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Tequila Sunrise (1988)

Directed by:
Robert Towne

COUNTRY
USA

Genre
Crime/Romance

NORWEGIAN TITLE
Tequila Sunrise

RUNNING TIME
115 minutes

Produced by:
Thom Mount

Written by:
Robert Towne


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Dale "Mac" McKussic Mel Gibson
Jo Ann Vallenari Michelle Pfeiffer
Lieutenant Nick Frescia Kurt Russell
Commandante Xavier Escalante Raul Julia
DEA Agent Hal Maguire J. T. Walsh
Cody McKussic Gabriel Damon -
Barbara Ely Pouget -
Gregg Lindroff Arliss Howard -
Andy Leonard Arye Gross -
Bartender Arturo Daniel Zacapa -

 

Review

Veteran Hollywood penner Robert Towne (Chinatown, Shampoo) creates a simmering, atmospheric and elegantly convoluted world of drug dealers, DEA agents, old friendships and new romances in this noirish crime-drama. The title alludes both to the drink they all keep drinking and the deep yellow Los Angeles sunsets Towne keeps getting cinematographer Conrad Hall to capture – there is no doubt the director romanticizes his home town and movie history in one go here. And thanks to solid, layered performances from his three stars and some brilliant dialogue, especially in the first half, Tequila Sunrise becomes almost as alluring as Towne arguably aimed for. In that first half, Kurt Russell gives what may be his best performance ever. Which is why the eventual occlusion of his character is something of a letdown. It coincides with the introduction of Raul Julia as a powerful, larger-than-life Mexican police commandante, and his tug of war with Gibson is indicative of the film's less inspired final part, in which Towne clutches at straws and paints himself into a Miami Vice-ish corner which is clearly out of his depth. The action sequences towards the end leave a lot to be desired. There is also a fine jazzy score by Dave Grusin and a wonderful supporting performance from the always dependable J. T. Walsh.

Copyright © 30.09.2022 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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