No Way Home

With the exception of "The Unscarred", this is Buddy Giovinazzo's most technically accomplished piece. It does share thematic similarities with "Combat Shock", but it is a solid character drama that would not be out of place on a double bill with the Australian "The Boys". Being a Giovinazzo flick, it's about deeply flawed characters living in a personal hell. They see no way out of their situation and are too emotionally paralyzed to act, anyway.

Deborah Kara Unger, who is a dynamite actress (and seriously sensual), is terrific as Lorraine, the girlfriend of James Russo's Tommy. Tim Roth plays Joey, who has just been released from jail and relies on his brother gratitude to give him a roof and bed until he gets his act together. Complications arise when local criminal elements encroach on Joey's rehabilitation.

The plot is nothing new and hardly worth a mention. The drama's the thing here and it burns like a bolt of lightning once the the film's niceties are out of the way. Russo, who was also in "The Unscarred", is hard as nails and scarily convincing as Tommy. Roth never disappoints, unless the script's not there, and in this venture he makes us feel his pain.

Another vacation in hell, with a great score, from one of cinema's darkest contemporary directors who is as seriously underrated as Ferrarra is seriously overrated.

It was late at night, I was bored, and am a Tim Roth fan, so I decided to watch it. I didn't expect much. Maybe that's why I enjoyed it so. It was very interesting. It presented you with questions about these characters and gave pieces of the puzzle slowly. It kept you engrossed, wanting more. It had various different sub-plots, all entertaining. It had this build up of a true great film and a truly great drama and character study with a uniqueness to it. However towards the end it falls into the standard, predictable plot points, transforming from a character piece and drama, to the cliche crime drama Tim Roth is most known for. That is truly a shame since, when given the chance, Roth can give great comedic and dramatic performances only if given the chance. While Roth made this film what it is, it featured good performances by Russo and Unger, those two should be watched in the future, they could easily go places.

Joey gets out of prison after six years. What crime he has served we don't know yet. He goes to his parental home and rings on the door. A blonde opens. Joey asks for his brother Tommy, troubled the blonde goes to get him. A surprised Tommy invites his younger brother. Against his wife's (the blonde) wish Tommy and Joey agree that Joey should live at their home a while, until he get a job and can get a place of his own.

Tommy sells grass and Lorrain works as stripper at private parties. Joey is determined to not get in to jail again and begins to work as a window cleaner. Something that Tommy think is stupid, because there's more money to earn on drugs.

Joey - who according to himself, is a bit 'slow' since a incident in childhood - develops with time a special relationship with Lorrain, who's at first is skeptical to Joey's stay in the house. Tommy appears the longer the film goes as a real a**hole - he doesn't do anything home, is unfaithful and lies to his wife. When Joey asks Lorrain is happy with her situation he explain, in the key scene of the film, that marriage doesn't have any benefits; "You get marry when you're in love, then you get tired with each other". Lorrain is in any case grateful of that Tommy haven't during their more than four years together never have beaten her once. Something that her former husband did.

No Way Back (the title unfortunately sounds like an inferior action flick.) is a traditional film, without too many clichés. The director manages to work up scenes and solutions we recognize to something natural. Powerful, with an every day tone (e.g. when Joey visits his former girlfriend).

The actors in the three leading roles are exquisite: Tim Roth as Joey does a typical Tim Roth role without because of that it would be too much Tim Roth of the role. James Russo (Tommy) makes a role portrait who resembles that kind of things he done before, but I want to rank this performance as the best I've seen from him. Deborah (Kara) Unger as Lorrain, who placed the centre of gravity on the acting and not to look sexy, convinces with her restrained acting style in her study of a woman who's become tired.

Let me just get this outta the way. *ahem* This movie has two scenes where someone gets kicked in the nuts. Two! For someone like myself, that's reason enough to check it out. But if you wanna know what it's about and blah blah blah, I suppose keep reading.

After spending some time in the cooler Joey is now released and is looking to get his life back on track. He ends up heading home, and reunites with his brother. Staying at his bro's until he finds steady work all seems fine, that is until he begins realizing the outside world is still as unforgiving and selfish as it was before.

No Way Home was a good flick. It had a lowkey and unpredictable Tim Roth running the show with a decently solid supporting cast bringing up the rear. At first the movie tends to feel like it's trying too hard (overacting), but it hits a pretty serious groove and it begins becoming a very solid flick. Most probably due to the increase in sex, adult-themed conversations and gritty violence.

With some surprising developments, some nice attention to realism, and a couple kicks in the groin, this should be a nice viewing for anyone who enjoys serious drama. Tim Roth being the lead doesn't hurt the flick much either.

An ex-con is released from the pen and returns home determined to go straight. He moves in with his brother and sister-in-law and learns of his brother's troubles with a local crime organization. The brother's problems excalate to the breaking point when the thugs demand more money than he has. This was a good show, however it had several flaws; namely the gunfire sounded like underpowered fireworks, and some of the kicks and punches were obviously not connecting. Extremely violent, with buckets of blood.