Traitor
Review by Todd Hertz | posted 8/29/2008
 1 of 3
Traitor shows flashes of being something greater than just an average spy thriller, but doesn't quite get there. Co-stars Guy Pearce and Don Cheadle bring dynamic and believable conviction to this chase film's cat and mouse. The film attempts—and mostly succeeds—to discuss big topics about faith, war and worldview. And the filmmakers' bold decision to center a movie on a devout black Muslim creates one of modern Hollywood's most serious, nuanced, and refreshing portrayals of committed, daily faith.
However, most of this is undone by forced plot twists, head-scratching jumps in logic and a plan by the hero that would sound great in a seventh grade short story but could never work out in real life.
Don Cheadle as Samir
Whereas the film may have had hopes to be in the neighborhood of The Fugitive, The Bourne Identity or Spy Games, writing gaffes make it yet another forgettable thriller that's not nearly as fast-moving, action-intensive, or hard-hitting as the ad campaign has portrayed it. It's actually a talk-intensive drama that builds its mystery by presenting a cloudy narrative: Who is Samir Horn (Cheadle)?
We first see a young Samir in 1978 as he watches his father, a respected Islam religious figure, killed by a car bombing. Flashing to the present, Samir seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time as Yemen forces, led by FBI agent Roy Clayton (Guy Pearce), take down a terrorist cell linked to several suicide bombings. In a forced and somewhat confusing plot development, Samir's deep and devout faith attracts the attention of fundamentalist terrorist Omar (Saï
d Taghmaoui). Before Samir knows it, they're out of prison and Omar reveals a plan for a devastating attack on U.S. soil. All the while, Clayton is right on the tail of both of them.
Guy Pearce as Roy Clayton
For at least the first half, the film's intrigue and suspense is built on withholding from the viewer all the information of what's really going with Samir. He is not who he appears to be. Because of that, little more should be said plot-wise. But suffice it to say, when Traitor does starts explaining, it easily falls into predictability, story shortcuts, cheap "gotcha" twists, and typical spy movie conventions—like conference rooms full of white guys in suits arguing about who didn't tell who about what. It's also one of those movies where a government agency somehow permits only one man to be privy to very important intel. Do real governments work this way? Perhaps. But that's not why it's here. No, only one man knows the truth in Traitor because it makes screenwriting easier; it explains away how large groups of characters don't know who's the good guy and who's the bad guy.
These story flaws distract from what could have been a great study of a very interesting, complex character.
While Samir could seem like a typical "Hollywood Muslim bad guy," that's not him at all. There's far more to him than meets the eye. What is undeniably true about this character is the depth of his faith. This is a bold and respectful depiction of a devoutly religious man. When in his power, he stays true (except for a foolish and completely out-of-character climax) to his beliefs and morals. He prays throughout the movie. And he continuously reminds others that, "Life and death is for God to decide" and "I answer to God. We all do."
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