Traitor (2008)

Director: Jeffrey Nachmanoff

Star Cast: Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Said Taghmaoui, Jeff Daniels

Running time: 114 minutes

Genre: Drama, Mystery

7.0 /10

Traitor is an old-fashioned espionage thriller. The plot is a web of complexities and suspense. It's the story of good vs. evil, govt. vs. terrorists and an individual's faith.

Samir Horn (Don Cheadle), a former U.S. Special Operations officer, is now a prime suspect of major terror activities against the United States. There is a planning of suicide attacks on US soil with the help of sleeper cells and here starts the cat and mouse game between Samir and the FBI, lead by Roy Clayton (Guy Pearce). As the film's name suggests Samir is a traitor but where actually his loyalties lie? This mystery is the whole film's story.

Storyline seems simple and familiar but is quite complex and has some interesting twists and turns, which is a plus point for it. The movie shows how terrorists intentionally misquote Kuran to brainwash their own brothers. It also exposes the politics involved. It shows that the extremists are on both sides, who are ready to sacrifice their own people. In today's world, when powerful countries are making money by supplying a huge amount of arms and ammunition, it's hard to trust/believe any side.

One of the pros of the film are its performances. Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, and Said Taghmaoui has given marvelous performances. Cheadle's exceptional acting skills made his character more interesting. Pearce is likable and charming. Taghmaoui has done an incredible job. He's very effective. These actors made the movie more enjoyable and absorbing.

The story is good but direction and presentation could have been better. I think the supporting characters should have been developed a little bit more. Action sequences aren't unique. Also, there are some unnecessary characters added to the film.

Overall, "Traitor" is a little bit violent and controversial but it is a carefully crafted thriller that never lets viewers lose their interest. The suspense of the movie remains until the very end. It offers a satisfactory ending which is expected from movies of this genre. It isn't too great but definitely a onetime watch. It's available on Amazon Prime.

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