Over the last several years, Don Cheadle has continued to raise his stock as he takes on challenging roles in films like Hotel Rwanda and Crash. However, the quickly rising star has yet to prove that he can carry a film. And while Traitor is a strong film that is both powerful and symbolic in more ways than one, I can't help but feel that it was lacking in complexity, thus preventing it from reaching its full A+ potential.
When Roy Clayton takes command of a special FBI task force, he unknowingly walks into an entangled web of covert operations. All the clues point to Samir Horn, a former Special Ops soldier that has switched sides as he now provides both supplies and knowledge to terrorist. Behind every man, there is a story, and every story unveils truths. For Samir Horn, he has a complex story of murder, deception patriotism and now espionage. But as Clayton digs beneath the surface and begins to unearth some story altering clues, he begins to question Horn's motives and guilt in the world of control and power.
While I mentioned Cheadle's amazing performance, I don't think that I emphasized just how brilliant it was. From his middle-of-the-road actions on screen to his desperation to sort out what is right, Cheadle brings possible traitor Samir Horn to life with full force. Never for a second does he hesitate as every action is done with pin-point precision and every movement is carefully thought out and executed. For the first time since 2004's Hotel Rwanda, Cheadle consumes his character, becoming one being with him and taking the audience's mind and soul by storm, sending them on an emotional wave of anxiety until a well-deserved ending takes their last breath away.
Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for Guy Pearce. Most known for his work on 2000's Memento, Pearce has yet to reach A-list status, but looked to be well on his way "“ until this performance. Taking multiple chapters out of Pitt's performance as Det. David Mills in Seven, Pearce is unable to create his own persona as he walks, talks and presents himself as Pitt, losing the audience's main focus and providing a distraction for much of the film. Additionally, his mannerisms throughout the film seemed forced, taking away from the intensity and creating a wall between him and Cheadle.
Thankfully, the story helped to compensate for Pearce's dead-end performance, as it provided an intense, action packed adventure that will have you on the edge of your seats from beginning to end. Sadly, the story lacked the most important aspect of a political suspense film, complexity. Instead of forcing the characters into unknown situations, everything seemed to be too well thought out, preventing the film from reaching the climatic conclusion that it so much deserved.
However, with that said, I will admit that the ending is truly brilliant in its own right, as it has you holding your breath until the last seconds are shown, and the twist ultimately revealing. As a result, the film ends with a bang, pleasing those in the seat and giving them something to discuss on the way home. However, there was so much adrenaline circulating throughout the theater, that the film really missed an opportunity to play their ending to full scale, and using the existing energy to their advantage. It was still a great film that provides endless conversation topics; however, it could have been so much more.
