Revenge

Revenge; thriller, USA, 1990; D: Tony Scott, S: Kevin Costner, Madeleine Stowe, Anthony Quinn, Miguel Ferrer, John Leguizamo

Military pilot Michael celebrates his last day on the job with his friends. He decides to go to a Mexican town to meet his friend Mendez, a rich man whom he saved his life once. Mendez adores him, but is a shady old man who gained his fortune with criminal activities. After Michael becomes intimate with his wife Miryea, it causes an ugly backlash. Mendez cuts Myrea's face and hands her over to work as a prostitute, whereas the wounded Michael is left on a road. He is saved by a Mexican, while an American brings him along in his car. Michael has a goal: to find Myrea. The American dies on the way. Michael's two friends find Mendez who regrets his actions and begs for forgiveness. Michael finds Myrea in a convent, but she dies in his arms.

"Revenge" is a solid and polished thriller that tends more towards drama, even though its story also tends more towards the overstretched. Tony Scott directs the film with his "polished" cinematography which captures an occasional moody shot, whereas the excellent aspect of the first third of the story is how Costner's character Michael enjoys the protection and care of Quinn's character of rich Mendez, since he saved his life once. The balance starts to fall apart, though, after they enter an argument: the film bites into heavy mannerisms and cliches that cause a headache, having Michael meet numerous grotesque side-characters on his way who are rather unnecessary, instead of, let's say, asking for the help of his friends from the exposition of the film, who this way don't have any purpose. More and more, the film can be summed up in the scene where a dog jumps and takes a straw from his mouth - dangerous, difficult to pull off, and yet without a purpose. Still, the slightly contemplative ending where the two main characters, who are equally guilty for the escalation, actually forgive each other. 

Grade:+