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Raw Deal

Raw Deal

Action · Crime · Thriller · 1986

Mark Kaminsky is kicked out of the FBI for his rough treatment of a suspect. He winds up as the sheriff of a small town in North Carolina. FBI Chief Harry Shannon, whose son has been killed by a mobster named Patrovina, enlists Kaminsky in a personal vendetta with a promise of reinstatement into the FBI if Patrovina is taken down. To accomplish this, he must go undercover and join Patrovina's gang.

Movie details

Raw Deal

“The system gave him a raw deal. Nobody gives him a raw deal.”

1986 Action · Crime · Thriller 1h 46m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

5.9 / 10

Community rating

Mark Kaminsky is kicked out of the FBI for his rough treatment of a suspect. He winds up as the sheriff of a small town in North Carolina. FBI Chief Harry Shannon, whose son has been killed by a mobster named Patrovina, enlists Kaminsky in a personal vendetta with a promise of reinstatement into the FBI if Patrovina is taken down. To accomplish this, he must go undercover and join Patrovina's gang.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Raw Deal?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Irvin

Written by

Norman Wexler · Gary DeVore · Luciano Vincenzoni · Sergio Donati

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Mark Kaminski / Joseph P. Brenner

Kathryn Harrold

Kathryn Harrold

Monique

Sam Wanamaker

Sam Wanamaker

Luigi Patrovita

Paul Shenar

Paul Shenar

Paulo Rocca

Robert Davi

Robert Davi

Max Keller

Ed Lauter

Ed Lauter

Baker

Darren McGavin

Darren McGavin

Chief Harry Shannon

Court is in session

Put Raw Deal on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.