Red Heat

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Ron S Jul 23, 2017 Pointlessly irrational.

Abraham L Jul 6, 2017 Too similar to 48 HRS.

Finn G Jun 2, 2017 a diffent take on an arnie action film

Kylo W Feb 28, 2017 Solid odd-couple cop film with Belushi a Chicago officer and Arnold as a Soviet policeman tracking down a drug dealer who fled the Soviet Union. Lots of action, a bit of comedy and Gina Gershon in support. A nice combination. See more

Hagrid W Mar 8, 2009 Captain Ivan Danko (Arnold Schwarzenegger) of the Moscow Militia sets a trap for Viktor "Rosta" Rostavili (Ed O'Ross), a Georgian drug kingpin and crime lord. The ambush severely backfires; Viktor flees the Soviet Union and comes to the USA, after gunning down several other Moscow cops, including Danko's partner. Loudmouthed Chicago Police Department Detective-Sergeant Art Ridzik (James Belushi), investigates several local murders committed by Viktor's cartel. When Viktor is arrested in Chicago, Danko is dispatched to escort him back to Moscow to face justice in the Soviet Union. Unexpectedly, Danko and Ridzik find themselves partnered together when Viktor escapes custody, gunning down Ridzik's partner, Gallagher, in the process... Walter Hill´s "Red Heat" is a pretty entertaining but yet clichéd 80s buddy cop movie in the foundation (not far from Hill´s "48 Hrs."), but despite the fact that we have two cops that are forced to work together the intriguing part is the clash between political systems, mindsets and cultures. Danko represents the east while Ridzik represent the west and their differences add several layers to the film. The way of looking at police work is of course in the focus, but in the end both sides are quite similar to eachother. I love the pairing of a Moscow Militia Captain and a Chicago Detective and it´s a shame the production weren´t allowed to film much more in Moscow (It was the first American film given permission to shoot in Moscow's Red Square), that would´ve added even more authenticity to the film. The casting of Schwarzenegger and Belushi as the main characters works well as both handle their roles in a convincing manner and both have a solid comical timing that works well in their interactions. Schwarzenegger has as well some immortal one liners that fits the film. The lovely Gina Gershon is a bit wasted as she gets less screen time while Ed O'Ross is quite ok as "Rosta". The storyline has plot holes and it doesn´t make sense all the time, but I reckon I can be forgiving on that point. The action sequences are quite ok and Hill typical. Sometimes the editing feels not on spot, but apparently "Red Heat" was partially re-cut to be a shorter movie. Amongst the scenes which were deleted there was an entire part of the plot cut which included Viktor's wife Cat trying to help Art and other cops to set up a trap for Viktor in a park during the baseball game while he is on some deal, but it turns out that Viktor was lying to Cat and cops are left empty handed. Removal of these scenes and some others is reason why right after the hotel shootout between Danko and Cleanheads last act of the movie seems too fast paced and not really that well explained. When "Red Heat" came out in 1988 the Swedish Board of Censorship had cut everywhere in the film which ruined the experience back then, so it´s nice to see the film the way it was intended. But, when reading there´s plenty of scenes that was originally cut to make the film shorter makes me long to see a Director´s Cut on "Red Heat". Is that possible? I rank "Red Heat" as one of Schwarzenegger´s better films. See more

Draco W Dec 14, 2007 What makes this movie work as opposed to other mindless action movies of the late 80s is the sincerity of not only Arnold, but of the supporting cast. Jim Belushi could have easily played a wacky, uneducated police officer, filling out the trope of the uneducated Westerner, but his character is a tempered and dedicated detective that Belushi infuses with bemused frustration, not silliness. Of course, the fall of Communism just a year later immediately makes much of the political jabs obsolete today, but despite that, it is a good snapshot of the end of the Reagan era. See more

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