On B List of Movie Reviews
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Betrayed (1988)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
8/15, 1/25
8/15:
At least, Joe Eszterhas manages to keep the story calm in Betrayed.
Picking up where the trail left off from Talk Radio, it's an okay picture
about a fringe terrorist group of right-wing gun nuts who want to keep America as Christian and white
as possible.
The description may sound funny, but it's true. Although the concept is interesting from the get-go, the novelty
slowly wears off. Trying my best to stay with the plot, I kept looking at the timer only to realize there was
an hour to go and sighed afterwards. Nothing much happens as I wait for the predictable showdown. Finally, it
comes, but the ending turns out to be weak.
Tom Berenger, who could've been voted the Sexiest Man Alive in 1988, is perfect for the role. So is Debra Winger.
Yet they're emotionally limited. Hence, I've lost interest in their characters. Plus, Catherine's act of wanting
to quit from time to time wears thin. What I hate the most is the unnecessary romance subplot with
Michael. It takes too much tension away from her tug-of-war between love and hate for Gary. Why can't Joe
Eszterhas keep their relationship strictly professional?
Also, the idea of the FBI agents forcing Catherine to keep going with her undercover work in order to find
evidence is bizarre. Obviously, they should've set up shop nearby for surveillance work and plant agents around
the town to gather intel or witness events before filing charges for terrorism. It doesn't have to happen in
the eyes of law because conspiracy is enough for lifetime imprisonment under RICO. So, no...I'm not buying
Michael's story.
All in all, despite having most of the right elements in place, Betrayed needs more refinement.
1/25:
Raising my rating from '6' to '7', Betrayed looks better this time.
Director Costa-Gavras is known for making political films, starting with Z.
The subject of white supremacy militant groups in rural towns proved to be alluring for him, so he decided to
capitalize on what happened to Alan Berg, the subject of Talk Radio,
and merged it with the story of The Order led by Robert Mathews.
Tom Berenger may be the show as Gary Simmons, a totally normal-looking handsome family man with a messed-up
mind, but all the credit goes to Debra Winger for making the film suspenseful. While watching it, I
thought, "How is she going to get out of the situation?" At any rate, it's probably the most realistic
portrayal of what special agents deal with while undercover.
What bothers me the most is the idea of Katie as the only female going on these small and big missions with
Gary Simmons. Why her? How come the others aren't doing it, too? Will it be easier not to involve Katie by
telling her to stay home and take care of the kids in order to be ignorant of Gary's double life? The other problem
is the final five minutes. There's no point in it, and the show should've ended promptly after Catherine left
the room.
All in all, Betrayed is a well-made movie despite the several far-fetched elements.