Revenge (1990/I)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Tony Scott

Writers (WGA):

Jim Harrison (novel)
Jim Harrison (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 February 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

A passion that cannot be denied. A betrayal that cannot be forgiven.

Plot:

Michael "Jay" Cochran has just left the Navy after 12 years. He's not quite sure what he's going to do...

Plot Keywords:

Mansion | Betrayal | Mexico | Shotgun | Animal Abuse

Cast

Kevin Costner	...	Michael J. 'Jay' Cochran
Anthony Quinn	...	Tiburon 'Tibby' Mendez
Madeleine Stowe	...	Miryea Mendez
Miguel Ferrer	...	Amador
Tomas Milian	...	Cesar
James Gammon	...	Texan
Jesse Corti	...	Medero
Joaquín Martínez	...	Mauro
John Leguizamo	...	Ignacio, Amador's Cousin
Joe Santos	...	Ibarra
Christofer de Oni	...	Cisco Diaz, Ibarra's Man (as Cristofer de Oni)
Sally Kirkland	...	Rock Star
Luis de Icaza	...	Ramon
Gerardo Zepeda	...	Elefante
Daniel Rojo	...	Vaquero

Runtime:

124 min | 104 min (director's cut) | Sweden:115 min (cut version)

Country:

USA | Mexico

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:16 | Germany:16 | Poland:18 | Finland:K-15 (new rating: 2001) | Singapore:PG (cut) | Singapore:M18 | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:16 | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Finland:K-16 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 (cut) | UK:18 | USA:R | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

Company:

New World Pictures

Trivia:

An early draft of the screenplay was specifically written with Jack Nicholson in mind for the role of Tabey. Apparently, Nicholson saw Tabey as something of a dream role for him and was also prepared to direct the film at one point.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: After Jay and Miryea are through walking on the beach, Jay offers to make some lemonade. As he fumbles around nervously at his beach house, he ends up attempting to to make lemonade with what appears to be a bag of limes, instead of lemons. However, in Mexico yellow lemons are very rare. "Limones" are green and used to make "limonada".

Quotes:

Michael J. 'Jay' Cochran: I killed a man who I hated today.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Obsession: The Sex and Violence of Revenge (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

La Bamba

Better than many think

This is a movie that I always enjoy watching, no matter how many times I've seen it previously. Kevin Costner stars in what is one of his better roles as the veteran pilot J. Cochran who retires from his job in the navy and goes to Mexico to visit his old friend Tiburon "Tibey" Mendez, played excellently by Anthony Quinn in what is one of his last powerful performances. Madeleine Stowe plays Mendez' much younger wife who catches Cochran's eye from the first moment. A passionate love affair ensues, but with tragic consequences.

The theme of love, forbidden love, vs friendship/loyalty is worked out here in a striking way and it makes this a powerful and highly emotional film. Here we see the effect a betrayal can have on a man like Tiburon Mendez. Once the bridge is burned, there is no way back to his grace. Despite the fact that Cochran saved his life, he shows no mercy for him. When you break that old Mexican code, nothing else matters.

This film has a great photography with some visually stunning scenes, specially sunsets and sunrises and Costner and Stowe never looked better. That, together with the even performances and the suspenseful twists makes this a very enjoyable and for most a recommendable movie.7/10