Tequila Sunrise

Tequila Sunrise is a crime drama set in a California coastal town, where two former school friends have ended up on opposite sides of the law. Mac McKussic, once a drug dealer, is trying to leave that life behind, while his friend Nick Frescia has become a police lieutenant running narcotics investigations. Their old loyalty is strained by Nick's superiors, who push him to bring Mac down, and by Carlos, a Mexican drug figure whose interests keep pulling Mac back in. Complicating matters further, both men become involved with Jo Ann Vallenari, a restaurateur, and Nick's interest in her serves his investigation as much as his feelings.

The film was directed by Robert Towne, who also wrote the screenplay, and was produced by Thom Mount. It was the first feature Towne directed, followed years later by Without Limits and Ask the Dust. Mel Gibson plays Mac, with Michelle Pfeiffer as Jo Ann and Kurt Russell as Nick; Raúl Juliá, J.T. Walsh and Arliss Howard appear among the credited cast of thirty-three.

Released in December 1988, the film cost about 23 million dollars and took in roughly 106 million worldwide, a strong return at the box office. On TMDB it holds a rating of 6.1 out of 10 from 607 votes, while critics gave it 5.2 out of 10 from 34 reviews, so audiences have rated it somewhat more generously than reviewers.