Raw Deal (1986 film)

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Raw Deal

Directed by	John Irvin
Produced by	Martha Schumacher
Written by	Luciano Vincenzoni (story) & Sergio Donati (story) Gary DeVore (screenplay) & Norman Wexler (screenplay)
Starring	Arnold Schwarzenegger Kathryn Harrold Darren McGavin Sam Wanamaker Paul Shenar Steven Hill Ed Lauter
Music by	Tom Bähler Chris Boardman Albhy Galuten Claude Gaudette (theme "Kaminski Stomps")
Cinematography	Alex Thomson
Editing by	Anne V. Coates
Distributed by	De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)
Release date(s)	June 6, 1986
Running time	97 min.
Language	English
Budget	Unknown
IMDb profile

Raw Deal is an action film, released on Friday, June 6, 1986, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. It's the story of an FBI agent who wants to get revenge against a mafia organization, and sends a former FBI agent (now small-town sherriff) played by Schwarzenegger to destroy the organization from the inside.

Tagline: The system gave him a raw deal. Nobody gives him a raw deal.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The film opens with a mob hit of an Italian informer, who was hiding in a remote cabin in the woods. One of the FBI people protecting the informant who was also killed is Blair Shannon, son of FBI Chief Harry Shannon (Darren McGavin). The film then follows small-town sherrif Mark Kaminsky (Schwarzenegger), who goes home to a wife who is angry at what their lives have come to. Mark once worked for the FBI, but ten years ago when he beat a suspect who raped and murdered a girl, he was forced out by Baxter, who is now heading up a committee looking into the dealings of mobster Luigi Patrovita (Sam Wanamaker).

Harry calls Mark in on a secret assignment, to inflitrate Patrovita's organization 'and tear it up'. Harry wants revenge for the death of his son, and can't do anything officially. He dangles the prospect of being re-instated with the FBI to Mark, who agrees (deadpanning "Do you think I'd still pass the physical?"). Mark fakes his own death, then poses as Joseph "Joey" P. Brenner, getting an audience with Patrovita's right hand man Rocca. 'Joey' manages to convince his worth by harassing Martin Lamanski, a fellow mob boss who is trying to move in on Patrovita's action. He also makes the acquaintance of Monique, a woman who works for Rocca's lieutenant Max Keller (Robert Davi).

Mark continues to work his way into the good graces of the Patrovita family, but Max isn't convinced that 'Joey' is all he says he is. Max eventually manages to find his proof (showing 'Joey's' photo to a police informant who arrested the real Joey in the past), and tasks Mark on a special assignment. It is around this time that the 'leak' the FBI has been looking for (who was also responsible for the deaths at the beginning of the movie) is revealed as none other than Baxter, who is forced to stay close to Patrovita. Mark goes with Max to a cemetery for the job, but finds out that the target is Harry. Mark and Harry manage to kill Max and the other hitman who came along, but not without Harry being shot himself.

Mark escapes, thanks to Monique (who has grown fond of Mark). He then suits up, gatheres a bunch of weapons and raids one of Patrovita's mining fields, eventually killing everyone and walking off with the cash left behind. He hands the cash to Monique and gets her on a plane, then sets off to Patrovita's casino (hidden in a basement level of a high class hotel). There he single-handedly kills Patrovita and all of his men, including Rocca. On his way out, he encounters a whimpering Baxter, and offers him a gun with the same line Baxter used on Mark: "Resign, or be prosecuted. Any way you want it." Mark starts to walk off, then turns and shoots Baxter when Baxter attempts to shoot him.

The coda shows Mark in a hospital with Harry, who was crippled as a result of the gunshot wound to his back. Mark is now back at the FBI and with his wife, and his wife is now pregnant. Mark wants Harry to be godfather to the child, but only if Harry will attempt to walk. Harry makes a strong effort, and eventually manages to walk a few feet on his own, embraced by a smiling Mark.