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

Release Year: 1990

Rating: 5.7/10 (6,817 voted)

Director: Tony Scott

Stars: Kevin Costner, Anthony Quinn, Madeleine Stowe

Storyline
Michael "Jay" Cochran has just left the Navy after 12 years. He's not quite sure what he's going to do, except that he knows he wants a holiday. He decides to visit Tiburon Mendez, a powerful but shady Mexican businessman who he once flew to Alaska for a hunting trip. Arriving at the Mendez mansion in Mexico, he is immediately surprised by the beauty and youth of Mendez' wife Miryea. Their attraction to each other is undeniable, but Cochran is aware that Mendez is a powerful, vindictive, and very possessive man who does not tolerate betrayal.

Writers: Jim Harrison, Jim Harrison

Cast:
Kevin Costner - Cochran
Anthony Quinn - Tibey
Madeleine Stowe - Miryea
Tomas Milian - Cesar
Joaquín Martínez - Mauro
James Gammon - Texan
Jesse Corti - Madero
Sally Kirkland - Rock Star
Luis de Icaza - Ramon
Gerardo Zepeda - Elefante
Miguel Ferrer - Amador
John Leguizamo - Ignacio
Joe Santos - Ibarra
Christofer de Oni - Diaz
Daniel Rojo - Vaquero

Taglines: There's only one passion more uncontrollable than love.

Release Date: 16 February 1990

Filming Locations: Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

Opening Weekend: $6,086,672 (USA) (19 February 1990) (1379 Screens)

Gross: $15,650,000 (USA)

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

Trivia:
Jim Harrison's novella "Revenge" was published in Esquire magazine in 1979.

Goofs:
Factual errors: During Jay's farewell party, several of the attendees can be seen wearing their covers (hats and caps). This is incorrect; Navy regulations state that covers may be worn indoors only during formal military ceremonies.

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

Atmospheric and well acted, a bit of a sleeper.

Rating: 7/10

Kevin Costner in his early days managed to convey a rawness to his characters that was seldom seen after he made "Dances with Wolves" and became a successful producer. Films such as "No Way Out" (1987), "Bull Durham" (1988) and of course "Revenge" (1990) showed him when he was trying to establish his career and you could feel the actor at work rather than the movie maker.

In "Revenge" Costner plays US Navy pilot Michael "Jay" Cochran who is retiring after 12 years in the service. He seems to have lost direction and wants to take some time out for himself. He plans first to go and see his old friend and Tennis partner Tiburon "Tibby" Mendez (Anthony Quinn) who is a powerful mob boss in Mexico. Exactly why they are friends is a little unclear but it seems that Tibby owes Jay a debt for saving his life at some point in the past. Once Jay arrives at the Mendez Hacienda he meets Miryea (Madeleine Stowe) Tibby's wife. Instantly attracted to one another and although initially fighting the chemistry between them, they begin an affair, which comes with massive consequences.

This film has elements of "The Wild Bunch" (1969) to it and the location shooting in Mexico adds so much to the atmosphere and tensity of the story. There are seamy and claustrophobic qualities to many of the situations which are enhanced beautifully by the background. The acting is nicely understated, Costner manages to display a barely restrained anger throughout the second part of the film and Anthony Quinn is convincing as the superficially charming but totally ruthless mobster. Madelaine Stowe is OK as the female lead but struggles with a Mexican accent and seems a bit uncomfortable with the innocence that her character is supposed to portray.

"Revenge" was commercially unsuccessful but is one of those movies that deserves to be seen. Costner, being an actor of limited range, was always best at these type of roles. When he behaves rather than acts, you get to see the best of him.

If I have any complaints, I believe the denouement of the story, although certainly interesting, doesn't quite fit. The build up to it promises something more of a violent showdown and the character of Jay would seem by this point to be poised to take his "revenge". Perhaps the downbeat finish was done to avoid "going Hollywood" with a big finale and as i mentioned it is certainly effective, but leaves a general feeling that there is business still to be done.

An interesting and entertaining movie that is well worth viewing.

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