In the era when the US establishment, particularly that aligned with Hollywood, increasingly relies on race, ethnicity, and other identities as the sole basis for taking sides in debates or conflicts, it is intriguing to observe a Hollywood film that posits that loyalties can be divided and identities are more complex. One such film is Traitor, a 2008 action thriller written and directed by Jeffrey Nachmanoff.
Don Cheadle stars in the title role as Samir Horn, a Sudanese-American fluent in Arabic and a devout Muslim. While working as an arms dealer in Yemen, Samir negotiates a deal with Islamic militant Omar (played by Saïd Taghmaoui) before both are arrested by authorities and thrown into jail. Samir helps Omar escape, which is enough to win his trust and secure his position in a terrorist group led by Nathir (played by Raad Rawi). Using his past experience as an explosives expert in the US Army, Samir aids the terrorists in planning and executing an attack on the US Consulate in Nice, and subsequently participates in an even more ambitious and diabolical plan to strike at the US mainland and potentially kill thousands of people. As the plan unfolds, a team of FBI agents led by Special Agent Roy Clayton (played by Guy Pearce) attempts to apprehend Samir. However, Clayton is unaware that Samir was actually recruited by US intelligence operative Carter (played by Jeff Daniels) to work as an undercover agent. After Carter's death, Samir must thwart the terrorists' plans on his own.
Traitor can be best described as a "thinking man's action film," as it combines action with serious drama, exploring divided loyalties and the ethical dilemmas posed by the Global War on Terror. The film's greatest strength lies in Don Cheadle's performance, an immensely talented actor usually relegated to character roles. In this rare starring role, Cheadle shines as Samir Horn, a character torn between his ancestral and adopted countries, and between the terrorists he has bonded with and his higher, more abstract duty to his country and innocent people. Moreover, Samir's devotion to Islam, or at least his own interpretation of it, drives him not only to side against the terrorists but also to be seriously troubled by his actions when they result in or fail to prevent the loss of innocent lives. Cheadle's portrayal of this turmoil effortlessly overshadows the rest of the rather formidable cast.
Another intriguing element of the film is the relationship between Samir and Clayton, with the latter insisting that Samir must win the trust of the terrorists at all costs, even if it means participating in actions that cause innocent deaths. This Machiavellian approach could have created an interesting dynamic or perhaps explored the similarities in ruthlessness between terrorists and those trying to stop them. However, Traitor, made near the end of George W. Bush's presidency, failed to capitalize on this opportunity.
Despite occasional concessions to clichés, predictable "political correctness," and playing it too safe, Traitor should be recommended as one of the better Hollywood films dealing with the dark realities America and the rest of the world faced following 9/11.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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