Betrayed (1988)

Very well executed

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The artistry in this film is evident, the plot is gripping from beginning to end. I was pleased to see so many familiar faces in the cast: Betsy Blair, (a 1955 Oscar Nominee for "Marty"), "Frasier" dad John Mahoney, John Heard, and character actor Ted Levine ("Silence of the Lambs") all are here, and all do a wonderful job.The plot unfolds slowly at first, with only faint hints of what is to come. (Actually, the less you know about this film going in, the more you will be surprised by it.) The "wholesome" farm community which seems so "normal" holds so much more--something troubling and sinister. But yet, these people still retain that "wholesome" normalness to them, even after we see what is underneath. The "normalness" never completely goes away, and in some cases, we still are actually able to sympathize with these characters, as depraved as they are. As a previous reviewer said, the "insanity of normality". "Betrayed" depicts this well. The whole cast is wonderful--Winger is compelling and convincing, as is the rest of the cast. The characterization (and acting) of Tom Berenger as the "insane/normal" Gary should be applauded particularly. All through the film his character is consistent--a man with a "normal" ability to love those close to him. Even when see how his motivations and world view are so completely warped, we see a Gary who feels deeply, loves, and wants many the "normal" things in life. These qualities do not disappear when the darker side of him is revealed, which makes his character all the more fascinating and even sympathetic at times. The "insanity of normality" is most evident in his character.The production quality of 'Betrayed ' is good with fine acting all around. Honorable mention is deserved by underrated actor John Heard who plays Katy's commander and suitor. In 1988 he was still thin.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

This disturbing movie of Costa-Gavras reminds me about the closely named episode of the X-Files (5.18) in which Mulder like Debra goes undercover to dismantle a right wing militia (and it's also the proof that this show had really incredible quality !). In a way, Costa could be the European Spielberg as the two can tell strong, political story on the level of the common people and without any propaganda. Here, the militia members are totally crazy and criminal but if most of them are really devious, a few and the kids are just lost souls. The same can be said about the law enforcers : some does a clean work but others can't see that they push the limits and that they use Debra against her will. In that way, Debra is similar to Diane in « NYPD Blue » in which undercover mission is indeed a kamikaze one.What's frightening is that this movie is from the 80s. As seen in a sequence, it was a time when Internet wasn't there. You can see that the militia is using a rudimentary network with Amiga computers to chat together and it's also a computer printout that will be the trigger of the showdown. So you can imagine what happens now in those circles ! I got an hint with « American History X » but those kind of movies are rather not the kind of drama and cop movies nowadays. At last, it's also a 80s movie as the cast has also more talent than those today and it's a bit sad that we can't see anymore Debra or Tom Berenger now.

From the mid-sixties to the early eighties, Costa-Gavras made an enviable run of movies. When he moved to Hollywood he made one last great movie, the 1982 thriller missing. Since then his work has deteriorated. Betrayed belongs to this period of deterioration.In a rare instance for Costa-Gavras, the movie is not co-written by him. Nor is it co-written by his usual screenwriters - Franco Solinas or Jorge Semprún. It's written by Joe Eszterhas, arguably one of the worst screenwriters Hollywood ever had. Betrayed is not as bad as Showgirls or Basic Instinct, however, and actually has a credible premise.Debra Winger plays Catherine Weaver, an FBI agent working undercover, whose mission is to insinuate herself in the life of Gary Simmons (Tom Berenger), a man suspected of having ties with white supremacists and possibly the murderer of a well-known and polemical talk radio host. Catherine falls in love with Gary, becomes intimate with him, is accepted in his house by his mother and children. She can't believe such a kind, noble man could be a murder.Then one night he takes her to go hunting a black man he and his friends have kidnapped for the purpose of sport. This sequence defines everything great and wrong about the movie: on the one hand, it's a chilling, disturbing sequence; on the other hand, it's ridiculous that Gary would share such a dangerous part of his life to a woman he barely knew. The viewer needs to excuse such situations many times in the movie.The title of the movie is an interesting choice and refers to the betrayal Catherine is committing: after all, she's accepted and well treated by Gary and his friends (with the exception of the psychotic Wes, played by an amazing Ted Levine). She constantly feels torn apart between her loyalties to the FBI and the love she has for Gary and his family. Debra Winger captures the emotional conflict very well.But it's Tom Berenger that steals the movie as the sweet, polite rancher who secretly organises an army and plots to overthrow the ZOG - Zionist-Occupied Government. Berenger plays Gary as a very human and even likable man. This movie deserves merit for not demonising Gary and his followers and for giving him a sound, coherent voice, even if it's fueled by hatred and twisted logic.Betrayed is never an awful movie; in fact it's quite enjoyable. But it doesn't feel like a Costa-Gavras movie. Anyone could have directed this and get the same result. And the ending is so sentimental and sweet, it seems forced, and hardly representative of the work of a man who has made bleak movies like Z, The Confession, State of Siege, Special Section or Missing.

Let's focus on the film from a different perspective.Despite the movie helps us to understand the circumstances lead to racism,it also represents "how a good racist should be". He should be a family man,should reject Neo-Nazis' ideas when they are trying to sell him guns in a camp by saying "my father fought against Nazis in WWII".thus showing a moral man Director leads to misunderstanding reluctantly with the character Gary Simmons that appears to be a good man with all his faults grew up in an environment which makes him the leader of a terrorist organization.Still, it's a drama master-piece especially with final scenes