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The problem with this current spate of flicks invading our screens (including The Kingdom, Body Of Lies and Rendition)
is that both sides (whether they be good or evil) are humanised and
praised while simultaneously being made to look like the moral scum of
the earth.
Sure, that works when you've got yourself a hard
nosed political director making a film out of passion with a budget of
$500 and a can of beans. But when you've got a major studio throwing
around $20 million and a few B-List Hollywood actors, you can't pass it
off as a film "with a message" trying to "open the world's eyes".
Let's
face it - that $20 million has been invested with the sole intention of
producing a product that will reap the type of financial rewards which
the film itself is trying to expose the potential evil of.
And
if that is the case, that $20 million should provide an eventful and
enjoyable 90 minutes of explosions and intrigue that makes you leave
the cinema with a smile on your face (and not the type of facial
expression you normally have after a three hour uni lecture on
plankton).
By not really choosing a side, the film loses all it's tension (because the viewers want everyone
to get their cummupance) and because it's masquerading as a "serious
film with a message", the stupid Hollywood explosions and lame one
liners (that would have accompanied these sorts of films in the 1980s)
are all but absent.
All that aside, as these sorts of films go, Traitor
is the closet anyone has come thus far to keeping the film engrossing
and entertaining (while still making plenty of "important points about
the world we live in").
The flick follows FBI agent Roy Clayton
(Guy Pearce) who heads up the investigation into a dangerous
international conspiracy, with all clues seeming to lead back to former
U.S. Special Operations officer Samir Horn (Don Cheadle).
A
fairly mysterious figure (Samir's intentions are revealed throughout,
but are never quite what you expect) with a complex web of
international connections, Horn has a knack for emerging on the scene
just as a major operation goes down and disappearing before the
authorities can question him.
The inter-agency task force
looking into the case also meets with Carter (Jeff Daniels as an
amoral, veteran CIA contractor) who seems to have his own agenda as
well.
The real strength of Traitor is that it doesn't just play out the same as, say, Body Of Lies
did. There is plenty to keep your brain ticking over and there is a
fairly good chance you won't see what lies ahead (which is so often
isn't the case).
However, the what takes Traitor to the next level is Don Cheadle.
The
guy has been on the cusp of the A-List for quite some time (surely he
is a shoe in for a major "credible star meets mainstream action hero"
role any day now), and his performance here is testament to his skill.
This
guys performance is truly phenomenal. There is something so engrossing
and empathic about each and every movement he makes, the audience more
than happily follows his journey as the twists and turns slowly unravel.
And
that's saying a lot - because for some reason not only do these types
of movies tend to be quite boring... but for some reason they also
insist of be f***ing long.
Guy Pearce is also in form (the guy
is good, let's hope he gets back in the Hollywood good books soon) with
his take on the FBI nice guy. You could be forgiven for assuming that
the reason Pearce has been absent from our screens lately is due to
attending an intense semester at the "Heath Ledger School Of Brokeback
Mountain Grumble Talk" - but his lack of facial movement actually helps
draw the audience in and side with him just as much as you do with
Cheadle's character.
Traitor
is a refreshingly entertaining look at the topic of terrorism and the
USA, while still keeping itself firmly grounded, and is easily the best
of the bunch.
And while I won't be praying for any further releases
based on the subject (it's almost time for a no brainer popcorn action
thriller), if this is the last one I ever see, I'm more than happy to admit that it is possible for a movie of this type to be made well.
Thought provoking, unpredictable, intense and genuinely exciting - Traitor is probably the best political thriller of the year. DVD EXTRAS
Considering the budget, this proved to be quite the money spinner
when it hit cinemas in 2008, so it's a little surprising to see how
little there is by way of extras here.
Included are Commentaries
with Writer/Director John Erick Dowdle and Writer/Producer Drew Dowdle,
as well as a couple of featurettes which look at the making of the
movie and the make-up of the infected!
Conclusion:
Movie 70% Extras: 60%
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