Deal of the Century (1983)

Eddie Muntz is a pervasive black market arms dealer who after a missed sale, meets a fellow salesman Harold in the same field for the US Luckup Corporation while in South America. After he commits suicide with the stress of waiting by the phone for the government dictator to ring him back to complete the deal. Eddie answers and takes over the deal which involves a new high-tech, non-pilot plane known as the Peacemaker. Soon enough everybody wants to get on this multi-million dollar deal. Eddie's work pal Ray has found god, and he's doing his best trying to keep him on the job and Harold's icy widow Catherine wants her share of the prize.William Friedkin's "Deal Of the Century" is somewhere in between a black comedy and frank pot-shot on the international arms trade. It never distinguishes itself either way, but I think that's the point. Especially how nervously bizarre this turns out to be. I certainly enjoyed this misunderstood satirical item on an interestingly flavorers topic and the sardonically dark humour was neat treat to the senses. Those looking for a laugh-out-loud affair will only get humour that's rather broadly downbeat in tone, despite how over-blown they turn out to be. While, it didn't constantly make me laugh, it got some grimaces out of me. It can feel like a Chevy Chase vehicle most of the time, as the rest of the cast do pale in comparison. That's not their fault, because their characters don't have the material to lift them out of Chase's shadow. Chase is one of my favourite iconic 80's comedians and he immediately fits the role with his causally dry and quick-witted personality. Sigourney Weaver is there to look good in her steely firebrand performance and Gregory Hines doesn't look too interested throughout. There's a short comic performance by Wallace Shawn too.The freshly ammo-packed story by Paul Bickerman is complicatedly knotty and obvious with its attacks. Creeping in were oddball situations and a surrealistic air on the worrying subject at hand. The snappy script works up a creative novelty, smearing it with sneering gags, spicy irony and that of Chase's slyly gruff voice-over narration to string scenes together. Super weapons to ensure peace, nicely put. As for William Friedkin's direction, well at first I didn't even know that this was on his resume. His style is extremely random and kinetic in just what's going to happen, but this unfocused mark goes on to morph its way into the premise. The interestingly high octane climax springs to mind. The production does look cheap, but the sweeping musical score creates the right vibe and there's strikingly framed camera-work. Explosions make there way in and the effects for the plane look rather hokey when its up in the air, but decent enough when on the ground.While, I don't see too much love for this offering. It isn't significantly great and it can be clumsy, but I don't see it as a piece of absurd garbage that it's made out to be. Simply a delightful, if farcical romp that kept me highly entertained.

What were they thinking?! Is this movie a comedy or is it a drama? It looks like it's a comedy--especially in regard to how they marketed the film. The only problem is, it just isn't funny. If it's a drama, there was no tension and the underlying message appears muddled. So, regardless of the intent, it fails on both levels. As a result, it is uninteresting and dull beyond belief. No, now that I think about it, it's VERY easy to believe that this movie is unappealing. So many ex-SNL people (especially the original cast) did MANY totally unfunny movies. Neighbors, Nothing But Trouble, 1941, Dr. Detroit and Funny Farm stand out as prime examples of this curse.Part of my disliking this movie so much may be because I just haven't enjoyed any of the Chevy Chase movies I've seen, whereas many of my extended family members think he is brilliant. However, even they hated this movie and found it annoying, so that says something.

OK, here's an all-too-familiar story. Following the end of the US-back Shah in Iran, Iraq and Iran subsequently became embroiled in a pointless war. The US, mindful of Iraqi business, supported them for the first few years, but then sold weapons to Iran to counter Iraq's growing success. Profits from these sales went to the Contras in Nicaragua, thus the Iran-Contra scandal begins. After the Iran-Iraq war ends, the US pays Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to combat the Iraqi threat. Here we are today...draw your own conclusions.What a story! Think of the possibilities if some competent screenwriter could make a film adaptation. Alas, this movie isn't anywhere near as engaging. It's Mel Brooks material like 'High Anxiety', any cheap shot that can be taken is taken. What Kubrick had in 'Strangelove', above all else, was research. This is as well-researched into its topic as the 'Left Behind' material or a made-for-tv movie.I don't like Chevy Chase, his method of humor is both unsophisticated and dated even for the 80s. All his expression is in his eyebrows while his voice remains the same.Friedkin hasn't had the best track record. He doesn't keep up with the times, thus he loses his edge.Final Analysis = = Cinematic Dud

The overall plot of this movie is weak however there are A LOT of memorable scenes. These scenes make me watch this movie a couple times a year. This movie has a similar tone to Caddyshack, Head Office, Fletch, etc. I think it's one of Chevy's better performances. His narration in the movie helps add to the overall comical tone.If you are at all a Chevy Chase fan and enjoy his older work (Caddyshack, Fletch, etc.) this is definitely worth renting.