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Capone turns TRAITOR for Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce!!
Hey all. Capone in Chicago here.
Sometimes, just watching two of the finest actors working today is enough to keep you absolutely gripped to even the most average of thrillers. So imagine what it's like to watch these same two actors in a taut, tightly scripted, and nerve-wracking piece that starts out as a white-knuckle suspense film and essentially never lets up. Although not nearly as ambitious or complex as, say, Syriana, Traitor provides a satisfying and densely packed amount of story into its two-hour length. Don Cheadle plays Samir Horn, a Yemen-born American citizen and former U.S. Special Operations officer, who has stayed faithful to his Muslim roots and become a soldier for an Islamic fundamentalist group that has carried out numerous terrorist acts around the world and is planning a major attack on the United States. Guy Pearce plays Texas-born FBI agent Roy Clayton, who leads the investigation into Horn's activities when he is captured early in the film (and then subsequently escapes).
The first thing you notice about Traitor is how scarily authentic everything feels. The levels and layers of secrecy, the simplicity of Horn's master plan of attack, the way the FBI is able to track him but still is always one or two steps behind the highly intelligent terrorist. I credit the great storytelling to writer-director Jeffrey Nachmanoff (co-writer of The Day After Tomorrow), who also gets a story credit along with Steve Martin…yes, as far as I can tell it's THAT Steve Martin. I'd say 75 percent of this film is talking and preparation. It's actually pretty refreshing to watch a film about terrorism that doesn't use its action sequences as a crutch. There are a few tasty chase scenes, gunfights, and explosions, but they are all used in moderation to give them more weight and significance. Samir is also given plenty of screen time to explain his motivations for turning on America. You may not agree with his reasons, but I like that the movie took the time to hear him out. What is just as interesting as Samir's stealthy and seemingly error-free behaviors are the few instances when he does make mistakes and why. There's a lot more going on in this story than a simple cat-and-mouse game. And what is Samir's relationship with a U.S. investigator played by Jeff Daniels?
And then there's the completely reliable Pearce, who has never given a bad performance in his entire career, as far as I'm concerned (the same can be said for Cheadle). Clayton's drive and personality are given just as much examination as Samir's, and it's such a rare treat to watch these two great actors bite into great material like this, despite the fact that they are only on screen together a couple of times. Neal McDonough plays Clayton's more aggressive and emotional partner Max. Rounding out the essential supporting cast is Said Taghmaoui (recently seen in Vantage Point) as Samir's "sponsor" Omar, who acts as his entry point onto the highest rungs in the terrorist organization.
I have to give Cheadle credit for playing a character that, on the surface, no one in the audience is really meant to like. But since it's Don Cheadle and we as American moviegoers like explosions, we're almost rooting for him to succeed with his plan of blowing up 50 fully loaded buses all over the country at the exact same time. It's a strange and wonderful position the film puts us in, but as the actual act comes closer to fruition, a creeping "Holy shit, I don't want this to happen" feeling takes over, and all is right with the world. The word I keep coming back to is "smart." Everything about Traitor is well thought out, precisely conceived, and there were almost no instances where I felt myself in a state of disbelief. Strangely enough, the film has a wicked sense of humor in certain spots, and I was truly grateful for the tension release.
I find it a bit bizarre that such a strong work would get its release in the last week of August, a period usually reserved for the dregs that no distributor dared put out during the more-desirable summer weeks. But if you've seen everything else and you're looking to end your summer on a high note, look no further. Traitor is a great, savvy film that doesn't get bogged down in politics but doesn't fall short on ideas or great acting, which is some of the best you'll see all summer.
-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
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makes it look like a Bourne Identity clone. But this review makes it actually sound interesting. Thanks Capone.
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and man does Guy Pearce he play a fine douchebag. Movie also made me remeber how terrific richard harris was in....well everything.
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we live in a fast food world. most people watch movies to escape life and move on to the next film after walking out of the cinema the last thing they want is to be Depressed and they dont care about someone 9000 miles away so this movie will sink regardless of its
Quality. now if only you could get people to see the joker in dark night as a terrorist and that there are people out there like that in the real world -
and whaddaya know..it is that Steve Martin..!
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He was terrific. Letterman dug up a clip of Cheadle as a dancing car wash attendant...and he was actually good. I'm a HUGE Cheadle and Pearce fan, so I'm seeing Traitor this weekend. On a related note; has anyone seen ANYTHING on Tishomingo Blues being released? This is a GREAT Elmore Leonard book that while I was reading it, thought "Don Cheadle would be PERFECT for this". All I can find is that it's in production.
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Your review rocked! Reviews like this are why I check out this site. Not to read a 2,000 word essay on Massawyrm's politics. Good job man; thanks for not bandstanding.
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I'll try to catch it when it lands down under. The Steve Martin credit is indeed very random, but he's always had surprises in him. He did write a movie called "A Simple Twist of Fate" that was no masterpiece but a well-written little movie. And he wrote the novel "Shopgirl" was based on. So he's always up to something unexpected.
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Cuba Gooding Jr needs to fire his agent and quit getting these shit jobs. He has more talent than that.
I do have to agree with Capone. Cheadle and Pierce have never let me down. -
..and no release date for my country yet. Grrr
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Thanks, Capone. I want to see this now. The question is, when I finally get the time three to four weeks from now, will it still be around? It sounds like a film the studio would normally hold onto 'til Oscar Season really revs up. What gives?
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...especially after LA Confidental, Memento and The Proposition. I'm looking forward to seeing him in The Road.
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Errr... Basher, or whatever the fuck he was called in Ocean's (insert number). That Cock-er-nee accent was so reminiscent of Dick Van Dyke in its convincingness.
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It feels weird to me to praise a movie review, I don't see the need for a review to be form of entertainment unto itself. Too many movie reviews get bogged down in trying to be clever and witty, showing off how smart and well educated the reviewer is with obscure references or sucking up to the studios for extra perks. But this review did a good job, it explained why the movie is interesting and worth seeing. Some the things the reviewer liked about the movie are things I look for and enjoy about movies. Thanks.
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Between this movie and the upcoming Miles Davis biopic, I'm waiting patiently for his career to absolutely explode. One of the most consistent, thrilling, and interesting actors out there today.
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You know, so I can have a point of comparison.
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The scene where he goes backdoor on Rue McClanahan is sitcom gold.
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Fracture. A truly average movie lifted by the strength of the leads performances. Hopefully he's right and this has a story too it as well.
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See this system here? This is Hi-Fi... high fidelity. What that means is that it's the highest quality fidelity.
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THE GUY IS AMAZING I WILL GO SEE THIS
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That it stars Don Cheadle makes it an automatic must-see. If I'm getting the story right from this and Massa's review, then it's even more so.
I'm eager to see a film that explores the meaning of patriotism and undivided loyalty to the country in which one lives, the country that offers that person a place to call home, and not allow radical influences - religious or otherwise, to cloud that loyalty. certainly this kind of movie would benefit many people whose loyalties are muddled, to say the least. -
for the last few years...
Pink Panther
Traitor
Pink Panther 2so weird... -
firefightersfor911truth.org
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Robertplant you are a lunatic. Join the real world someday.
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Will definitely see it. Two very very good actors and what sounds like an intelligent script.
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I just think Cheadle's an okay actor but no way is he that good. For black actors in their prime look to Chiwetal Ejiofor, Terrence Howard or Jeffrey Wright. Heck I've even grown to appreciate Djimon Hounsou as an actor. Cheadle appears conceited and bored in most of his performances kinda like Val Kilmer.
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I totally disagree. I think Don Cheadle is one of the finest actors working today, black or white. Come on - can you seriously say he didn't rock in "Talk to Me", "Out of Sight", "Devil in the Blue Dress", and "Hotel Rwanda", just to name a few. Okay, so his accent faltered from time to time in the Oceans's movies, but he was still fun, right! I do agree with you regarding Chiwetal Ejiofor, Terrence Howard and Jeffrey Wright - fine actors all.
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