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Traitor
2008 114 min United States of America PG-13 18+
★6.7
Drama, Action, Thriller, Crime
Director: Jeffrey Nachmanoff
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
When straight arrow FBI agent Roy Clayton heads up the investigation into a dangerous international conspiracy, all clues seem to lead back to former U.S. Special Operations officer Samir Horn.
Budget:
$22M
US Gross:
$23.53M
Worldwide:
$23.53M
Starring
Don Cheadle
Actor
Guy Pearce
Actor
Archie Panjabi
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2009
— Best Action, Adventure or Thriller
Key opinion
Traitor is widely regarded as a compelling and nuanced political thriller that distinguishes itself from standard post-9/11 genre tropes. While some viewers criticize its exposition-heavy dialogue and predictable pacing, most praise Don Cheadle’s complex performance and the film's attempt to portray moral ambiguity within the context of global terrorism.
| Acting | Don Cheadle delivers an emotionally complex and nuanced performance that anchors the film’s moral exploration. | |
| Theme | The screenplay successfully avoids xenophobic hysteria by framing terrorism as the result of individuals exploiting faith rather than an inherent quality of Islam. | |
| Cinematography | Cinematography provides a crisp, realistic visual style that effectively grounds the narrative and enhances the sense of authenticity. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is divisive; some viewers find the plot development steady and engaging, while others criticize the reliance on repetitive dialogue and find it lacking in momentum until the finale. | |
| Screenplay | Character development is inconsistent; while Cheadle’s protagonist is layered, supporting characters like those played by Guy Pearce are occasionally seen as underdeveloped due to writing constraints. |