Saturday afternoon at the movies:

My internet friends CJ and occasionally Kathy are part of this meme where you post your all time favorite films.   I'm not sure I have more than about FOUR favorite films, but I have films I have seen that I can share.  However, unlike CJ, who says there is no need to explain why you like the film, I prefer the way my internet friend Birgit reviews films (often hilarious, occasionally irreverent).  Her synopses are not to be missed.

As I explained before, one thing you should know about my choice of films.  You won't find any "chick flicks" here and any romance is simply a side effect of the major overall film.  For this film, I give you some big names, and a political spy thriller.  I actually picked this film after seeing CJ's choice of actors last week.

No Way Out is a 1987 film starring Kevin Costner, a U.S. Navy Lieutenant who falls in love with Sean Young, who plays Susan Atwell, who is also the mistress of Gene Hackman who plays Secretary of Defense (SecDev) David Brice.  One night, after an interrupted tryst with Costner, Young hears Hackman arrive unexpectedly.  Hackman sees Costner run away, but doesn't know who it is.

An argument between Young and Hackman ensues and Hackman accidentally kills her.  He calls his buddy Scott Prichard who is played by Will Patton.  Patton cleans up the mess and suggests Hackman say the murder was caused by a Russian spy named Yuri.

Hackman tasks Costner to find Yuri, the man a witness saw run away, and who Hackman tells Costner he believes killed Young.  This means Costner is looking for himself.

After lots of twists and turns, including the cover-up by both Costner and Patton that eventually kills Sam Hesselman, played by George Dzundza,

Hackman lies and says Patton was a homosexual and must be Yuri.  Patton kills himself, the cover-up is complete, and Yuri is dead.

Costner is picked up by two men who see him at Young's grave.  They take him to a safe house, where it is revealed his is actually Yuri, the Soviet mole.  Costner refuses to return to Russia because of his love of Young.

I was impressed by what Richard Schickel of Time Magazine wrote about this film:

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.

Thanks for joining me today.  I have no idea where to find this movie without "renting" it, but YouTube has it for $2.99 (USD), or you might be able to see it free by joining IMDb using your Google account.  I saw it on TV several years ago.  I hate to admit this, but it feels a bit like current day U.S. political events with Russian collusion, lies, and cover-ups.