‘Betrayed' doesn't live up to pre-show hype
By Jim Kanna
Staff Reviewer
The hype was magnificent. Two
hugely famous Hollywood actors
starring in a highly controversial and
disturbing film. Extremely favorable
reviews and enticing ads urged
people to see “Betrayed,” the new
movie by Costa Gravas, who directed
the critically acclaimed “Missing”.
To say that I felt “betrayed” by the
pre-show hype is entirely too trite. So
I’ll just say I felt ripped-off. Abso
lutely, irretrievably, terribly ripped
off.
mo vip
REVIEW -
“Betrayed” stars Debra Winger as
an FBI agent who goes undercover in
the farmbell of America to find the
people who murdered a prominent
and vocal Jewish talk show host.
Authorities suspect the murder is the
doing of an extremist white suprema
cist group made up of farmers, so
Winger pretends to be a free-lance
combine driver.
One of the prime suspects isji
farmer played by Tom Berenger.
Unfortunately, Winger falls in love
with Berenger. Just when she’s about
to conclude that he’s innocent, she
learns that he and his friends partici
pate in “hunts” where a black man is
released in a forest to be hunted and
killed.
Although Winger immediately
wants to be removed from the case,
her FBI boss (played by John Heard)
insists she stay undercover until she
gets firm evidence that Berenger was
responsible for the talk show host’s
•
death (never mind about the man they
killed in the hunt).
At this point, a rather good movie
becomes rather bad.
Winger learns Berenger and his
— • - -■
group of racist friends arc united by
computer with an entire network of
white supremacist groups who intend
to overthrow the government.
It is true that several white hate
groups flourish in the Midwest. Many
of these groups are highly organized,
heavily armed and very serious in
their quest to overthrow the U.S.
government. “Betrayed,” however,
becomes muddled and uninteresting
once it begins to deal with this issue.
The relationship between Winger
and Berenger is about the only saving
grace in this movie. Both actors arc
remarkably talented and from their
twisted relationship spring the most
rewarding moments in the movie. —
The only other redeemable aspect
of the movie is also the most disturb
ing. The “hunt” scene is one of the
most harrowing sequences imagin
able. The audience was shocked into
an uncomfortable and lasting silence,
a testament to the power and effec
tiveness of the scene.
But even the power of this moment
in the film is diminished by the im
plausibilities the scene presents.
Where did they find this anonymous
black man to hunt? Doesn’t anybody
miss him? Doesn’t anyone hear the
noise created w hen 10 people shoot
ing automatic machine guns run
screaming across the countryside?
Many Nebraskans may feel some
what offended as the state gets shafted
by yet another negative portrayal.
Although it is never specifically
mentioned, the movie takes place in
Nebraska.
License plates. Big Red beer can
holders and huge FBI maps of the
state indicate that the Cornhuskei
stale is where these crazed racists in
the movie arc doing their dirty work.
Nebraska is presented as an exclu
sively farm state where brain-dead
men with Uz.i submachine guns roam
the countryside murdering blacks.
We should not be too sensitive
however. It is only a movie and there
is some truth to the images presented
Nebraskans should not backlash and
hate the movie for the minor injustice
done to the state.
Besides, there are plenty of other
reasons to dislike “Betrayed”.
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