REVIEW: Traitor

Just Watched:
Traitor

My Rating:
5 Stars



Every once in a while, there's a really good movie that receives almost no hype but deserves all the hype being given to a film like "Revolutionary Road" (seriously! "Thank you for getting naked again, Kate Winslet! Please take all of these awards..."). "Traitor" is that film.

This is one of those flicks that makes you think while also providing a high amount of entertainment. Mmmmmm, my favorite! The film explores the depths of loyalty, faith & religion, and the geo-political realities of terrorism all while taking you on a thrill ride. If I were to compare it to other films -- hopefully without giving too much away -- I would say that it is "The Departed" meets "Spy Game" & "The Siege" (all of which are also excellent movies, BTW)

There are several twists & turns along the way. Enough to keep you guessing until the very end. And it was one of the most brilliant & fulfilling movie endings that I'd seen in quite a while.

Awesome FBI Guy

I thought that the casting was well done. It heightened the sense of believability of the film. Everybody already knows how awesome Don Cheadle & Neal McDonough are. I was especially drawn to the character played by Guy Pearce (wearing the FBI vest in the picture). HE was awesome. And every little character at every location -- from Washington D.C. to Marseilles, France -- fulfilled important details that just raised the level of believability of the film, allowing you to suspend disbelief & become absorbed in the story.

Another element of the movie that impressed me was their treatment of religion & faith. The makers of this film did not take the hackneyed road of making clowns out of believers. Rather, they showed both sides of the faith & religion coin. On one side, you have sincere devotees of faith who let it shape & guide their life. On the other side, you have manipulative power-mongers who would use people of faith to accomplish their own selfish ends. The film portrayed these realities in stereo as they were emphasized in a major way throughout the story.

Great film all the way around. I couldn't really find any flaws. Five stars.