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No Way Out

No Way Out

Thriller · Drama · 1987

Navy Lt. Tom Farrell meets a young woman, Susan Atwell, and they share a passionate fling. Farrell then finds out that his superior, Defense Secretary David Brice, is also romantically involved with Atwell. When the young woman turns up dead, Farrell is put in charge of the murder investigation. He begins to uncover shocking clues about the case, but when details of his encounter with Susan surface, he becomes a suspect as well.

Movie details

No Way Out

“Is it a crime of passion, or an act of treason?”

1987 Thriller · Drama 1h 54m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.9 / 10

Community rating

Navy Lt. Tom Farrell meets a young woman, Susan Atwell, and they share a passionate fling. Farrell then finds out that his superior, Defense Secretary David Brice, is also romantically involved with Atwell. When the young woman turns up dead, Farrell is put in charge of the murder investigation. He begins to uncover shocking clues about the case, but when details of his encounter with Susan surface, he becomes a suspect as well.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over No Way Out?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Roger Donaldson

Written by

Robert Garland

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner

Lt. Cmdr. Tom Farrell

Gene Hackman

Gene Hackman

Defense Secretary David Brice

Sean Young

Sean Young

Susan Atwell

Will Patton

Will Patton

Scott Pritchard

Howard Duff

Howard Duff

Senator William 'Billy' Duvall

George Dzundza

George Dzundza

Sam Hesselman

Jason Bernard

Jason Bernard

Major Donovan

Court is in session

Put No Way Out on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.