Raw Deal (1986)

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kathryn Harrold, Sam Wanamaker, Paul Shenar, Robert Davi and Darren McGavin star in this 1986 action film. Schwarzenegger (The Terminator, Commando) plays ex-FBI agent turned small-town sheriff, Kaminsky who helps his colleague, Harry (McGavin) get revenge for his son's murder. The late, Wanamaker (Superman IV, Baby Boom) plays Chicago mobster, Patrovita who is the man behind the murder. Kaminsky infiltrates him and his gang by masquerading as a wealthy businessman. Harrold plays Monique, a woman who Kaminsky befriends, The late, Shenar (Scarface) plays Patrovita's associate, Rocca, and Davi (The Goonies, Die Hard) plays Patrovita's right-hand thug, Max. This isn't a bad 80's action flick and Schwarzenegger is great as usual. I recommend this.

Another action flick starring Arnold Scharzenegger, where he plays former FBI agent Mark Kaminsky, now a small town sheriff in North Carolina. He is enlisted by FBI Chief Harry Shannon (Darren McGavin) to help avenge his son's death by going undercover in mobster Patrovina's gang to take them down, in exchange for Kaminsky's reinstatement in the FBI. This movie title, unfortunately, says it all. This is a film that is basically all talk with very limited action, which makes the plot go at a slow pace; it almost seems the filmmakers were trying to give this flick a Godfather feel to it with its overly preachy mobster scenes. There is hardly any suspense or tense moments and even Arnold's one-liners were scarce. The acting, however, was OK and I think Arnold pulled off the best he can in this otherwise lackluster movie. Darren McGavin played a heartfelt role as the FBI Chief.Overall, not an exciting action movie and not one of the better ones starring Arnold.Grade D+

Now I've loved Arnie's films since I was a kid. I remember stumbling upon this in a bargain bin being surprised I had never heard of it. since than I've considered it one of my favourite Arnie movies and have enjoyed watching it numerous times on DVD. Everything's great about it.1. Arnies acting 2.the B list cast (Robert Davi, Sosa from Scarface)3. the cheesy dialogue and one liners4. preposterous plot 5. the background music6.Over the top awesome action (beginning and ending + gravel pit scene) It's got everything you'd expect from a film with the name "SCHWARZENEGGER" splattered across the top of the poster.It's Arnie's most underrated movie, and essential watch for fans of 80's action movies.7/10

This Arnie action flick which isn't badly acted by our man of brawn, sees him back in action, at the request of an old cop friend, FBI chief (Darren McGavin), whose son was killed by the Chicago mafia, while working undercover. A certain leak was involved. Arnie must find this SOB. So he leaves his position as small town sheriff, no one more disapproving than his wife of his current rut, who throws a chocolate cake at him with the word S..T decorated on it. Luckily Arnie ducks, then says in that block voice, "You shouldn't drink and bake". So he suits up, fakes his death, in one cool explosion scene (Arnie great, at lighting fires with his cigar) and moves to Chicago, under an assumed named, with a character, that of a bad arse. It isn't soon, before Arnie's mixing with mafia, making waves, etc. Arnie, too has his own score to settle, with a certain guy in the FBI, that led to his sacking in the bureau, and deportment, where his new occupancy, in this little town, would put you on quite a downer for a while. So it's good that we've got the revenge aspect of it to, not just for McGavin. Arnie strikes up a relationship, with a girl (Harrold-Mcgruder And Loud) of one the mob's cronies, (Davi). Davi kind of smells something fishy about this new guy from the word, "Go", where it's great to see Arnie and him square off in particular scenes, and Davi's got the classic, ugly skinned, unattractive, villainous look, that's made him shine in so many other films, whether either playing good or bad. Just when the action dies in this, it starts up again. Something's always happening. The baddies here are really bad, some of them, visually, real ugly sorts, who don't care who you have to waste, to get the job done. You should see one of them get frustrated at golf. Arnie' inserting a Rolling Stones's tape, and single handedly, taking out many bad folk, on a construction site to Jagger's "Satisfaction" with just another cool moment. It was sad though, McGavin's ill fortune, the result of a bungled shootout in a cemetery, where everything came up roses for Arnie in the end. Raw Deal is quite a smart action, if enthusiastic movie, with a lot of great scenes that are addictive, with some great sticking dialogue, from writers you'd like to have on board your project. It's and a cool opening score if I ever heard one, that warrants a few rewinds and plays, with establishing shots of our baddies, one of them Victor Argo, who went on to many other roles. Arnie, standing tall, prominent, and cool in the black jacket, delivering that line on "poetic justice" to our leak, was another highpoint Schwarzenegger moment, making him choose between resigning or being prosecuted, like he did with Arnie. The pacey country music theme after the opening shootout, where the credits come up is most unfitting.