No Alibi (2000)

Simply Perfect

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

There was something here with the female lead having this perfect life she's always wanted after the worst life possible, beginning as a child prostitute and winding up with Eric Roberts. But her background makes it impossible for her to trust Dean Cain and this utterly destroys it in the end. It sounds weird, but I like the position Dean Cain was in at the end and the choice he made. He can't hurt her because he loves her and she's the mother of his child (I think the time frame makes it clear it's his child and not his brother's), but at the same he can't forgive her for all she's done, sleeping with his brother (which shows the love and obligation he felt was pretty much one way) and then being part of his death. In better hands this would have been a better movie, but for something I caught on late night cable, it's not bad.

Sitting here watching this film right now for the second time, I can't really understand why some people found it confusing at all! Brother PHILLY inadvertently steals laundered Mob money, CAMILLE (Lexa Doig) is not who she says she is, she is set to seduce the wrong brother (CAIN) and his sleazy thief of a brother eventually ends up dead...the rest is Dean Cain playing detective and Eric Roberts chewing the scenery as usual. Boring, pedestrian and completely predictable dialog, gratuitous female nudity, unprotected sex in grimy slimy washroom (resulting in Camille carrying Philly's kid most likely although that is never addressed), so many wasted and utterly undeveloped characters, but it could have been worse! Always remember that! Cain's motivation is clear "he's my f***ing brother, don't tell me to let it go" (but WHY did he wait an entire year to begin searching for clues?), the interplay with Dean and Camille is realistic most of the time...it just goes off track. And what about the BABY? And the money? The cop gets hit in the head and is never seen again, the evil Camille walks away, Cain kills the bad guy--where's the payoff? I think that may be the reason that people find this film unsatisfying--there's 90 plus minutes of set-up and a one minute wrap-up that resolves absolutely nothing. It could have been released in theaters but you can see why it wasn't! Instead of a top-notch thriller, it ends up being bargain basement...just something to watch when there's nothing but reruns and infomercials on! 'Nuff said!

Watching this movie is a painful experience. It could not be worse. There were several ways the plot could have gone and the writers made a conscious decision to pick the absolute worst. Not a single character was developed in the making of this movie. Some characters appeared in the movie for no reason whatsoever. The dialog was an afterthought. As for the acting, I don't expect much from Dean Cain but in his defense he had nothing to work with. I can't even begin to figure out why Eric Roberts took the part. With all the movies and TV he's done he should know better and can't possibly need the money. The only positive I can say about the movie is I get paid to watch them.

Warning! Spoilers ahead! SPOILERS I've seen movie in German, so it might be, that I missed some clues. Despite some weakness in the plot, it's a movie that came through to me. I liked especially Lexa Doig's acting. Sometimes I got impression, that she *is* Camille. But I can't stop wondering, what happened at the end with Bob, Cassie and baby. I belive, she, after initially being set on Bob, eventually ended up loving him and regretting what happened with his brother and being forced to lie to him. Otherwise it's a bit strange, that she would carry his baby and love it. It's up to viewer to decide - and I don't like such endings. Dean Cain was as good as ever, Eric Roberts .. well, I've seen him better but also worse. I believe that the film is more an analysis of human relations and reacting in unexpected situations than a crime story. Bottom line is, I liked it very much.