Customer Reviews

Betrayed

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I am so glad that Leonard Malton's poor review didn't keep me from purchasing this movie. I loved it. It will keep you on the edge of your seat at all times. Although the subject matter is a difficult one, it is something that exists and I thought the movie did a good job of telling the story of a female FBI agent (Debra Winger) who infiltrates a white supremacist group to investigate a murder. It's too bad this movie didn't get better reviews by the critics. I found it to be better than most ! Excellent acting and directing, well worth it !

A truly underrated film concerning white supremacy. Winger plays an FBI agent sent to investigate Berenger's character and find out if he had anything to do with a radio talkshow host getting killed. Costa-Gavras's political opinions shine here but the drama is also powerful. Winger has a real dilemma when she doesn't only fall for Berenger, but also his two children. I recommend this film, has good performances all around. Berenger himself has said that this is his favourite film.

Another 5 star vote for this film, and well deserved it is.

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. (John Mahoney is especially excellent, in a chilling but affable way.)

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.

Great film score by Bill Conti--understated at times, but effective. All-in-all, a fantastic film. A must-see.

Let me first say I'm truly shocked that anyone ever made a film this raw in 1988 or any year.

The plot: After the murder of a Jewish radio host in Chicago, FBI agent, Katy (Debra Winger) goes undercover with farmers to seduce widower and father of two, Gary (Tom Beringer). Katy forms a close bond with Gary and his family and even moves in with him. Gary is a suspect in the murder and Katy is trying to learn more about Gary's KKK terrorist group and their plan for future attacks.

The title suggests this is the classic story of love vs. duty. Katy loves Gary but she is bound by duty to take him down.

However this film is so much more. As some have already noted this is based on a true story of "The Brotherhood". A Nazi terrorist group that based itself on `The Turner Diaries' and indeed murdered a Jewish radio host and committed a high profile armored car robbery taking a record amount of money (which the FBI never recovered). The film is faithful even to their choice of firearms, Ingram Mac-10s which each member carries.

`Betrayed' accurately depicts a family trip to a Klan rally where the children shoot at paper targets of black and Jew cartoons. This Klan camp is based on Elohim City, a Nazi training camp. (The same one Timothy McVeigh was later to attend.)

They also refer to America as ZOG. Zionist Occupational Government.

`Betrayed' is smart to make no real political statement. They tell the story, we decide.

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.

Surprisingly a film this smart was written by Joe Eszterhas. I'm amazed Eszterhas could form complete sentences but he really did his homework in accurately depicting RAHOWA.

It is an absolute pleasure to see how highly rated this film is. When it was first released, "Betrayed" received strongly mixed reviews -- everyone praised the sterling performances but most critics found this story of white supremacists planning on starting a guerrila warfare against the U.S. government wildly implausible. Oh, how little they knew! Here we are, after Oklahoma City and Ruby Ridge, truly evaluating this film for its prophetic theme. Don't miss this one, folks. It's brilliant.

This is an incredibly memorable film about white supremicists that explores racism in it's most extreme form. Debra Winger is an undercover agent who infiltrates a community of seemingly innocent hard working farmers but as the film progresses the hatred and evil lurking beneath the surface becomes more and more evident. Shocking at times and realistically written and acted, this is a thought provoking and disturbing movie that deserves more attention than it has received. Not one you will soon forget.

This was one of those mythological films that I speak so highly of in other reviews. This was a gem hidden in the darkness. Looking at the cover, you would never guess that this would be such a powerhouse of a film, but let me be the first to say that it was.

Berenger and Winger are amazing in their roles. Winger giving the best performance that I have ever seen her do, while Berenger takes a character riddled with evil and makes him human. When I first began this film, I was expecting a very true Hollywood production. One that would be dark at first, but all of the sudden create this happy world at the end. This film did nothing close to that. What was amazing about this film was that it let the audience make it's own decisions. Not much was handed to you on a silver platter.

Upon the first ten minutes of this film, you would probably assume that it was a love story. It is anything BUT a love story. It is a crime/thriller/drama film, and quite possibly one of the strongest that I have seen in some time. There are some scenes in this film that I couldn't believe I was watching. The sheer brilliance of the director left me wondering if this film was really made in 1988. The cinematography was outstanding. There is one scene that stands out the most in my mind. After Berenger tries to "put down" his dying horse, he can't pull himself to shoot a living creature, so he has his side-kick do it. After it is done, he runs out into the rain behind Berenger wrapped in a plastic tarp. The image here is of the devil riding close behind. It is so vivid and so beautifully done that you can't help to wonder what that may represent. There are a couple of scenes very similar to this as well.

Now, this isn't a film without some small flaws. The young girl was annoying. Perhaps I find young children in these types of films always to be annoying, but in this case it was especially bad. Also, there were some dopey scenes to this film. There were some parts that I felt I was the director of the film watching some bad lines happen between Berenger and Winger ... but it was only a couple.

Betrayed ends like an open-ended question. It tells you that justice has been served, but not eliminated. It does not paint a pretty picture of our society. Be prepared if you see this for some embarrassing, yet disturbing images of ethnic hatred in this film. Some scenes that you will not believe ever happens in our country, but in the back of your mind you know certain evils do exist. But then also be prepared to see John Mahoney (of Say Anything... fame) do his best work ever. The war took his son, the bank took his land, why shouldn't he fight in this battle of supremacy? Dark and impressive ... WOW, I am lucky to have found this one.

Grade: ***** out of *****

Great movie with 2 very good actors; Tom Behringer and Debra Winger. Debra Winger plays an undercover FBI agent and her job is to check out Behringer suspected of KKK involvement. Winger gets romantically involved with Behringer and at first goes into denial that he is in fact involved in KKK activity but soon finds out that he is. A good watch and I give this movie 5 stars. Definitely worth the watch.

This is a great movie!I love it,its full of action and suspense.You never know whats going to happen next,at first you think its a love story and then everything starts to come out.I would watch Betrayed all the time yrs ago when I had the vhs tape but it was stolen and I've been looking for it and finally found it here on Amazon and had to buy it.This movie stuck in my head,thats how great it is,it is my favorite movie of all time.

This is a really good movie. Yes, unpleasant subject, but it's a reality and it's done well. Love the Katie character's increasing discomfort as her loyalties between her lover (and his family) and the FBI get harder and harder to keep "black and white."

Tom Berenger is a VERY sexy man and no less so here. He even remains somewhat likable while doing dreadful things and often acts like an ass...a sign of acting well done. He's no Marlon Brando, but he's good. I wish the sex scene had been...sexier.

The scene where he finds out she is with the FBI...the look on his face...how sad he clearly is...YIKES. Good stuff. This isn't perfect but it's totally worth a watch. There's lots of betrayals here, on many levels.