"Raw deal" is a rather forgotten movie in Arnold's movie career. It's not strange , when you compare it to the hits like "Conan The Barbarian" , "Terminator" or "Predator ". Even lesser movies like "The Running man" and "Commando" easily overshadow this flick. However , it doesn't mean that you can have some fun with this flick.
Arnold Schwarzenegger only agreed to star in this picture after much haggling in exchange for dissolving his multi-picture agreement with Dino De Laurentiis. He had one picture left with the producer and was actually very interested in doing "Total recall" , but De Laurentiis objected, so "Raw deal " was made instead (Thankfully we still got "Total recall" made few years later).
The budget probably was rather low , because the production values are rather poor. "RD" looks more like one of those Cannon/Golan-Globus production than a Schwarzenegger movie. The editing is pretty bad.
The other problem is that the movie has some identity crisis. The basic plot premise ( cop goes undercover) begs for a serious tone , depth and complex story. None of which appears here. So , it's no "Donnie Brasco" or "License to kill" . Arnold looks like he is trapped in a cop thriller that would suit better Chuck Norris or Rutger Hauer. He seems wasted here. The plot is a mess with plot holes , unnecessary filler scenes and action scenes that seem out of place. Oh and the ending is one of the cheesiest in action movie history.
The action is strangely uninspired . Action scenes appear without any real rhyme or reason. They aren't also anything special with the exception of ending. At the end of the movie we have 20 minutes long bullet fest that obviously wants to imitate the climax of "Commando". While not exactly well staged and edited it's fun to watch (for all the right and wrong reasons).
Arnold is obviously lacking in acting skills. He learned how to give good low key performances with "Predator", but before that he was very bad at acting. Here he is horrendous in dramatic scenes . In his defence his one liners are often pure gold ("You should not drink and bake").The supporting cast (Robert Davi , Kathryn Harrold , Darren McGavin) is pretty good.
The rock music is fun and the use of Rolling Stones "Satisfaction" was brilliant. The pacing by director John Irvin ("Dogs of war") is not bad .
I give it 4/10. "Raw deal" its not Arnold's worst movie from the 80's ("Conan The Destroyer" and "Red Sonja" anyone ?) and is not his worst movie overall. Any Schwarzenegger completist will want to have it, and will probably find much to enjoy. Even if it's pretty forgettable movie overall.
Arnold Schwarzenegger only agreed to star in this picture after much haggling in exchange for dissolving his multi-picture agreement with Dino De Laurentiis. He had one picture left with the producer and was actually very interested in doing "Total recall" , but De Laurentiis objected, so "Raw deal " was made instead (Thankfully we still got "Total recall" made few years later).
The budget probably was rather low , because the production values are rather poor. "RD" looks more like one of those Cannon/Golan-Globus production than a Schwarzenegger movie. The editing is pretty bad.
The other problem is that the movie has some identity crisis. The basic plot premise ( cop goes undercover) begs for a serious tone , depth and complex story. None of which appears here. So , it's no "Donnie Brasco" or "License to kill" . Arnold looks like he is trapped in a cop thriller that would suit better Chuck Norris or Rutger Hauer. He seems wasted here. The plot is a mess with plot holes , unnecessary filler scenes and action scenes that seem out of place. Oh and the ending is one of the cheesiest in action movie history.
The action is strangely uninspired . Action scenes appear without any real rhyme or reason. They aren't also anything special with the exception of ending. At the end of the movie we have 20 minutes long bullet fest that obviously wants to imitate the climax of "Commando". While not exactly well staged and edited it's fun to watch (for all the right and wrong reasons).
Arnold is obviously lacking in acting skills. He learned how to give good low key performances with "Predator", but before that he was very bad at acting. Here he is horrendous in dramatic scenes . In his defence his one liners are often pure gold ("You should not drink and bake").The supporting cast (Robert Davi , Kathryn Harrold , Darren McGavin) is pretty good.
The rock music is fun and the use of Rolling Stones "Satisfaction" was brilliant. The pacing by director John Irvin ("Dogs of war") is not bad .
I give it 4/10. "Raw deal" its not Arnold's worst movie from the 80's ("Conan The Destroyer" and "Red Sonja" anyone ?) and is not his worst movie overall. Any Schwarzenegger completist will want to have it, and will probably find much to enjoy. Even if it's pretty forgettable movie overall.