Review: Formosa Betrayed
Posted April 13, 2010 12:31 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Set in the early ’80s, Formosa Betrayed is a political thriller that follows Chicago-based FBI agent Jake Kelly (James Van Der Beek) on an investigation into the murder of a respected Taiwanese professor. After the two suspects in the crime are spotted, they skip town back to Taiwan. Kelly is sent after them only to learn that he has no jurisdiction and, to his dismay, is there to assist the Taiwanese police. A few days in and with the help of Ming (Will Tiao), a local spy, he uncovers a plot that points to the Chinese government and Chinese mafia being responsible for the professor’s murder.
Formosa Betrayed falls somewhere between a made-for-TV movie and a feature film. It’s dreary and intense, and comes across as a wannabe history lesson at times, even using real stock footage and photos. The atmosphere works for most of it though, and I found myself engrossed during certain scenes, wanting to know more about the story, which jumps around in a non-linear fashion. I watched the film at home, and I think that helped. If I’d had to sit in a theatre for it I might not have liked it as much.
Van Der Beek has officially shed his Dawson Leery persona and is believable in the detective role. If nothing else he showed me that he should be given a part on a Law & Order or CSI type show as he really knows how to work the cop routine. The rest of the cast fails to impress, with the exception of Wendy Crewson, who plays the U.S.-Taiwan liaison Susan Kane. She’s tough and holds her own in an otherwise male-dominated picture.
If you’re looking for a passable thriller, Formosa Betrayed works, however you might want to wait to see it in the comfort of your living room to get the most out of it.
*** out of 5 stars
Rated R
Cast: James Van Der Beek, Wendy Crewson, Will Tiao
Directed by: Adam Kane
Official Site IMDb
