No Way Out (1987)

No Way Out is an above average modern day thriller exploring the power relationships in Washington. This movie, which depicts rogue covert operations within the government, was released even as the Iran Contra scandal was making headlines giving No Way Out credibility as a view of how things "really work" in the corridors of power.

Based on the novel "The Big Clock," by Kenneth Fearing, adapted for the screen by Robert Garland, No Way Out stars Kevin Costner as a naval intelligence officer who is assigned to find the killer of the Defense Secretary's secret mistress, a killer whose identity can only be that of the investigator himself! This investigation is also the plot of the excellent 1948 film noir The Big Clock, starring Ray Milland and Charles Laughton, which is also well worth watching.

The movie starts out with a aerial view of Washington that finally focuses in on a typical house in Arlington. Kevin Costner is inside being questioned about something, it's not clear what. Then a graphic shows "Six Months Earlier" and we see him at a Presidential Inaugural Ball at the Omni Shoreham hotel. He meets socialite Sean Young and they have torrid sex in the back of a limo and later at her girl friend's (Iman) apartment. He goes back to sea and rescues a sailor during a violent storm, making the newspapers. Based on this report, he is invited to work for the Defense Department at the Pentagon, working for Will Patton, who works directly for the Secretary of Defense, played by Gene Hackman. This is the situation that sets up all of Costner's difficulties.

He has been back to see the Sean Young character and she is actually kept by Gene Hackman, which she reveals to Costner in a heart to heart talk. Hackman discovers her infidelity and accidentally kills her in his fit of rage.

In the cover-up engineered by chief myrmidon Will Patton, a story that she was killed by a Russian spy is circulated and soon all the Washington alphabet agencies are buzzing. Costner is assigned to find this Russian (himself) and must work to make sure the trail does not lead back to him, even though computer whiz George Dzundza is working to get a picture of the culprit from a discarded Polaroid developer.

There are many suspenseful moments during the second half of the picture with chases both in and outside the Pentagon. Kevin Costner does a great performance, possibly his best, with excellent support from Gene Hackman, Sean Young, Will Patton, Howard Duff, and George Dzundza. The supporting cast is also excellent and the story plays out to an unexpected twist, making you wonder how strange life in Washington can really be. Watch for Fred Thompson (political candidate) who plays the CIA director.

The movie does take a little while to get in gear, with the first third spiced up with the sex scenes, but it really gets moving once the mistress gets killed and the lying begins.

The MGM DVD is presented in 1.85:1 theatrical format, in color, and runs 114 minutes. There is a collectible booklet (4 pages) and the theatrical trailer included as extras.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV