Red Heat (1988)

Users' rating: 6.1

185 votes

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About the movie

Year

1988

Runtime

1 h 44 min

Genres

Action, Comedy, Crime, Thriller

Country

United States

Director

Walter Hill

Writers

Walter Hill, Harry Kleiner, Walter Hill

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Starring

Arnold Schwarzenegger

James Belushi

Peter Boyle

Ed O'Ross

Brion James

Main cast

Arnold Schwarzenegger Capt. Ivan Danko

James Belushi Det. Sgt. Art Ridzik

Peter Boyle Cmdr. Lou Donnelly

Ed O'Ross Viktor 'Rosta' Rostavili

Laurence Fishburne Lt. Charlie Stobbs

Gina Gershon Catherine 'Cat' Manzetti

Richard Bright Det. Sgt. Gallagher

J.W. Smith Salim

Brent Jennings Abdul Elijah

Gretchen Palmer Hooker

Pruitt Taylor Vince Night clerk

Mike Hagerty Pat Nunn

Brion James Streak

Gloria Delaney Intern

Peter Jason TV Announcer

Oleg Vidov Yuri Ogarkov

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External critics' reviews

The film is punctuated by violence, a great deal of violence, although most of it is exaggerated comic-book style instead of being truly gruesome. Walking that fine line is a speciality of Hill, who once simulated the sound of a fist on a chin by making tape recordings of Ping-Pong paddles slapping leather sofas. more

The world of his films may be violent, but Hill's vision is a delicate, subtle one-of individuals packing away the tiny bit of meaning and emotion life has granted them, and fighting to protect it at all costs. It's not a sentiment that can survive in cartoons; that it emerges at all in Red Heat is a tribute to Hill's still great talent.

Hill has gotten Schwarzenegger to give one of the best performances of his career, and Belushi too is thoroughly convincing as an action hero. RED HEAT is a welcome break from the shallow shoot-'em-ups that became the standard in the 1980s. more

Schwarzenegger, who when he dons a green suit is dubbed 'Gumby' by Belushi, is right on target with his characterization of the iron-willed soldier, and Belushi proves a quicksilver foil. more

Thanks to a fairly good script, this thriller about a Soviet cop sent to Chicago to apprehend a Soviet drug dealer is a respectable enough star vehicle. more

Red Heat is a topically entertaining variation on the sort of action-adventure nonsense that plays best on television. Mr. Hill's touch is heavy when he takes himself seriously. However, he has a real gift for instantly disposable fantasy. more

Red Heat is poorly, or even indifferently, made. It's a joyless exercise, and too much angry resignation seeps in for it to be very funny or very entertaining. more

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