Betrayed (1988)

I was going to rate this movie a 6, but at the last minute gave it an 8 instead, because I saw it for the first time on cable a week ago, and I can't stop thinking about it.there are definitely "plot holes you could drive a truck through," as they say. the biggest one is something other reviewers have noted. Debra Winger's character Katie/Cathy is forced to go back and continue her undercover work (pun intended) several times, even though there's PLENTY of information to convict all of these people on multiple charges many times over. I guess it's good to know the FBI is so scrupulous about the "righteousness of their busts" but seriously...!other people have mentioned the "night hunt" scene. I watch a lot of movies, horror movies especially, but I have to say that this was one of the only times I've ever literally watched a scene with my jaw hanging open. I got the impression that the crimes were supposed to "ramp up" somehow throughout the movie and get more and more serious, but the hunt scene was far more awful than anything that came after.the movie is beautifully filmed. one scene in particular caught my eye: it's early in the courtship of Gary and Katie, and they've just come back into his house through the front door, which is still open. they stand facing each other, the farmland beyond framed by the door, and the trees all blowing in the wind. I finally figured out that it reminded me of that great (and very windy) scene in "The Quiet Man" and borrowed by "ET" with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. I do not know if that was deliberate on the part of the filmmaker, but it was really pretty either way.

After the brutal gun-down of a radio disc jockey, an FBI agent goes undercover in the search of white supremacists planning something big. But things get complicated when she falls in love with her target along with his children. A well meaning, if humid political drama, but it comes across rather heavy-handed and convoluted in its message making it far from entertaining to watch. Interesting, but only in parts and there's a real bitter tone evident. However profound, multi-facet performances by leads Debra Winger and Tom Berenger with a capable support cast; John Heard, Betsy Blair and John Mahoney keep it grounded. After a simple set-up, it show its dark underbelly and truthfully embraces it as our protagonist thinks she knows the man, but isn't really prepared and finds herself right in the deep end. The outrageous climax is baffling and some moments seem to lull during the family interactions, but these sequences are important to building character and illustrating the unnerving nature of racism (like the camp-out scenes)."Whose side are you on?"

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.

In Chicago, the host of a controversial radio talk show Sam Kraus (Richard Libertini) is assassinated in the garage of his building by the terrorist group Z.O.G. – "Zionist Occupied Government. FBI agent Catherine Phillips (Debra Winger) is assigned to work undercover in a rural area to investigate the prime suspect Gary Simmons (Tom Berenger) using the identity of Katie Weaver. Katie meets the family man and widower Gary, his mother, his son and his daughter, and she believes he is innocent and they fall in love for each other. Gary trusts on Katie, proposes her and discloses the truth about his separatists and bigot friends and himself to her. Katie lives a dilemma and asks her superior Mike Carnes (John Heard) to be taken off the case because of her feelings. Mike insists and Katie is divided by her love and her duty, leading to a tragic consequence.The thriller "Betrayed" is still impressive nineteen years after its release. The story is ahead of time, showing terrorism inside North America thirteen years before the tragic September 11th. In 1988, Iraq was allied of United States of America and Iran was the enemy. Sam Kraus foresees in his show that in the future Iran would be allied of USA. Director Costa-Gravas disclose a story with drama, romance, thriller and action through two needy characters: the agent Catherine Phillips is orphan, lives alone, and when she meets the family of her suspect she can not believe that he is a criminal. Gary Simmons is a honest man, disclosing his world to his beloved mate. This conflict of emotions and feelings leads to a sad and pessimist conclusion. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Atraiçoados" ("Betrayed")