No Way Out (1987)
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The story
In a house near the Pentagon, Lieutenant Commander Tom Farrell of the Office of Naval Intelligence is under interrogation regarding his relationship with Susan Atwell, the mistress of Secretary of Defense David Brice. Six months prior, Farrell met Atwell at an inaugural ball and began a clandestine affair. However, the situation turns tragic when Brice unexpectedly visits Atwell's apartment, leading to her accidental death. As the investigation into her death begins, a complex conspiracy involving KGB sleeper agents and internal political maneuvering threatens to expose Farrell's involvement and implicate high-level government officials.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Lieutenant Commander Tom Farrell is interrogated about his relationship with Susan Atwell, the mistress of Secretary of Defense David Brice. The affair began after Farrell met Atwell at an inaugural ball. When Brice discovers the affair and strikes Atwell, she falls to her death. Scott Pritchard, a friend of Farrell's and associate of Brice, attempts to frame a fictional KGB agent, 'Yuri,' for the crime to protect Brice. Pritchard plants evidence and schemes to eliminate witnesses. Farrell realizes the evidence implicates him and discovers Pritchard's plot. As the investigation intensifies, Farrell works with Sam Hesselman to manipulate computer records and clear his name. After a series of assassinations and a tense confrontation, Brice realizes Pritchard's true motives and allows Pritchard to take the fall for the murder. Pritchard commits suicide. Farrell eventually sends incriminating evidence to the CIA director. In a final twist, it is revealed that Farrell's landlord is a Soviet handler and Farrell himself is the deep-cover spy 'Yuri.' He is offered a chance to return to the Soviet Union but declines.
- First release year
- 1987
- Runtime (minutes)
- 114
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Roger Donaldson
- Writers
- Robert Garland · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Kevin Costner · Tom Farrell; Gene Hackman · David Brice; Sean Young · Susan Atwell; Will Patton · Scott Pritchard; Howard Duff · Sam Hesselman; George Dzundza; Jason Bernard; Fred Thompson
- Genres
- neo-noir; crime thriller; action thriller; erotic thriller; psychological thriller; spy film; drama
- Themes
- Espionage; Betrayal; Political Corruption; Identity
- Tone and mood
- Suspenseful; Labyrinthine; Stylish
- Premise and plot tags
- Spy Thriller; Political Thriller; Neo-Noir; Crime Drama
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Big Clock (1946 novel by Kenneth Fearing)
- Franchise connections
- The Big Clock
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, with some praising its suspense and acting, while others noted its complex plot. It was a moderate box office success.
- Reported review scores
- Roger Ebert · score: 4 · scale: 4; Rotten Tomatoes · score: 92% · scale: 100% · review count: 48; Metacritic · score: 77 · scale: 100 · review count: 18; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film is dedicated to the memory of cinematographer John Alcott.; It is the third film based on Kenneth Fearing's novel 'The Big Clock'.; The film debuted at number two at the US box office.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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