No Way Back

Never heard of this movie but it popped up one night on cable and I sat down to watch it. The movie as a whole is not bad but I get the feeling that the director wasn't sure exactly what type of movie he wanted to make. And after watching it, I still don't know. Is it an action move, a romantic comedy, a 48hr buddy movie... A 1\2 hour into what I thought was a basic action movie, it kinda just started to jump around. One scene it's action movie, next scene it's a romantic comedy, next scene it's an action comedy movie, etc... Besides the whole schizophrenia stuff, the movie is really not that bad. I pretty much like anything with Crowe and everyone with the exception of Slater is pretty good. I recommend this movie as long as there's not a good game.

It's strange yet funny in an odd sort of way when you see a film from years and years ago staring people you know of now as they've had such good careers since. Russell Crowe wasn't really an absolute nobody when No Way Back was made; Romper Stomper and The Quick and the Dead were pretty good films that were made in an established and impressive way but you really have to wonder what Crowe was thinking when he starred in this. The cop/buddy formula was probably rather alluring given the fact it was 1995 and they'd enjoyed reasonable success before then what with Lethal Weapon and Beverly Hills Cop but No Way Back plays out more like a forced, ugly looking Steven Segal film if anything. The film is nothing original nor is it anything special – that 'borrowed' feeling is only further emphasised when an exchange deal involving Zach Grant (Crowe) and a Japanese guy looks like it's going to go wrong so Grant makes an attempt to play cards with some gangsters and gives himself an excuse to put his hands under the table whilst his accomplice gets into a spot of bother. The whole thing is completely lifted from Carlito's Way (1993) when Carlito sets up a pool trick shot in order to get the jump on the majority of the baddies. Amongst feeling generic and looking rather grainy, No Way Back just feels like it's a film that wants to have fun; it's almost saying 'don't take me seriously for the best part, enjoy me' since a series of silly events and silly characters fill up the screen. One accomplice comes in the form of an air stewardess who is given no introduction as a character, has no back-story or anything yet suddenly finds herself caught up in the plot and is suddenly acting as a central character – if Grant wasn't so unhinged, she'd almost certainly be the love interest. The stewardess, Mary, is played by a woman who was Supergirl in a failed film that was supposed to launch her career: she has an annoying whiney voice that spoils the action scenes, she stays so very one dimensional throughout, it's ridiculous and there is just no development what-so-ever: she's pointless to the film. Along with this, the fact I was laughing following Grant and co's capture following a desert chase is surely the sign of bad film-making. Someone who I think was attached to a corrupt law enforcement agency has a wooden gun that he places in a box that comically sticks out from off screen before being retracted as we see the corrupt guy pull out a German Luger pistol – hilarious. This twinned with the delivery of his lines really was bad. Where No Way Back does scrape some credibility is that Crowe's acting isn't bad – a man who has had his son kidnapped and has suffered past tragedy, only emphasising why getting his son back is so important as it's all he has. Also, the way a police trooper character is so quickly introduced and then eliminated though a surprise gunshot towards the end was impressive but with a weak climax and an odd, sympathetic final shot doesn't really tell the whole story. Where did Mary go? What about the Japanese person he was escorting? Do they think going to a baseball game will erase all the problems? Why is Grant still living in the same, obviously unsafe place he was before? No Way Back does more things wrong than it does right but I think it's enjoyable in a guilty, brainless sort of way as it balances action and plot progression as well as dealing with sensitive issues such as loss of loved ones be it the big bosses son, Grant's son as he's kidnapped or Grant's past catastrophe.

Watching this movie was very boring to me because it's very predictable. There is always one cop, one lady and few bad guys that are looking more funny too me, then dangerous (Michael Lerner and Kristopher Logan). And of course we all know that ending will be happy. It is obvious that we are watching solid B-film with Russell Crowe. Even Crowe had to pass through this kind of action movie so one day he could become an established actor. It is nice to see the beginning of the career for Crowe but the whole movie doesn't presents anything new. Only Russell Crowe's performance is on top, cause he looks like ordinary cop, he's funny and he showed us all that one day he will be star. But path to the stars is always rough.

Different music: (I Am Onto You) is so sensitive piece of music. You don't run into anything like that in the usual action flicks. Its sad sense moved me memorably. And it deepened a romantic feel, not about the events but about the movie itself. Different lead: well, sure Crowe isn't familiar with Hollywood fares. He's not Willis, Sly or Denzel. But the 31 year old actor at the moment had to do one to prove that he could be a star. He added much seriousness and toughness to the stereotype that he was handed. It was his thriller, and it was good. Generally, it is not rare to see Crowe playing a role in a thriller; but it is rare to see a usual role, as that, played by Crowe. Different case: the Asian characters were always the same in the American movies, the bad same to be precise! Certain shameful marks had been adhered to them for years and years. You'd feel another treating since the early 1990s. I think that the entrance of Asian funds in the Hollywood production game got a lot to do with the reason of this transmutation. Here, it's more than clear from the death of the Asian girl at the start like a martyr, to the Asian evil guy who turns out to be an honest friend after all, and a criminal yet with a heart of gold. It suits perfectly a 1995 movie! Different touch: Aside from strange homage to Kubrick's (A Clockwork Orange - 1971) at the movie's intro, the writing and the directing of Frank A. Cappello was fine. Although he just recycled the same old nonsense again, but in entertaining and remarkable way. I loved the most the conversations of the lead and his little son; that was a bit different and amusing. According to this movie, I think it's bad that Cappello only wrote 5 movies, and directed 2 movies, in 25 years, since the early 1990s to the mid 2010s. My only complaint: While everything runs so fast and thrilling, the movie lacked the big budget that could put some logic to the illogical matters. For instance, I didn't buy the fallen plane's sequence. With dazzling special effects, it would've been more effective. The conclusion: It is suitable for 90 minutes of fun, and it doesn't allege anything but that. It could've been another forgettable, averagely produced, B-movie. But its simple differences gave it a distinct character that worked.

What starts off as a fairly promising film completely collapses after the first 20 to 30 minutes. Kelly Hu plays rookie FBI agent "Seiku Kobayshi" who volunteers to go undercover as a call-girl in order to plant a listening device into the bathroom of a dangerous white supremacist organization. Once inside the organization she guns down the leader, "Victor Serlano" (played by Ian Zierling) and several of his men. When FBI agent "Zack Grant" (played by Russell Crowe) arrives on the scene, Seiku jumps out of the high-rise to her death. During the follow-up investigation it is learned that Seiku had very recently contacted an important leader of the Yakuza named "Yuji" (Etsushi Toyokawa). This results in speculation that she was somehow coerced by Yuji to kill Victor, so FBI agent Zack Grant is sent to Japan to investigate. A gun-battle then ensues and Zack arrests Yuji in order to take him back to the United States. Meanwhile, Frank Serlano (Michael Lerner), the father of the white supremacist leader, kidnaps Zack's son "Eric" (Andrew J. Ferchland) in order to pressure Zack to bring Yuji to him. On the way back "Mary" (Helen Slater) is introduced into the film as one of the flight attendants who becomes inadvertently involved in the scenario. So far so good. Unfortunately, it is at this point where the film begins to deteriorate as the audience is treated to one far-fetched incident after another. While Helen Slater played her part adequately, the same can't be said for Russell Crowe as this wasn't one of his better performances. But the main responsibility for this fiasco belongs on the shoulder of the director/writer, Frank A. Cappello. With the cast that he had he should have been able to produce a much better film. Instead he chose stunts and gimmicks over good acting and a reasonable plot. What a shame.

No great shakes, just a 90 minute time killer. Has enough action to make you forget about the canyon-sized plot holes, and Crowe is convincing as always. He plays an FBI guy who botched up an assignment and is trying to make amends to the agency. He is also a widower and has a seven year old son. Helen Slater is annoying in the thankless role of comic relief. The themes of racism reminded me of 'Romper Stomper' which Crowe starred in. The beginning of the movie looks like its directly from that excellent movie shot before this. As a fan I had to see it for Russell. If it were Bruce Willis I would have never bothered. Its only ninety minutes so no one really can get offended.

I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. It's a well-produced, good-looking action/thriller flick with sharp, witty dialogue and great performances from the lead actors. Russell Crowe is charismatic and very watchable. I especially liked the morally ambiguous tone - Crowe's character isn't a clean-cut good guy. Well worth a look.

After watching this film I could see the great actor that Russell Crowe has become. The film although lacking a little in the story department, just needed a few added scenes, the actors were great. The comic relief was great. This film received an okay star rating from me and has good reason. You should take a look especially if you are a fan of the man now.

Judging by previous comments, my expectations for this film were zero. However, I was quite entertained by it. Yes, it has it's rough spots, and 'Oh, come ON' spots, but lots of the dialogue was funny, and the violence was minimal once you got past the set-up. Pretty standard plot, but Russell Crowe is always good, and Helen Slater as the air-line attendant was great. Made me laugh, made my son laugh. Not worth a $9 movie ticket, but well worth a video rental and a bowl of popcorn.

"No Way Back" sticks FBI agent Crowe in the middle of a crude conglomeration of assorted Mafia weirdos, FBI agents, cops, Yakuza, and an airline flight attendant in its attempt to mix action with attitude and tongue-in-cheek humor. The result is a messy plot which accomplishes little save lurching from one mediocre action scene to the next. An okay no brainer for insomniacs.