Terrorist-themed film takes a fresh approach
Review of "Traitor"
Becky Kinder
Staff Writer
STARS: 3 out of 4
OUR VIEW: A fresh approach to what could be the same-old-story of terrorists against Americans, keeping you on the edge until the end.
SUMMARY: Sometimes the only way to stay alive is to have every side want you dead.
Published: Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Updated: Wednesday, September 17, 2008
There are some generalities - some assumptions that can be made about what a film with its strongest story line running along the vein of terrorism will be like. There are expected events and topics touched upon in "Traitor," but those do not get in the way of the tension it holds you in throughout the film. What may, on the surface, seem will be the same stories or views, is given a fresh approach.
Samir Horn (Don Cheadle), while attempting to sell explosives to an Islamic terrorist group, gets caught in a raid by local authorities and a couple of FBI agents. While imprisoned in Yemen, agents Roy Clayton (Guy Pearce) and Max Archer (Neal McDonough) begin to question Horn, digging deeper into his past as a former U.S. Army Special Forces expert in explosives as well as how his beliefs as a devout Muslim link him to terrorist bombings.
Through the friendship Horn forms with fellow captive Omar (Saïd Taghmaoui), the terrorists are able to escape prison, taking Horn with them in a belief-based bond of brotherhood. This eventually leads Horn to be linked to the bombing of an American Consulate in Nice, along with being connected to top terrorist contacts in London and other countries.
But is Horn a traitor to the United States? Leading the terrorists through planning suicide-bombings and attempts at remote bombings meant to kill as many Americans as possible without having to train yet another suicide bomber, the answer would be "yes." Clayton must capture Horn before another target is hit, unaware of the other contacts both Horn and the terrorists have in the FBI.
With unsaturated colors and a grainier focus than most Hollywood films, there is a definite surveillance quality to the film, putting the audience on the side of the FBI, the terrorists, and each country's citizens all at once. Using this style, director Jeffrey Nachmanoff places us with each group, making for an even better comment on the beliefs of those terrorists who claim to take the action they do because it is God's will, almost bringing an understanding and some sympathy, though without necessarily agreeing.
The film makes no constant attack on radical Muslims. Instead, it touches on their commonality ⎯ that they can be anybody, anywhere, and that they really believe that what they're doing is morally correct because of their religious beliefs. There is also a touch on racial profiling, tastefully added to the film rather than a leading focus.
Notable performances are abundant in this film, namely from Cheadle, Pierce and Taghmaoui. Jeff Daniels is worth mentioning in his smaller role, playing his government employee more as an every-man than the cookie-cutter character that can often be portrayed by other actors.
What seems to be one of the biggest themes of "Traitor" is approached early on in the film: when your loyalties are questioned - whether religious, friendship or brotherhood - you may say you're willing to kill, but are you willing to die?
"Traitor" is filled with faith, loyalties and friendships tested and how people can use those connections to achieve almost any goal, if played right. Choices to trade in friends for what you believe is the greater good are made; where, just as in chess, you must sometimes choose to sacrifice pawns to win the game.
Becky Kinder
Staff Writer
STARS: 3 out of 4
OUR VIEW: A fresh approach to what could be the same-old-story of terrorists against Americans, keeping you on the edge until the end.
SUMMARY: Sometimes the only way to stay alive is to have every side want you dead.
Published: Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Updated: Wednesday, September 17, 2008
There are some generalities - some assumptions that can be made about what a film with its strongest story line running along the vein of terrorism will be like. There are expected events and topics touched upon in "Traitor," but those do not get in the way of the tension it holds you in throughout the film. What may, on the surface, seem will be the same stories or views, is given a fresh approach.
Samir Horn (Don Cheadle), while attempting to sell explosives to an Islamic terrorist group, gets caught in a raid by local authorities and a couple of FBI agents. While imprisoned in Yemen, agents Roy Clayton (Guy Pearce) and Max Archer (Neal McDonough) begin to question Horn, digging deeper into his past as a former U.S. Army Special Forces expert in explosives as well as how his beliefs as a devout Muslim link him to terrorist bombings.
Through the friendship Horn forms with fellow captive Omar (Saïd Taghmaoui), the terrorists are able to escape prison, taking Horn with them in a belief-based bond of brotherhood. This eventually leads Horn to be linked to the bombing of an American Consulate in Nice, along with being connected to top terrorist contacts in London and other countries.
But is Horn a traitor to the United States? Leading the terrorists through planning suicide-bombings and attempts at remote bombings meant to kill as many Americans as possible without having to train yet another suicide bomber, the answer would be "yes." Clayton must capture Horn before another target is hit, unaware of the other contacts both Horn and the terrorists have in the FBI.
With unsaturated colors and a grainier focus than most Hollywood films, there is a definite surveillance quality to the film, putting the audience on the side of the FBI, the terrorists, and each country's citizens all at once. Using this style, director Jeffrey Nachmanoff places us with each group, making for an even better comment on the beliefs of those terrorists who claim to take the action they do because it is God's will, almost bringing an understanding and some sympathy, though without necessarily agreeing.
The film makes no constant attack on radical Muslims. Instead, it touches on their commonality ⎯ that they can be anybody, anywhere, and that they really believe that what they're doing is morally correct because of their religious beliefs. There is also a touch on racial profiling, tastefully added to the film rather than a leading focus.
Notable performances are abundant in this film, namely from Cheadle, Pierce and Taghmaoui. Jeff Daniels is worth mentioning in his smaller role, playing his government employee more as an every-man than the cookie-cutter character that can often be portrayed by other actors.
What seems to be one of the biggest themes of "Traitor" is approached early on in the film: when your loyalties are questioned - whether religious, friendship or brotherhood - you may say you're willing to kill, but are you willing to die?
"Traitor" is filled with faith, loyalties and friendships tested and how people can use those connections to achieve almost any goal, if played right. Choices to trade in friends for what you believe is the greater good are made; where, just as in chess, you must sometimes choose to sacrifice pawns to win the game.
Labels: Acting, Becky Kinder, Desperate Housewives, Don Cheadle, film, Guy Pierce, Jeff Daniels, movies, Neal McDonough, Ocean's 11, Review, Saïd Taghmaoui, Traitor
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