Revenge (1990)

Sadly Over-hyped

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Of all the movies I rented for Anthony Quinn's week on Hot Toasty Rag, the one I wish I'd skipped was Revenge. When it was Kevin Costner's week, I actually skipped over this movie; too bad I didn't have the good sense to skip it again. It was so horrible, I actually brought out my book in the last hour-yes, it's two full hours long-and started reading during the particularly upsetting scenes.Kevin Costner plays a hotshot Navy pilot-this movie was helmed by Tony Scott, who directed Top Gun-who goes on vacation in Mexico to visit his friend, notorious kingpin Anthony Quinn. He's very aware of what his friend is capable of, especially when he sees Tony practically drown his own dog because he chewed on his jacket. Tony's wife Madeleine Stowe is also very aware of his ruthlessness, especially when he kills a party guest because of a political disagreement. So, since both Kevin and Madeleine know how dangerous Tony is, why would they ever have an affair? They're both incredibly unlikable characters, made even more so by their stupidity. They have an affair, they cross The Godfather, and they don't expect him to seek. . . revenge?You might think the young couple fall deeply in love to justify such stupid choices, right? Sorry to disappoint you, but it's just hormones. They don't spend any time getting to know each other, connecting, or discovering the missing part of their soul-it's just hormones. It's impossible to feel sorry for them when they're so stupid. How can they cross Anthony Quinn and expect to get away with it? Haven't they seen any of his movies?The other huge-and it is really huge-criticism of the film is the excess of gritty, horrible violence. Nowadays, many more movies have taken on an excessively violent tone, but this thirty-year-old movie still stands out as being too violent. Male viewers might enjoy this testosterone-fest of sex and violence, but I couldn't stand it. Ladies, do not kowtow and agree to Revenge for your date night movie. You will be so very sorry.The only good thing about the movie I can think of is that Madeleine gets to wear some beautiful clothes-when she is wearing clothes, that is. Oh, and it is pretty funny that she starred in a film titled Revenge twenty years before starring in a television show of the same name. But it's not so funny that you should actually watch the movie.DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not your friend. In the opening scene, Kevin Costner is flying his plane, and the camera repeatedly spins around, and it will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to sex scenes, two upsetting scenes with an animal, and gritty violence, I wouldn't let my kids watch it. Also, there may or may not be a rape scene.

We've seen this movie- or a variation thereof- dozens of times before: Guy meets girl, guy falls in love with girl, guy loses girl, guy spares no effort to get girl back. Throw in a violent plot twist involving adultery and betrayal, and you have "Revenge", a movie with entertaining elements that nonetheless falls a bit short.Recently retired US Navy Pilot Jay Cochran (Kevin Costner) visits old friend and crime lord Tibey Mendez (Anthony Quinn) at his palatial estate in Mexico. Here, he meets Tibey's wife Miryea (Madeline Stowe), a reserved, stunning brunette 30 years his junior. Almost immediately, an attraction is felt between Cochran and Miryea, made more so by Tibey's attention to business and the age gap between him and his wife. Cochran and Miryea sleep together and are caught- with devastating consequences for all involved."Revenge" is hurt by several factors. The wild implausibility of a decorated Navy pilot having a Mexican Drug Lord as a close friend strains credibility with the viewer from the start. And though we are supposed to sympathize with Cochran for being beaten to within an inch of his life by Mendez' henchmen, Costner plays the character with an arrogance that makes it tough to do so. Throw in Quinn's visible heartbreak at having his wife stolen, and the Costner character comes across as almost totally unsympathetic. Only our concern for Miryea and the violence showered upon her allow us to care about Costner's frenzied search for her.This is no feel good movie, as all the principal characters suffer dearly: Cochran is nearly killed, Tibey loses his wife and a dear friend, and Miryea is subjected to unspeakable acts of brutality because of her betrayal. Even Cochran's dog is killed. Disney it ain't."Revenge" has its moments and benefits from some good acting. Quinn is in his element here and gives a solid portrayal of a crime lord whose charming veneer belies his brutal nature. Stowe is gorgeous, and plays her role with a waif-like innocence. As such, her character's fate strongly resonates with the viewer. Miguel Ferrer and John Leguizamo do good work as troubleshooters helping Costner find his love. And the always enjoyable James Gammon has a great bit role as a down-on-his-luck Texan. Costner is probably the weakest link here, and since it's his movie, that's a problem.Worth a look, but no new ground broken here.

When I saw this film on Netflix, I just assumed that a movie directed by Tony Scott starring Kevin Costner called Revenge would have more action in it.. my bad.It's a crime thriller that was very slow for this stage of Tony Scott's career when he was doing things like Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop 2. In fact, the movie should have resembled Top Gun more, to the point where you could call it Top Gun 2 (Electric Bugaloo). After all, Costner plays a Naval pilot who retires and goes down to Mexico to hang with some shady friends, and falls for a girl. I'm guessing Tony was trying to break out of his typecasting, by lessening the sleek music video style action and adding the dark dramatic plot of the girl Kevin fell for being his shady friend's girl who beats him up leaves him for dead and sells his now ex-girlfriend into prostitution. The plot was done well and it makes up for the lack of action.Antony Quinn actual plays the shady friend in the film. A fine actor, I was a little indifferent about a Mexican based crime boss not being played by a Mexican.It's a decent film, but I'm not surprise this is the first I herd of it. It's so different than what anyone would expect from these two men back in that time period. Keep that in mind if you chose to watch it.

"Revenge" is based on a novella by Jim Harrison who together with Jeffrey Alan Fiskin also wrote the screenplay. The plot is extremely simple and straight forward and doesn't contain any real twists or surprises but does gain some traction by the nature and intensity of the circumstances that the characters confront.This story of friendship, passion and betrayal leads inexorably to violent retribution and consequences that are tragic for everyone concerned. The circumstances that lead to such misery and loss are the result of extreme recklessness, sexual obsession and a completely unrealistic grasp of the dangers involved by a couple whose infidelity triggers a truly horrific sequence of events.Jay Cochran (Kevin Costner) is a U.S. Navy pilot who retires after 12 years service and decides to take up an invitation from an old friend in Mexico to visit his impressive hacienda. Jay and Tibey Mendez (Anthony Quinn) had become firm friends some years earlier after Jay had saved Tibey's life on a hunting trip. Tibey is now a very wealthy and powerful crime boss who's well connected politically and constantly surrounded by heavily armed henchmen.When Jay meets Tibey's much younger wife Miryea (Madeleine Stowe), there's an instant attraction between them and it isn't long before they embark on a passionate affair. Tibey quickly realises what's going on and he and his men break into a cabin where the lovers are together and viciously beat up Jay and kill his dog. Tibey then slashes his wife's face with a knife and after burning down the cabin, Jay is left for dead in the desert and Miryea is taken to work in a whorehouse and regularly injected with heroin.A compassionate Mexican finds Jay lying unconscious and gradually nurses him back to health. After making a full recovery, Jay sets off on a mission to find Miryea and hunt down Tibey.Anthony Quinn's age, physique and general appearance make him perfect for his role but the way in which he also skilfully displays the various facets of Tibey's personality is very impressive. His character is interesting because despite being friendly, generous and good humoured on most occasions, he's also an extremely violent man who's cruel, vicious and utterly ruthless.Jay shows a lack of respect for his host by turning up late and also seems oblivious to some of the tensions surrounding him at the hacienda. Presumably, as a pilot he was used to pushing the envelope at times and maybe this explains his over-confidence and insensitivity. Whether this is the case or not, his judgement is seriously flawed by any standards and the misfortunes that he suffers are of his own making.Kevin Costner is more convincing in portraying Jay's self-centred and impulsive behaviour than in showing the level of passion that drove Jay into getting involved in such a dangerous affair. Madeleine Stowe's performance, by contrast, is consistently strong as the reserved and tragic Miryea whose only consolation is that she ultimately gets to chose her own means of escape.The simplicity and predictability of the plot are the movie's greatest deficiencies but the locations used and the cinematography are together very successful in creating the atmosphere in which all the action, romance and violence take place.