REVIEW: Traitor

Starring Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Saïd Taghmaoui
Released by Overture Films.


At first, I didn't know what to expect. Going into this film, I had heard relatively nothing about it (due to my relative deprivation of most nationalized media for the past two weeks), and all I knew was that Don Cheadle, who I loved in Hotel Rwanda, was starring (thanks, IMDb). In any case, I had free movie tickets and thought it would be worth the trip. Oh, what an understatement.
The movie begins with in the heart of Africa in the late 70's. It's a peaceful scene, but that's short lived, as about three and a half minutes in, a car bomb kills Samir Horn's father and the rest of the movie the pace doesn't slow down until the final fleeting moments. Horn (Cheadle) is an ex-army staff sargeant closely tied with major terrorist organizations, responsible for trafficking explosives and supplying homemade detonators and do-it-yourself matryr kits to would-be jihadists and radical terrorists. He's also a devout Muslim, creating tension throughout the film as we see inside his character from the outside. From there a web of chases and espionage meld with thrilling suspense and some surprising twists.
It's gripping, intense, and definitely maintains the edge-of-your-seat feeling throughout most of the film. The cinematography is top-notch, especially during the most suspenseful scenes. All the photography, the lighting, the intelligent play of light and shadow, all meld into a surprisingly gripping experience. The acting is top-notch, with believable characters with motives you'll actually believe. Cheadle's performance is angsty and driven, and his performance (and the movie as a whole) ponder the nature of any sort of devoted cause. When is it that the means cease to justify the ends?
Unfortunately, although the movie is chock-full of strong action and gripping suspense, it does tend to drag on, especially when some of the twists aren't particularly difficult to predict. This isn't to say, however, that all the twists are predictable--just some, but knowing them seems to drag out the slow segments in between. The movie sometimes falls into typical espionage thriller patterns, but luckily the overarching theme saves it from completely falling into that trench.
Overall, Cheadle's powerful performance and Guy Pearce's white knight (with a few dark spots) allow the viewer to stay engrossed for the entire film, and the action and suspense are enough to keep everyone waiting for the next scene. It's well written and well acted, but just a smidgeon too long and predictable.

Verdict: A-