Deal of the Century (1983)

Deal of the Century Poster

Arms dealers from several companies vie to sell the most expensive and highest tech weapons to a South American dictator. There are complications; understanding the exact nature of how 'gifts' are used to grease the wheels of a sale, a religious conversion from one of the salesman and a romance that begins to grow between two competitors.

Title: Deal of the Century (1983)

Director: William Friedkin

Genre: Comedy

Summary:.

"Deal of the Century" is a satirical comedy film released in 1983. This William Friedkin-directed project draws laughs while analyzing the immorality common within the international arms market.

Main Characters:.

The movie follows the exploits of arms dealer Eddie Muntz, played by Chevy Chase, who focuses on offering weapons to Third World nations. Apart from him, the other main characters are Ray Kasternak, represented by Sigourney Weaver, whose hubby is an aerospace engineer for Luckup Corporation, and Harold DeVoto (Gregory Hines), Eddie's company partner and buddy.

Plot:.

After the accidental death of a Luckup's demo pilot while showing a brand-new fighter jet, Eddie sees a chance. Eager to clinch a "deal of the century", he steps in to promote the deadly device to a South American General called Cordosa, wanting to fill his pocket.

Concurrently, Harold ends up being disillusioned with their kind of work, especially after an unsuccessful offer results in a town being accidentally bombed. He chooses to leave the business, much to Eddie's discouragement. To aggravate matters, Ray presents herself as a hindrance to Eddie's plan as she seeks to stop the sale of the lethal Peacemaker jet, holding it responsible for her other half's death.

Antagonistic Corporate Culture:.

Friedkin explores the characteristics of a morally grey industrial world through the comedic lens. The film represents the ruthless sales techniques of the arms dealers, the unconfined corporate greed, and how they are conflated with nationwide security interests. Luckup Corporation's CEO, Mrs. Sokolow is portrayed as a callous character who prioritizes profits over security and ethical factors to consider.

Ending:.

Harold rejoins Eddie after an attempt on his life. With Harold back, the duo handles to expose Luckup Corporation's immoral activities. Nevertheless, it is too late to prevent the sale of the Peacemaker jet, which stops working to work during the demonstartion, blowing up and killing General Cordosa and his officers.

The film concludes with an ironic twist revealing Eddie and Harold selling leftover aircraft parts to another possible purchaser-- the competing country of the formerly planned client.

Reception:.

"Deal of the Century" got combined reviews. Its dark humor and satirical representation of the arms market intrigued some viewers, but it was slammed for its irregular tone and lack of strong characterization. The performances of Chase and Weaver were usually viewed as qualified however unable to salvage the less effective aspects of the movie.

Conclusion:.

In general, "Deal of the Century" is a non-traditional satirical funny that shines a light on the world of arms dealing. While the movie stumbles in locations, its core facility, satirizing the casual immorality of the arms industry, stands out as a strong storytelling choice.

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