RAW DEAL
US, 1986, 97 minutes, Colour.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kathryn Harold, Sam Wanamaker, Darren Mc Gavin, Paul Shenar.
Directed by John Irvin.
Raw Deal is a slambang Arnold Schwarzenegger police action thriller. It was directed by John Irvin whose films range from the tough Dogs of War and Hamburger Hill to the gentility of Turtle Diary. This is a good Schwarzenegger vehicle - although he always appears as the never self-doubting righteous police on the side of law. Sam Wanamaker and Paul Shenar are villainous Mafia types. Kathryn Harold is a woman gambler who gets caught up in the workings of the mob. The strong supporting cast includes Darren Mc Gavin, Ed Lauter and Robert Davi as the bodyguard (and soon to be the villain against Timothy Dalton in the James Bond action adventure Licence to Kill.)
1. Typical American thriller of the 80s - in the Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood, Chuck Norris tradition? An Arnold Schwarzenegger film? American society, Police and drugs?
2. The atmosphere of Chicago, the city? Authentic touches? The homes, streets, casinos? Action sequences, stunts and effects? Musical Score?
3. Schwarzenegger as Mark Kominski: sacked from his job unjustly, his being a type of vigilante for the law, the break-down of his marriage? The contact with Shannon, the plan for him to infiltrate the mob, his harassment of the opposition, offering himself as bodyguard, proving himself tough, going on missions with the thugs? The encounters with Max? The infiltration? The patronage of Patrovita, of Rocca? Jobs, being tested, the advice about the bombs against the drug runners? His being perused by the police? Trying to maintain both sides? In contact with Shannon? Shannon as intended victim, the impossibility of shooting him, turning his guns on the criminals? The one-man raid on the heroin warehouse, destroying it, destroying the drugs, going to the Casino, confrontation with Patrovita? The confrontation with Baxter and his lies about the past, killing him? The friendship with Monique, her spying on him, the proper relationship? His giving her the money and sending her away? His return to active duty, to his wife, to help Shannon walk again?
4. Patrovita as mafia boss, tough, the range of henchmen, the casino, unscrupulous? The raids, casino, Rocca and his advice? The world of drugs? Hiring Kominski? The elimination of his opposition? The final attack and his death? Rocca and the suave and smooth advice?
5. Max and the bodyguards, the henchmen, suspicions of Kominski, accepting him, Max and his relationship with Monique?
6. Baxter and his role in the law, the police, the contacts? Information to Patrovita? Being paid off? Caught at the end, wanting to be spared, attempting to shoot Kominski, his death?
7. The picture of the police, suspicions of Kominski, their pursuing him?
8. Monique, glamour, in debt, used by Patrovita, spying on Kominski, befriending him, falling in love? Being given the money and going?
9. Shannon, his job, the initial raid and his son's death, his motivation, persuading Kominskii, giving him information? His being shot in the raid, learning to walk at the end - and the male bonding with which the film finishes?
10. The picture of American crime, drug bosses, violence and weapons? Lack of scruple? The spate of films about the lone American heroes on the side of right and their rectifying the situations - violently but uprighteously?
