Cocktail Review

Cocktail

Release Date: 1st December 1988 - Australia

Production Companies

Touchstone Pictures (presents)

Silver Screen Partners III (in 

association with)

Interscope Communications 

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion 

Pictures Australia

Genre: Romance/Drama

Rating: M

Runtime: 98 minutes


Budget: $20,000,000

Box Office Gross: $171,504,781 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Brian Flanagan, young,
confident and ambitious,
becomes Manhattan's

hottest bartending

prospect with help from
an experienced pro. After
moving to Jamaica and
meeting Jordan, an

independent artist, a
whirlwind romance brings

a new perspective to the

self-absorbed barkeep.

Brian Flanagan's story
begins to unravel, and
Brian discovers the truth
about love, happiness, and,

most of all, Brian Flanagan

himself.

Cast

Tom Cruise - Brian Flanagan

Elisabeth Shue - Jordan Mooney

Bryan Brown - Doug Coughlin
Lisa Banes - Bonnie
Laurence Luckinbill - Mr. Mooney
Kelly Lynch - Kerry Coughlin
Ron Dean - Uncle Pat
Gina Gershon - Coral

Robert Donley - Eddie

Ellen Foley - Eleanor

Andrea Doven - Dulcy

Diane Douglass - Mrs. Rivkin

Crew

Director - Roger Donaldson

Based Upon the Book/
Screenplay - Heywood Gould

Producers - Ted Field and
Robert W. Cort

Casting Directors - Donna Isaacson

and John S. Lyons

Production Designer - Mel Bourne

Art Director - Dan Davis

Set Decorator - Hilton Rosemarin

Costume Designer - Ellen Mirojnick
Director of Photography - Dean Semler

Second Assistant Camera - Steve 'Spaz' Williams

Unit Production Manager - David Coatsworth

Location Manager: New York - Charles Miller

First Assistant Director - Rob Cowan

Stunt Coordinator - Branko Racki

Special Effects Coordinator - Michael Kavanagh
Editor - Neil Travis

Assistant Editors: Los Angeles - Blair Daily,

Karen Gebura and Thomas R. Moore

Supervising Sound Editor - Richard L. Anderson

Sound Editors - James Christopher,

John Dunn and Bunny Speakman

Sound Mixer: New York, Jamaica - Tod A. Maitland

Re-Recording Mixers - David J. Hudson,

Mel Metcalfe and Terry Porter

Foley Artists - Sarah Monat and

Edward M. Steidele
Music - J. Peter Robinson

"Cocktail" Album Supervisor - Carole Childs

Review

I know what you're thinking about COCKTAIL, a film I am regretfully announcing was not a highlight of Tom's career. However, this film was seriously underrated. This picture got criticised for being cheesy. I disagreed with the generally hostile reception of this feature as it is a non-stop watchable guilty pleasure. Tom Cruise soon redeemed his honour with the release of Rain Man later that same year. When I saw COCKTAIL, it was very over-the-top with its fresh comedy and heartbreak. I enjoyed seeing Tom with his smug-faced charm and his masterful bartending skills. It complements the film for what's shaken, not stirred and redeems itself from the underwritten concept, which was predictable and presented no value.

The chemistry between Tom and his co-star Bryan Brown is a kind of a love/hate relationship where they begin as close friends, but Tom has his trust betrayed, which leads to a spiralling downfall. Eventually, they settle their disputes and once again mend their friendly bond. The soundtrack has some energy and excitation, which compliments the overall quality of the film, especially the main songs from legendary artists/bands Robert Palmer and The Beach Boys.

My final thought for this picture is if you're in the mood for a good midday movie with some good points and real lighthearted 80s music. Then, this is a solid picture for you.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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