lavatch
"Escape Clause" is a slick made-for-television thriller that is filled with melodramatic twists. An insurance executive named Richard Ramsey (Andrew McCarthy) receives a troubling phone call from a man who claims that Ramsey's life is in danger and that his wife is plotting his death. But it is the wife who is subsequently murdered.The plot is filled with hints that suggest anyone in the cast could be the murderer-extortionist. Police Lieutenant Farrand (Paul Sorvino) is the detective investigating the crime. One of the most nefarious of the characters is Ramsey's father-in-law, the powerful former deputy director of the CIA. The one genuine ally of Ramsey is Leslie Bullard, effectively played by Connie Britton. Leslie was attracted to Ramsey when they were students. Is her motivation to help him genuine? The film finds a way to make almost every one of the professions appear as corrupt. They include the insurance industry, psychiatry, the CIA, and the police force. Virtually every character associated with those fields of endeavor is sleazy and unethical.One of the staples of nineteenth-century melodramatic theater was the cliché device of a victim strapped to the railroad tracks as the train is hurtling toward him or her on a deadly collision course. The writers of "Escape Clause" have somehow found a way to bring back that old convention for a thrilling ending that wraps up the mystery in a tidy package.This is a "guilty pleasure" type of film that includes suspense, but also some laughs, as it brings back the popular melodramas of yore.
Richie-67-485852
Here we have the old fashioned formula for suspense, mystery and thrills based on the ordinary mans successful life and what can go wrong? Hidden within the story is a story and then another and the points of view from the different players all keep you guessing as if to ask...are they what they are representing to be or is their more to what we see and hear. It follows in the best footsteps of the who dunnit and surely at some point, no one is above suspicion. I personally thought the sex scenes totally unnecessary and overdone and of course there are those that will now watch this for that reason. But those scenes distract and that is not why I gave this a ten. It is a gripper, edge of your seat, pay attention to what's happening type movie. Popcorn, sunflower seeds or tasty snack recommended to keep fingernails out of mouth. Include a tasty drink...enjoy
jb0579
This movie is Oh-so-bad. A young executive (played by the ever-over-reaching Andrew McCarthy) finds that his wife is plotting to kill him for the obvious ($). All of the sudden the tables are turned and this young exec finds himself embroiled in this murder for hire scheme. McCarthy turns in the same performances this over-rated B actor he's always been. A so-so shot from Paul Sorvino is this movies only hope, and though he tries, it just doesn't pan out. Plot-wise, and with some production and directing chops, this could have been a great Harrison ford type thriller. As it is, it's not worth your time. I had a hard time keeping up - not because it was so difficult to follow, but because it was just so boring! I'd skip it - watch patriot games again or arrange your sock drawer...
richard-291
I was cajoled into watching this TV movie by the wife, who has very positive nostalgic memories of Andrew McCarthy (Mannequin, Pretty in Pink, St Elmo's Fire) and found it to be actually rather good.It may not have the budget of The Usual Suspects, but it's intriguing none the less as the nice plot gradually plays out. Some of the whodunnits are very obvious, as McCarthy tries to piece together who killed his wife and why, like the supposed friend and work colleague or the father in law, but overall this is one worth sticking with to the end.Good performance by the guy of The Sopranos and also look out for the laughingly titled magazine 'Dungeon Bitch' - used to put the colleague in the frame.As long as you don't expect too much, you'll enjoy.R
AD
