Review of Traitor (2008) by Corey N — 12 May 2009

Don Cheadle stars as Samir, an undercover agent deep inside a terrorist group planning attacks against the U.S.

For most of the movie you're left wondering which side the devoutly Muslim Samir is on. Is he a traitor to the jihadists he lives and works with, or to the United States? Your conviction and sincere hope for a happy ending is all that will make you stick with Samir, because this movie makes you guess and wait for uncomfortably long stretches. It's unsettling at times because the terrorists are plotting horrific attacks against civilians. You want to see them foiled but Samir is left to decide how many attacks should succeed before his cover can be blown.

Don Cheadle is fantastic in a role that fools the terrorists, the FBI and even the audience. This film also gets a lot of help from Guy Pearce who plays the FBI agent doing his best to catch Samir. The story is by Steve Martin, of all people.