MovieChat Forums > Betrayed (1988) Discussion > Riddled with plot holes

Riddled with plot holes

posted 17 years ago by Cherry_Blossom_Tree
15 replies | jump to latest

This was a potentially promising film with a topical subject and a lot of talent on board - director Costa-Gavras and stars Debra Winger, Tom Berenger, John Heard - but Joe Eszterhas's screenplay really sabotages its chances.

Why would the FBI send such a green and unprofessional agent as Debra Winger's character on such a dangerous mission for her very first undercover assignment? How could she be so blinded by emotion to fall in love with her target on her first undercover assignment? And what do the FBI bosses do to Winger when they realize she's caught up in a right-wing conspiracy to overthrow the government? Why, they do the obvious thing, of course: deny her any backup, bully her when she tells them she's scared for her life, and after she witnesses a cold-blooded racist murder, they don't even do any forensic or ballistics work because "We'll never find the body". More than that, I found it tough to believe that Winger's character could still feel any tenderness or sexual attraction towards Berenger after finding out what a psychotic monster he was. Plus she does so many naive and foolish things, like making secret phone calls and stealing the pivotal computer printout, that it would be impossible for Berenger not to notice her deceptions sooner.

All in all, a wasted opportunity.

[–] SnoopyStyle 8 years ago

Why would the FBI send such a green and unprofessional agent as Debra Winger's character on such a dangerous mission for her very first undercover assignment?

I don't think Tom Berenger is going to fall in love with an EXPERIENCED fortysomething. It's gotta be some hot young thing.

How could she be so blinded by emotion to fall in love with her target on her first undercover assignment?

See what you asked in #1. Maybe she's also from a hick family.

And what do the FBI bosses do to Winger when they realize she's caught up in a right-wing conspiracy to overthrow the government?

They don't have the body. They already told you that local cops are their friends. She probably don't even know where she was when that kid was killed. They don't have any recordings. They need to connect him to the Jewish talk radio host. It's also pre-9/11 when prevention is not the priority. You're assuming perfect police work. Remember Fast and Furious.

Why, they do the obvious thing, of course: deny her any backup, bully her when she tells them she's scared for her life,

Backup??? You mean send her back in with a brother or something.

More than that, I found it tough to believe that Winger's character could still feel any tenderness or sexual attraction towards Berenger after finding out what a psychotic monster he was.

It's called faking it. Some girl do that.... so I've heard.

Plus she does so many naive and foolish things, like making secret phone calls and stealing the pivotal computer printout, that it would be impossible for Berenger not to notice her deceptions sooner.

Pussy can fool the best of us.

That's not to say that there are no flaws. The OP does hit on something. The big glaring error is the bank robbery. It's too big of a crime to ignore. The guy was bleeding and I'm sure some of the blood could be tracked. They should have rounded up the crew especially after discovering there is a list of names. The movie probably wanted an action scene but that went too far.

[–] Zonkzelda 8 years ago

Not to mention the moment he digits the paswword and instead of asteriks cames the real word.