“Traitor” is yet another in a series of dramatic-thrillers trying to take advantage of the current tense political climate to tell a story that will mean something to audiences. Largely overlooked in theaters when released in the late summer, this story is actually better than the standard Islamist terrorist film. Most of the credit goes to the lead actor, Don Cheadle (“Hotel Rwanda”), who gives an understated, nuanced performance as a pious man whose moral fiber is tested by his questionable allegiances. What could have been an unfathomable story without a center, is presented clearly from the perspective of Cheadle’s character to the film‘s overall benefit.
Cheadle is Samir Horn, a man who is picked up by U.S. and Yemen authorities at a meeting with Islamist extremists. He has an American passport but is trying to sell detonators to the highest bidder. Is Horn an opportunist, a mercenary, or a new recruit in the terrorist hierarchy? Imprisoned in a Yemen jail, he gets to know an important connection in a terrorist cell named Omar (Said Taghmaoui; “Vantage Point”). This connection leads to an early release and further contacts within the underground organization. Two FBI agents working with foreign authorities track Horn as he becomes implicated in bombings of U.S. interests. His motivations get foggier as the agents learn he used to be a member of the U.S. military and may still have a U.S. contact. Whose side of the war on terrorism is Horn working on?
The film humanizes Horn early on, showing him to be more than a one-dimensional character. Horn is heavily religious, has mixed feelings about what he is doing, and is sympathetic to human suffering. The writer-director doesn’t have as much success spreading the sympathy around to the extremists Horn is dealing with. A common pitfall in making these films is trying to tell both sides of the story without choosing a side. “Traitor” suffers from this problem to a lesser extent than other films. Following the FBI agents also becomes less appealing than the focus on Horn. The investigation angle is mundane and too standard to elevate this dramatic-thriller.
The film is a globe-trotting thriller that can’t match the pacing of the Jason Bourne series or its seamless integration of a character’s personal story along with a larger conspiracy. Despite the problems in “Traitor” the final thirty minutes allows most of the ambiguity to be shed as the intensity swells when a domestic terrorist plot must be foiled in the 11th hour. “Traitor” is an enjoyable enough drama with some thriller elements and a solid performance from an often underappreciated actor.
Rated PG-13 for intense violent sequences, thematic material and brief language.
