Review of Traitor (1971) by Ben F — 31 Oct 2014

How does a movie so beautifully directed and plotted end up contradicting it's own message? Well, Traitor seems to do that. Perfectly.

The first thing you'll notice during your first watch is the film's perspective on its characters. For once, we see things through the eyes and mind of a terrorist. And to be truthful, it's pretty damn realistic. For a movie that starts out promising something as deeply-plotted and dramatic as it sets out to be, Traitor seems to perform a complete 180 right during the halfway point.

The movie sets you up by sympathizing with the main character, Samir, played by the legendary Don Cheadle. As the movie places you with the terrorist organization Samir is dedicated to, you begin to realize the true motifs and philosophies of a terrorist. Now, take the other half of the story, the FBI's story. They're portrayed as hot-headed, persistent, and blank-as-a-wooden-board. You do not care for them. Even Guy Pearce, one of my all-time favorite actors, couldn't bring the slightest interest or care from me.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*.

So, the terrorist group's plan is to place 30+ suicide bombers into America and have them all blow up on transit buses across the country, all at the same time. As evil as this may sound, the movie's perspective WANTS you to want these terrorists to fall through with the plan. You WANT exploding buses. You WANT the Americans to pay for their crimes. And no, this is not what I, ME, would want, but the movie makes you sympathize with the terrorists. You feel bad for the "bad guys." But no, this is where the movie decides to disregard everything. The ending scene shows the plan just about to follow through, and the big twist was one that ruins the entire plot. Don Cheadle's character was actually a TRAITOR (wow, just like the name!). Yes, he had spent his entire life devoted to the terrorists, became them, killed innocents for them, but NOPE. He's actually the GOOD GUY! He is the hero! He actually placed all the suicide bombers on the same bus!

It doesn't make sense. Nothing in this movie makes sense, and it's all because of the ending. I feel as though this movie was caught by Hollywood producers and decided to give it a "good guys win" ending. But... the entire movie made you believe the good guys (FBI) were actually the BAD GUYS. So... why make THEM win in the end? It's contradictory and ruins the entire purpose of the film. Also there's an infinite number of plot holes. All I can say about that.

The only good things I can bring about this movie are its realistic settings and the incredible themes it could have presented, if only it didn't contradict itself. What potential this could have had.