Traitor

Based on an idea by Jeffrey Nachmanoff and Steve Martin (!), Traitor follows FBI agent Roy Clayton (Guy Pearce) as he becomes convinced that a former Special Operations officer (Don Cheadle’s Samir) is the key figure in a massive terrorism plot. There’s nothing especially groundbreaking about Traitor – the film often feels like Homeland: The Movie – and yet one can’t help but embrace the slow-moving narrative to an increasingly palpable degree. It’s clear that the authenticity with which writer/director Nachmanoff has infused the proceedings plays a major role in its mild success, although, by that same token, there’s little doubt that Traitor suffers from a number of somewhat less-than-engrossing stretches (ie much of the movie is focused on the minutia of the characters’ endeavors). The inclusion of several gripping sequences (eg a fairly riveting prison break) goes a long way towards buoying one’s interest during the film’s erratic first half, and there’s little doubt that Traitor, armed with an impressively unexpected mid-movie twist, grows more and more absorbing as it progresses into its intense third act. And while the film does peter out somewhat as it approaches its low-key finale, Traitor nevertheless does a nice job of balancing its character-study and high-octane thriller elements – with Cheadle’s typically superb turn as the conflicted central character elevating the movie on an ongoing basis.

*** out of ****