No Way Out (1987) from Johnny Web (Uncle Scoopy; Greg Wroblewski)

The plot of this movie is completely implausible - based on a one-in-a-zillion string of coincidences 

(1) in order to divert suspicion from a semi-accidental murder he has committed, a powerful member of the executive branch creates a red herring - and shifts the blame to a non-existent legendary Russian spy.

(2) to head up the investigation of the fictional "Yuri", he hires simon-pure goody-two-shoes naval hero Kevin Costner to give the investigation a veneer of credibility and sincerity

(3) it turns out that Costner was also the deceased woman's lover, and was there the night of the murder, and his own investigation is starting to point to him.

"What's so bad about that, Scoop? So far, that's kinda cool that Costner's investigation is starting to turn up Costner, even though he's not guilty."

Better than that - it's Costner!!!

So think about that - we blame a murder on a non-existent guy. Turns out that the guy really does exist, and not only that, but of all the people in the world, he's the one other guy who actually could have committed the murder, having left the apartment just minutes before it happened. So what are your odds on that one? 

You see, Costner is frantically trying to keep the investigation from unearthing him, and we think all along that it's to avoid the murder charge, not knowing the deeper implications. So witnesses come in to testify and Costner, head of the investigation, has to keep them from seeing his face - it's all pretty slick. I have to say it's a very watchable movie, despite what must be the most ludicrous plot device since the invention of the Deus Ex Machina.

Notes: 

• Given the fact that Costner has some trouble speaking English, I thought his Russian would give Elya a few laughs. She was astounded to report that he delivers his lines perfectly, with only the faintest hint of an accent, if any, and got the difficult Russian vowels exactly right. The man missed his calling. I guess he should have played Eugene Onegin instead of Robin Hood.
• Sean Young must have the largest ears of any woman I've ever seen. I'm surprised they never tapped her to play a Vulcan in any of the Star Trek movies or shows.
• The widescreen/fullscreen situation with this DVD is not the usual case. Normally you're comparing the theatrical version on widescreen to a pan 'n scan fullscreen. In the case of this movie, the fullscreen version is not a pan 'n scan type, but is the full negative type. To make a long story short, that means that there is more info on the fullscreen version than on the widescreen version. The full screen has just as much on the left and right, but far more on the top and bottom, including nudity.