Tetrady
not as good as all the hype
StyleSk8r
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Sabah Hensley
This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama
elshikh4
Different music : (I Am Onto You) is so sensitive piece of music. You don't run into anything like it 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 can be a star. He added much seriousness and toughness to the stereotype 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 (suits perfectly a 1995 movie !).Aside from strange homage to Kubrick's (Clockwork Orange) at the movie's intro, the writing and the directing of Frank A. Cappello was fine. Although he just recycled the same old crap again but in entertaining and remarkable way. Everything runs so fast and thrilling but it lacked the big budget that could put some logic to the illogical matters (I didn't buy the fallen plane's sequence for instance, with dazzling special effects it would've been more effective). I loved the most the conversations of the lead and his little son; that was a bit different and amusing.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.
johnnyboyz
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.
CKCSWHFFAN
I believe the only reason anyone would have seen this film is because Russell is in it.That was my reason.Russell does well in his role.Love his hair cut in this one.A better script was needed.But, we have to keep in mind, this was not a big budget film.Helen's character Mary could GET on the audience's nerves as well, even though she was a good person & meant well.You could tell why she got on Zack's nerves.Course, she has not done much in her career. When you consider the best thing she ever did was her guest spot on "Seinfeld".By the book, not really exciting action scenes.To be seen only if you are a fan of Russell's.
George Parker
"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.
