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Check out what this reviewer said about Tequila Sunrise

posted 5 years ago by LTUM (978)
4 replies | jump to latest

This was in Variety Magazine in December 1988:

There’s not much kick in this cocktail, despite its mix of quality ingredients. Casually glamorous South Bay is the setting for a story of little substance as writer-director Robert Towne attempts a study of friendship and trust but gets lost in a clutter of drug dealings and police operations.

Mel Gibson plays Dale ‘Mac’ McKussic, a former bigtime drug operator who’s attempting to go straight just about the time his high school pal, cop Nick Frescia (Kurt Russell), is required to bust him. Frescia tries to dodge the duty by pressuring his friend to get out, but Mac owes one last favor to an old friend who’s a Mexican cocaine dealer (Raul Julia).

Russell and Gibson are pushed into a cat-and-mouse game, complicated by their attraction to high-class restaurant owner Jo Ann Vallenari (Michelle Pfeiffer).

Gibson projects control skating atop paranoia, and is appealing as a man you’d want to trust. Russell is fine as the slick cop who’s confused by his own shifting values, and Pfeiffer achieves a rather touching quality with her gun-shy girl beneath the polished professional.

[–] Enigmaticocean77 (2123) 2 years ago

I enjoyed this movie, but with Gibson, Russell, and Pfeiffer all together, and in their primes this should have been epic, but sadly it's been largely forgotten.

[–] LTUM (978) 2 years ago

i love tequila sunrise, and rewatch it occassionally. i have lots of reasons for my fondness, personal ones, and i agree it should be more well received by posterity. but eh, i don't blame that on the film, i blame it on the zombie public. so many great films are forgotten now because the viewers of today (which drive pop culture, and current consensus, lexicons, zeitgeists, etc) lack the intelligence or 'taste' to appreciate them. that phrase about pearls and swine comes to mind! haha

enigmatic how the hell are you. hope you have a great fourth. cooking out? i think i may go see the top gun reboot.

cheers old buddy!!!

[–] Enigmaticocean77 (2123) 2 years ago

I haven't watched this film in quite some time. I'm going to have to dust off my VHS copy, and watch it again.

These days if it's not a super hero film or a CGI kids film it seems like most people aren't interested. I look back on a lot of movies that came out prior to CGI, and modern super hero films, and I am amazed that there was a time and place where movies that relied solely on plot, and character development thrived. Could you imagine a film like "The Godfather" coming out in this day and age?

I didn't really do anything special for the fourth. There are always lots of people setting off fireworks around me, so I never have any real reason to leave home.

I did read on another thread that you saw the new Top Gun movie. Was it really as good as everyone is saying?

[–] LTUM (978) 2 years ago

that is so ironic you mention the godfather. i just rewatched that last weekend, and was blown away all over again. the subtexts, themes, characters etc were so awesome. you are right about trying to release that one today. the new hollywood would definitely ruin it.

love this: "I am amazed that there was a time and place where movies that relied solely on plot, and character development thrived"

totally agree. i told someone the other day that 20-30 years ago i could just randomly pic a movie at the theater and buy a ticket and there was a 95% chance it would satisfy as a good story, regardless of the content or category. These days, I ACTIVELY SEEK OUT titles to watch, putting in time and effort TRYING TO land a good title, and in spite of that, 95% leave me disappointed. the metric has reversed.

i hadn't thought about tequila sunrise in a while, so i am glad you replied to this thread. i haven't seen it in nearly a year so it's time for a rewatch! lol

yes, top gun maverick really was as good as they say. and that is the ONLY reason i went to see it, to find out if the hype was valid. i can honestly say it's worthy of the hype. it felt like how a movie used to feel, 20 years ago. it felt satisfying all along the way right up to a satisfying ending. i thought the actors did a great job, the story was tight and fun and fully plausible, the editing was tight and other production factors on point too; and i gotta say they did a great job tying this story in with the original. (just thinking about it as i type this summary for you gives me chill bumps....because i really loved the first one, the characters)

so yeah, i'd recommend seeing it. :)