Raw Deal (1986 film)

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Raw Deal
Raw Deal movie poster
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.
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$8,500,000
Gross revenue	$16,209,459 (USA)
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.

[edit] Plot

The film opens with assassination of a mob informant, who was being hidden by the FBI in a remote wooded cabin. One of the FBI agents killed while protecting the informant was Blair Shannon, son of FBI Chief Harry Shannon (Darren McGavin). The film then follows small-town sheriff Mark Kaminsky (Schwarzenegger), who goes home to a wife (Blanche Baker) who is angry at what their lives have been reduced to. Classic Arnold one-liners begin early on in the film, as when the wife, in a drunken fit, throws a cake at Mark only to have him respond with, "you should not drink and bake."

Soon thereafter, we learn that Kaminsky once worked for the FBI, but five years before he brutally beat a suspect who molested, murdered, and mutilated a young girl. He was forced out by Baxter, who is now heading up a committee looking into the dealings of mobster Luigi Patrovita (Sam Wanamaker).

Chief Shannon calls Kaminsky in on a secret assignment of revenge, to infiltrate Patrovita's organization 'and tear it up'. Harry wants revenge for the death of his son but, he can't do anything officially. There's also a leak which gets people killed, which is why Kaminsky must go in secret. Harry dangles the prospect of Kaminsky being re-instated with the FBI to Kaminsky , who agrees (deadpanning "Do you think I'd still pass the physical?"). Kaminsky fakes his own death, then poses as Joseph P. Brenner (deadpanning once that the 'P' stands for "Pussy"), getting an audience with Patrovita's right hand man Rocca. 'Joey' manages to convince his worth by harassing Martin Lamanski, a rival mob boss who is trying to move in on Patrovita's territory. While at Rocca's underground casino, he makes the acquaintance of Monique, a woman who works for Rocca's lieutenant Max Keller (Robert Davi).

Kaminsky continues to work his way into the good graces of the Patrovita family, but Keller isn't convinced that 'Brenner' is all that he says he is. Keller eventually manages to find his proof (showing Kaminsky's photo to a police informant who arrested the real Brenner in the past), and tasks Kaminsky 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. Kaminsky accompanies Keller to a cemetery for the job, but finds out that the target is Chief Harry Shannon, which causes him to blow his cover. Kaminsky and Shannon manage to kill Keller and the other hit man who came along, but not without Shannon being shot and severely wounded.

Kaminsky escapes, assisted by Monique (who has grown fond of him). He then suits up, gathers an array of firearms and raids one of Patrovita's gravel pits, eventually killing everyone and walking off with the cash left behind. He hands the cash to Monique and gets her on a chartered plane, then sets off to Patrovita's casino, hidden in a basement level of a high class hotel. There, he single-handedly wipes out 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 earlier used on Kaminsky: "Resign, or be prosecuted. Any way you want it." Kaminsky starts to walk off, and when Baxter attempts to shoot him, Kaminsky turns and shoots Baxter in self-defense.

The coda shows Kaminsky visiting Shannon in a hospital, who was crippled as a result of the gunshot wound to his back. Kaminsky has been reinstated into the FBI and his wife is now pregnant. Kaminsky wants Shannon to be godfather to the child, but only if Shannon will attempt to walk. Shannon makes a strong effort, and eventually manages to walk a few feet on his own, embraced by a smiling Kaminsky.Even though the film was seen as a hit it only Grossed about five millon more than its budget.