Overview: A BUSINESS ON THE LINE. A FRIENDSHIP ON THE EDGE. A WOMAN CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE!

In 1974 Robert Towne wrote Chinatown, the film that redefined film noir for a new generation with its peerless portrayal of corruption in pre-war Los Angeles.

Fourteen years later, he returned to the genre as writer and director with Tequila Sunrise, bringing a distinctly 80s flair to this Casablanca-inspired neo-noir. Dale McKussic (Mel Gibson) and Nick Frescia (Kurt Russell) are two close friends separated by a legal divide. While Dale is a former drug dealer trying to shake the shackles of his past, Nick is a detective investigating a Mexican kingpin smuggling cocaine.

Their contrasting loyalties are brought to a head through a shared romantic interest in restaurateur JoAnn (Michelle Pfeiffer) - an attraction that unknowingly drives their friendship toward insurmountable strain.

See Kurt Russell, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Mel Gibson light up the screen at the peak of their powers, all set against the pristine warmth of the Californian sun and masterfully shot by Conrad Hall (American Beauty).

4K Blu-ray Verdict: I’m betting that writer/director Robert Towne of Tequila Sunrise was a big fan of the great Warner Brothers classic Angels With Dirty Faces. That’s the one where two kids who grow up to be James Cagney and Pat O’Brien, because one is caught by the authorities and one wasn’t for some juvenile crime, one becomes a gangster and one becomes a priest.

Here the mere fact that Kurt Russell was enjoying a midnight swim and Mel Gibson was caught smoking a joint on a Mexican beach makes all the difference in their lives. Russell becomes a cop, Gibson who gets protection in the Mexican prison from Raul Julia drug kingpin goes into the business. Little is left to the imagination about how Gibson enjoyed Julia’s favor.

Julia is wanted by just about everybody and while Gibson would really like to quit the business, he owes Julia and Julia is coming to the USA for a really big score. Putting Kurt Russell in a precarious position. It gets even more precarious when restaurant owner Michelle Pfeiffer arrives on the scene. She has a thing for both Gibson and Russell.

This very unofficial redoing of Angels With Dirty Faces also from Warner Brothers is nicely updated to the glitzy ’80s and all the players are doing some really good work here. Tequila Sunrise got an Oscar nomination for Cinematography and the way that fiery climax is photographed I can see why.

All in all, the whole movie is a very interesting commentary on friendship and the ties that bind. 1) Friendship is the only choice you have in life (you can’t choose your family) vs 2) at some point friendship’s obligations can go beyond the real life of the friendship itself.

I will just say things work out a tad better than they did for James Cagney though! [B.G.].

4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:
Brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm negative by Arrow Films
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
Original and newly restored lossless stereo and 4.0 audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Audio commentary by producer Thom Mount
California Dreaming, a brand new interview with producer Thom Mount
From Chinatown to Manhattan Beach, a brand new appreciation of Robert Towne by Lucy Bolton
Sunrise to Sunset, a brand new interview with 2nd AD Robert Roda
Sin City, a brand new interview with actor Lala Sloatman
Image gallery
Theatrical trailer
Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Sean Hogan and Josh Nelson, and excerpts from American Cinematographer
Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options

Original Tequila Sunrise Movie Trailer

Official Purchase Link

www.arrowvideo.com