Washington and builds suspense so well that it transcends a plot bordering on ridiculous.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
A superior example of the genre, a film in which a simple situation grows more and more complex until it turns into a nightmare not only for the hero but also for everyone associated with him.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Kevin Costner displays some charisma, for once, in a twisty, stylish espionage thriller.
, Film4
A cleverly plotted thriller with impeccable performances. Costner is spot on as the man who finds it hard to play by others' rules, even if it may cost him his head.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...primarily comes off as a fast-moving and increasingly compelling thriller...
, 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.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Smart and steamy Beltway thriller.
JoBlo, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
A taut political thriller.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Filme tenso, com bom ritmo e boas atuações. A revelação final não faz muita diferença no contexto geral - ao contrário, abre margem para alguns buracos no roteiro.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A stylish political thriller animated by its incisive portrait of secrecy, lying and power in Washington, D.C.

Read all 14 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

Costner vehicle saved from total mediocrity by, yet again, Gene Hackman (he should've belonged to International Rescue the number of dreary Hollywood thrillers he's salvaged...) Decent twist at the end, too.
Dean M

Tense and racy thriller in Pentagon. Sean Young's hotter in naked when she asked her close friend to borrow her apartment for a night.
Deb S

Minister of Defense David Brice (Gene Hackman) accidently kills his mistress Susan (Sean Young) and his secretary Scott Pritchard (Will Patton) devices a ploy to frame someone else. They launch a full scale investigation claiming that the man this woman was seeing was a soviet spy… More
Minister of Defense David Brice (Gene Hackman) accidently kills his mistress Susan (Sean Young) and his secretary Scott Pritchard (Will Patton) devices a ploy to frame someone else. They launch a full scale investigation claiming that the man this woman was seeing was a soviet spy (Yuri) within the Pentagon and they must find this man. Brice appoints his own investigator to find the presumed killer but the catch is that the investigator is the man they're hunting for. Kevin Costner is also excellent as Tom Farrell who finds out that his girlfriend has been killed and can't show any emotion without giving up the fact that he was involved with her. Will Patton steals the show in my opinion with a brilliant portrayal of absolute loyalty. NO WAY OUT is an almost perfect thriller about a man who finds himself entangled in a situation in which there is seemingly, well, no way out. Once the murder happens, the movie kicks into high gear keeping you on the edge of your seat. This is a riveting, thought-provoking, and fast paced thriller, with plenty of plot twists and turns and I was blown away by the surprise twist at the end. .
ashley h

Very 80s,but very good. Suspense,drama and mystery. I hated Sean Young, I wanted her to die in the first bit of the movie-lol. But its a great movie. I miss the Kevin Costner of the 80's.
matt s

Classic.
Simeon D

A quintessential 80s action flick. 82/100
Anthony V

The cheat ending still makes me angry, but its fun getting there.

Read all 7 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Kevin Costner as Lt. Cmdr. Tom Farrell

            Gene Hackman as David Brice Secretary of Defense

            Sean Young as Susan Atwell

            Will Patton as Scott Pritchard

            Howard Duff as Sen. Willy Duvall

            George Dzundza as Dr. Sam Hesselman Computer Dept. H

            Iman as Nina Beka

            Fred Dalton Thompson as Marshall CIA Director

            Leon Russom as Kevin O'Brien CIA Official

            Dennis Burkley as Mate

            Marshall Bell as Contra

            Michael Shillo as Schiller

            Nicholas Worth as Cup Breaker

            Leo Geter as Ensign Fox

            Matthew Barry as Bellboy

            Jason Bernard as Maj. Donovan

            Terence Cooper as N.Z. Ambassador

            Chris D. as Contra

            Secretary of Defense
            
            Edith Fields as Lorraine Secretary to the Secretary of Defe

            Scott Freeman as M.P.

            Eugene Robert Glazer as C.I.D. Man

            Darryl Henriques as C.I.D. Man

            John Hostetter as C.I.D. Man

            Paul Austin Kelly as Cab Driver

            Robert Kerman as C.I.D. Man

            Joan McMurtrey as Programmer

            David Paymer as Technician

            Charles Walker as Technician

            Peter Bell as Seaman Dufor

            Jay Arlen Jones as Marine Guard

            Rob Sullivan as Marine Guard

            Jill Clark as Maori Dancer

            Frederick Allen as Enlisted Man

            Stephen R. Asinas as Filipino Urchin

            June Chandler as Margaret Brice

            Michael Hungerford as C.I.D. Man

            LeNoel as Gregory/Quartermaster

            Noel Manchan as Computer Clerk

            Gordon Needham as Limo Driver

            Dorothy Parke as TV Reporter

            Lee Shael as Band Singer

            Jeffrey Sudzin as Man with Lighter

            Tony Webster as Helmsman

            John D'Aquino as Lt. John Chadway

            Mathew Evans as J.O.D.

            Charles Middleton as Airport Cop
See full cast