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.
Review of Tequila Sunrise
