Watch Deal of the Century

Deal of the Century is a 1983 American comedy film directed by William Friedkin and written by Paul Brickman. The movie stars Chevy Chase, Sigourney Weaver, and Gregory Hines. The plot revolves around two arms dealers who make a deal with the representatives of a South American dictatorship to sell them a new weaponized aircraft called the Silent Thunder.

The story begins with a billboard reading "Peace Through Superior Firepower." We then see two arms dealers, Ray Kasternak (played by Chevy Chase) and Gordon Urquhart (played by Gregory Hines), trying to sell outdated weaponry to the Air Force. They then get approached by a representative from a South American dictatorship, Ernesto Villa (played by Richard Libertini), who is interested in purchasing a new weaponized aircraft called the Silent Thunder.

The two arms dealers are at first hesitant to make the deal but eventually agree to it. They meet with Villa's representative, the beautiful and cunning Catherine DeVoto (played by Sigourney Weaver) to finalize the deal. Catherine proves to be a formidable negotiator and the two arms dealers must navigate her manipulations to secure the deal.

Throughout the film, Ray and Gordon's friendship is put to the test as they face off against Catherine and Villa's military representatives. The film features moments of physical comedy, suspense, and satire as the characters navigate the world of arms dealing.

The Silent Thunder itself is a fictional weaponized aircraft that is meant to be a game-changer in the world of warfare. It is capable of precision bombing and operates silently, making it ideal for surprise attacks.

As the plot progresses, the film takes a darker turn as Ray and Gordon learn the true intentions of Villa's regime. They realize that the Silent Thunder may be used for nefarious purposes and ultimately have to make a decision about their involvement in the deal.

The performances in the film are strong, with Chevy Chase delivering a comedic turn as the bumbling Ray, and Gregory Hines adding depth to his character as the more ethical of the two arms dealers. Sigourney Weaver is a standout as the manipulative Catherine, delivering a nuanced performance that keeps the audience guessing about her true intentions.

The film's satire of the arms dealing industry and the political climate of the early 1980s is still relevant today. The film highlights the dangers of profiting off of war and the ethical dilemmas that those involved in the industry face.

Overall, Deal of the Century is an entertaining and thought-provoking film that still holds up today. The performances are strong, the plot is engaging, and the satire is relevant. It is an often-overlooked gem of 1980s cinema.

Deal of the Century is a 1983 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.6.