I enjoyed seeing Kurt Russell and Michelle Pfeiffer in The Madison, and then I remembered they’d worked together in Tequila Sunrise. Written and directed by Robert Towne, the film is a neo-noir film that entertains.

The pair are joined by Mel Gibson (and makes me lament what he’s done to himself) and Raul Julia.

Dale McKussic (Gibson) and Nick Frescia (Russell) are friends who have know each other since high school. They are also on opposite sides of the law. Frescia is a cop, clashing with his co-workers, especially Hal (J.T. Walsh), and McKussic is a (former?) drug dealer who may or may not be trying to go straight.

And Pfeiffer is Jo Ann, a restaurant owner, who finds herself caught between them, drawn and possibly used by both.

There are twists and turns, and you are often left wondering who to trust and wondering if friendship will trump the law. And what happens when those who enforce it aren’t good people.

The film earned itself an Oscar nomination for cinematography, and it’s a gorgeous looking film, making great use of locations, sunsets, and silhouettes. It’s a solid film, well-crafted, and ogtten elicits a great sense of humour.

The only thing I didn’t really dig was the fact that Frescia’s hair is slicked back all the time; Russell has always had great hair. I get that it’s a character choice, defining the constraints of who Frescia is, but it’s a shame.

When I firstt watched it back in 1990, it wasn’t what I thought it was, and I didn’t love it. This time around, I enjoyed it a lot more and lamented, yet again, what Mel Gibson did to his career.

It’s a solid film, with great performances, solid moments and an insanely attractive cast.

Raul Julia shows up, and just like everyone else in the film, he can’t be trusted. But he’s damned fun to watch, just like everyone else in this film.

I think the only drawback to the film is the score. It’s delivered by Dave Grusin, and none of it seems engaging or memorable.

Overall, I loved checking this one out again. It’s solidly entertaining, has some very funny moments, and the cast is exceptional. This is a good one, I just wanted a little more from some of the actors, but overall, this one was definitely worth the rewatch.

It looks stunning, I just wish it had the score to back it up.