The moment of the realization of betrayal is one of the most powerful scenes in fiction. For a hero to come to the conclusion that their trusted friend, lover, or advisor has been in enemy hands all along? Tough titties, man.
A great betrayal scene is one that results after a lot of buildup, emotional tension, indecision and perhaps a generous dash of black humour in a cruel twist of fate. This is a collection of my favourite betrayals in film.
Casino Royale (2006)
A newly-minted Agent 007 (Daniel Craig) is assigned to bankrupt Le Chiffre, banker and terrorist financier, in a high-stakes game of Texas Hold-Em. This being a Bond movie, the stakes are higher than 007 realizes.
Both rougher and leaner than its decades-old predecessors, the 2006 Bond reboot makes good use of the Blond Bond as a man who wastes few words and fewer actions. The high-tech gadgets and sexy hijinks are abandoned in favour of a steel-eyed, cynical look at the world.
The moment of betrayal is unexpected because you’d think that Casino Royale had run its course by the time Bond is recuperating on a beach, or the gondola, or simply in the arms of Vesper Lynd (Eva Green). But nope. The final betrayal is as heartbreaking as Bond’s terse words to M at the end of the movie.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and his father, Henry Jones Sr. (Sean Connery) search for the Holy Grail, while pursued by Nazis.
It is difficult to judge an Indiana Jones movie without considering its worth relative to its predecessors. In the grand order of things, The Last Crusade is at least equal to Raiders of the Lost Ark. Both of them are better than Temple of Doom, which is better than Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. But I digress. Chronologically, Last Crusade takes place almost directly after Raiders of the Lost Ark. It is the story of a father and son, mysterious hand-drawn maps, faith, and the cliche that the journey is worth more than the destination. It is my personal favourite of the series.
The moment of betrayal is uniquely funny and believable because of the casting of Harrison Ford and Sean Connery, who have both held the title of Sexiest Man Alive and won the American Film Institute lifetime award. Mmm.
Hot Fuzz (2007)
Sergeant Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is reassigned to a sleepy rural hamlet after his superior performance is making the rest of the London police “look bad”.
The first two thirds of this film is ultimately a setup for half an hour of callbacks, brick jokes, and ass-kicking. It is a lovely, lovely second installment in Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s Blood and Ice Cream trilogy, the first one being Shaun of the Dead. In any case, Pegg and Frost play off each other like natural-born buddy cops. It also helps that Pegg’s love interest in the film was written out and many of the lines given to Frost. This leads to a notable scene in which Butterball (Frost) offers to help Sergeant Angel “unwind”… by watching buddy cop films together.
Several red herrings and cornettos into the movie, Sergeant Angel’s betrayal by nearly everybody is assisted by an appropriately sombre black hooded robes, a graveyard, and stabbings. Full points for overwrought comedic value, and full points for symbolism.
The Assassination of a High School President (2008)
His name is Bobby Funke (Reece Thompson), and he writes for the school paper. Unfortunately he’s never actually completed an article, so the only assignment he scores is an interview with the school council president, an investigation that culminates with the discovery of piles of stolen SATs in the president’s locker. Funke becomes an instant celebrity, wins the heart of the local it-girl (Mischa Barton), and is accepted to a college summer writing program. Alas, all good things come to an end and soon he is fighting to clear his name and find the truth behind his own story.
This is possibly my favourite high school movie/mystery/noir movie. Mischa Barton and Reece Thompson were captivating, and Bruce Willis as the school principal was very intense. The interior detective monologues were excellent. Although the Eureka montage leading to the conclusion of the plot was a little thin, I enjoyed it anyways.
The moment of betrayal is bitter enough, but when it turns out that the girl you love is taking an incestuous bubble bath without you, that’s really the cherry on top of a long, hard day. So when the time comes for you to choose truth or freedom, I hope you pick the right one.
The Truman Show (1998)
Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) has unknowingly lived his whole life inside a huge dome, while his every waking and sleeping moment has been scripted, filmed, and aired for millions of viewers around the globe. But Truman has always had the nagging sensation that something is wrong, and when his attempts to leave his hometown are thwarted by bus accident, traffic jam, and nuclear meltdown, it only confirms his suspicions that something is horribly, horribly wrong.
The Truman Show is one of the most successful, beautiful applications of a high-concept idea, up there with Groundhog Day. Through a highly stylized scenario, it reveals small truths about the human condition – free will, existentialism, and reality television. Jim Carrey’s performance is simple and hopeful. It is also very funny as he edges towards the precipice of sanity, eventually threatening his “wife” with a kitchen multi-tool.
So your friends hate you, your lover cheated on you, and your neighbourhood has been trying to drive you off the deep end ever since you arrived. You can still take solace in the fact that the stars and the moon and the sun will never turn dark on you, nor will the nourishing waters of the earth attempt to drown you, right? Apparently not. Truman’s betrayal by Cristof, the show’s creator, has had thirty years in the making. But Truman takes his betrayal with an enviable grace and recovery.
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