Betrayed

Noted political filmmaker Costa-Gavras (Z, Missing) has enlisted a top-notch cast-Debra Winger, Tom Berenger, John Heard-only to squander their talents on a confused and confusing tale of racism and conspiracy. Winger delivers an exceptional performance as Cathy Weaver, an FBI agent who is investigating Gary Simmons (Tom Berenger) in the murder of an outspoken radio talk-show personality. As Weaver, the lone outsider, is attracted by the small-town mom-and-apple-pie life of the Simmons' family, she dismisses the possibility that Gary is a killer ...until he takes her on a hunting trip one night-and she discovers that the prey is a black man. Cathy Weaver wants out of the assignment; her boss (coolly played by John Heard) insists that she's the FBI's only hope. As Weaver returns to the job, and learns more about this racist redneck group in the sticks, viewer credibility undergoes some serious strain. We are asked to believe that 1) a backwoods bunch of bozos, who don't really have much more than a brain and a half between the lot of them, are 2) being funded by over a thousand major figures in business, government, and entertainment to 3) overthrow a conspiracy by Jewish bankers backed by black muscle to take over America. What's really unfortunate is that the performances are very good, and some of the questions raised by the film truly thought-provoking. With its discomfiting theme, suggested violence, and liberal use of derogatory slang, Betrayed will certainly be a controversial video. One wishes that it were a better one. Recommended for larger fiction collections, with the above reservations. (Available from most large distributors.) (R.Pitman)[Blu-ray Review—May 3, 2016—Olive, 127 min., R, Blu-ray: $29.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1988's Betrayed features a fine transfer and PCM stereo soundtrack, but no extras. Bottom line: an uneven film with a fine cast makes a stripped-down debut on Blu-ray.]