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      Tequila Sunrise

      R Released Dec 2, 1988 1h 54m Crime Drama List
      53% 34 Reviews Tomatometer 40% 25,000+ Ratings Audience Score In a seaside California town, best friends Mac (Mel Gibson) and Nick (Kurt Russell) are on opposite sides of the law. Mac is a former drug dealer trying to clean up his act, while Nick is a high-profile detective trying to take down a Mexican drug lord named Carlos (Raul Julia). Soon Nick's loyalties are put to the test when he begins an affair with restaurateur Jo Ann (Michelle Pfeiffer) -- a love interest of Mac's -- unwittingly leading his friend into a police-orchestrated trap. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered May 14 Buy Now

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      Tequila Sunrise

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      Critics Consensus

      Tequila Sunrise unites three of its decade's most in-demand stars for a slickly packaged crime drama that looks great without ever going anywhere particularly interesting.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Alec B A bizarre dud of a thriller. Every scene feels like it should be working because of the cast and the cinematography but it just doesn't. The issue is Towne's screenplay which feels both over and underwritten (too much dialogue which doesn't so much explain the characters as obfuscate them in a fog of nonsense) and at certain point you just wish everyone would just shut-up and shoot something. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/28/24 Full Review Test T I watched this on DVD recently. It's a very easy film to watch with top actors, nice locations, good soundtrack and slick cinematography. However, I found the story over complicated and lacking credibility which ultimately undermines everything else I liked. The problem is that the film is fundamentally conflicted by trying too hard to be a crime thriller and a love story. It's still pleasant to watch but leaves the viewer unfulfilled and feeling sold short at the end. It's a shame, because with some story tweaks and better direction this could have been a great movie. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/24 Full Review Carlos T Minha opinião: Este filme só de ver a belíssima Michelle já vale apena. Temos 2 icones do cinema, Mel e Kurt. Kurt já fez uma dobrada também com Stalone e um bom filme "Tango e Cash". Aqui os 2 são amigos de longa data, da época de jovens e que se meteram em enrascada. Aqui Mel volta a sua cidade natal depois de um período estar preso. E quando ele volta a policia fica alvoriçada e seu velho amigo vai alerta-lo para não se meter em encreca. Porém a narcótico esta em seu encalço pois Mel é o único que conhece o chefe do cartel que é Raul. E mel acaba envolvendo a linda Michelle, por quem ele esta apaixonado. Mas acaba ocorrendo um triangulo amoroso agora com Kurt. A salada esta armada. E temos o filho de Mel para dar uma balanceada. E entre romance, chefe do trafico, como tudo isso terminará. E termina quando Raul diz que Michelle deve ser executada pois viu seu rosto. E agora para que lado Mel vai pender? Para da sua amada ou do seu amigo? Roteiro e enredo legal, porém uma estoria morna, que acabou envolvendo romance. E quando falamos de Mel e Kurt, essa não é bem a praia deles. Como em Tango e Cash, quem sabe se tivessem feito mais nesta pegada, teria dado mais bilheteria. Vale apena assistir? Sim Nota: 6,5 Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/03/23 Full Review Elizabeth M Perfect cast with chemistry, plus a great film! They really don't make them like this anymore. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/12/23 Full Review Jack t All right lets get this over with, Tequila sunrise. Yes, out of all the Mel Gibson films I was going to watch and this is the one I wanted to see the least. And let me tell you folks, this is one of my boring films of all time. Oh god do I hate this film. This is the first film that I think it's boring instead I like the theme song at the end credits. I love this song but I hated the film. This is definitely one of my least favorites. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 06/18/23 Full Review Pamela E This is a classic 80s film and a favorite. The soundtrack is perfect for the time and the story. The characters draw you in and the dialogue makes for a memorable experience. Raul Julia in particular has some wonderful scenes. And Mel Gibson and Kirk Russel play well together with Michelle Pfeiffer fitting nicely in the love triangle that anchors the movie. If you're looking for the best film of the decade, no this is not it. But if you're looking for a classic film from the 80s, with moments that you'll always remember, great music and cinematography, you'll enjoy this. One of my favorites. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Pauline Kael New Yorker Most of the dialogue is sprightly -- it’s easy, everyday talk that actors can breathe to. But Towne’s directing is, surprisingly, better than his construction -- maybe because when he plans to direct he leaves things loose. Sep 13, 2023 Full Review Sheila Benson Los Angeles Times Towne has acres of plot here, lashings of it, plot so complicated and so intricate that if you're not clenched to follow every second of it, you're lost. The sheer details of what he has created finally engulf Towne's handsome trio. Aug 12, 2020 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Tribune Towne has a tremendous gift for creating dialogue that is concise, expressive and distinctive without advertising its own cleverness, and ''Tequila Sunrise'' is worth seeing just to be heard. Rated: 3/4 Aug 12, 2020 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...Tequila Sunrise fares best in its deliberate yet involving first half... Rated: 2.5/4 Mar 20, 2024 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) The film is absolutely incomprehensible. [Full review in Spanish] Jul 7, 2022 Full Review Tom Hutchinson Radio Times Writer/director Robert Towne has done better work, as scriptwriter on classic movies such as Chinatown, for example, but this thriller is still an extremely entertaining illustration of his work. Rated: 3/5 Aug 12, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis In a seaside California town, best friends Mac (Mel Gibson) and Nick (Kurt Russell) are on opposite sides of the law. Mac is a former drug dealer trying to clean up his act, while Nick is a high-profile detective trying to take down a Mexican drug lord named Carlos (Raul Julia). Soon Nick's loyalties are put to the test when he begins an affair with restaurateur Jo Ann (Michelle Pfeiffer) -- a love interest of Mac's -- unwittingly leading his friend into a police-orchestrated trap.
      Director
      Robert Towne
      Screenwriter
      Robert Towne
      Distributor
      Warner Bros. Pictures
      Production Co
      Warner Bros., Cinema City Film Productions
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Crime, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Dec 2, 1988, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 1, 2008
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $39.7M
      Runtime
      1h 54m
      Sound Mix
      Surround
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