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Traitor


Welcome to Reel People. It’s a place where, you guessed it, real people like yourselves spout off on new movie releases. It works best if you - yes, we mean you - jump into the forum link below and tell us what you think of the movie, too.

This week, we’re watching Traitor.

What I Liked: “Traitor” was a good political/action/suspense film all in one, how about that?! The story showed the points of view from both the Americans and the terrorists without pushing a political agenda or a certain way of thinking, how refreshing! Thank goodness this wasn’t another “Lions for Lambs” or “Rendition.” The film was well acted, too many actors to name but I was especially impressed by Don Cheadle, Saïd Taghmaoui, and Guy Pearce. All three actors played their parts with such conviction. Cheadle played the main character who has connections to the FBI and who also has ties to a terrorist group. Unless you have done research you won’t know what side he is really playing on and the suspense is dramatic. His fluctuating emotions and loyalties (or lack thereof!) really keep you guessing. Saïd Taghmaoui, Cheadle’s character’s friend and terrorist leader, showed a wide range of emotions with his acting ability and also inner conflict within his character’s belief system.

Guy Pearce did an outstanding job as an FBI investigator looking into the terrorist activities of Cheadle’s character. Hats off to Steve Martin (yes, the comic!) and Jeffrey Nachmanoff for great storytelling. I also want to point out the fine musical score of Mark Kilian. The music had just the right feel for the many tense moments throughout the film. There are many suspenseful, nail biting moments so if you plan to see it don’t read any spoilers.

What I Disliked: There could have been a harder push that there are plenty of Muslins that do not share the extremist views of the terrorists – however, the filmmakers probably want you to interpret the message how you feel it should be taken. The film also shows the hardship of war and the emotional damage it causes to people, but I think we should have seen more of this.

Would I Recommend?: Yes, this is the most entertaining political film to come along in a while.

Score: 8 out of 10

- Nick Conrad


What I Liked: I liked this movie because it kept your attention throughout.  The suspense and action were fantastic.  It was good to see Don Cheadle in a role with some meat to it!

What I Disliked: The only thing that one should be careful about is the violence, which is necessary for the storyline.  However, it was not as gruesome as it could have been.

Would I Recommend?: I would highly recommend this movie for anyone who likes action, suspense, and drama.

Score: 9 out of 10

- Lauretta Pesce


What I Liked: Traitor was suspenseful and intriguing.  Even though this was an action film which focused on such touchy subjects as Fundamentalism and Suicide Bombing, it had a sense of humor. There were quiet a few laughs which helped alleviate some of the tension on the screen. Of course, there were a lot of explosions, suspense, and a few plot twists, the main things I look for in a good action movie.

What I Disliked: Don Cheadle plays Sergeant Samir Horn, a Sudanese born Special Ops soldier who appears to be aiding terrorists.  Cheadle’s performance was less than stellar. I expected a lot more from him given his past acting experience. Jeff Daniels’ performance was flat and, despite the fact that his name is flaunted in all the posters and previews, his part was rather small which was a disappointment for me.

The story line of the film was predictable. Shortly after the beginning of the film, I knew how it was going to end but the plot left enough unanswered questions so that there were still a few small surprises.

Would I Recommend?: Yes, this is a good movie. It is suspenseful and despite it’s predictability, it was intriguing.

Score: 7 out of 10

- Jessica A. Locke

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About This Blog
  • We've set up a Street Team of movie reviewers to get the conversation started when it comes to new movie releases. That's right. We said get the conversation started. You get the last word, though. Tell us what you think here.

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