Review of Traitor (2008) by Patrick — 30 Aug 2008

Very good movie. In lieu of his prior work in Hotel Rwanda, Cheadle has already established himself as a top-notch actor, but elements of his performance in Traitor were truly impressive. His language capabilities were excellent as he flawlessly transitioned between dialects.

Unlike other espionage flicks, Cheadle's character of Samir is not indestructible; rather he's highly adept in combat and other fields akin to the special forces, but nonetheless makes his mistakes and loses some battles.

The vulnerability and intensity of Samir in both his personality and religiosity were superb, he came off as a human going through this test of spirit rather than an agent robotically decimating a terrorist organization from within.

Universal morality is the crux of this film and I believe the intense focus on the cultural exchange and interaction between the peoples and faiths is the strength of this film. These guys did their homework, no doubt, but as many have said this isn't a perfect movie.

Definitely worth the price of admission.