Traitor
(2008/Anchor Bay Blu-ray + DVD)
Picture:
B-/C+ Sound: B/B- Extras: B- Film: B-
So many
of the films made about terrorism since the 9/11 attacks are an embarrassment
beyond belief, some of which are an absolute disgrace. The vast majority are either 1) pro-Bush II
blind faith war porn films or 2) left-wing formula films that offer no
solutions and even bash the U.S. mindlessly.
That leaves the rest of the bad being just badly done and a few that
actually work. On that very short list
of films that work include Jeffrey Nachmanoff’s Traitor (2008), an overlooked work that may have been targeted to
be blacklisted and ignored.
Don
Cheadle, one of our best actors, plays Samir Horn, and Muslim American Special
Operations Officer for the U.S. deeply involved in the terror cell
business. The problem is whether he is
guilty of treason against America or really doing his job. Enter FBI agent Roy Clayton (the underrated
Guy Pearce) trying to find out the truth.
In what could have been a stupid, formulaic police procedural, the film
offers much more and challenges the audience to think.
The
result is a film like few others that makes us think about what is really
happening about terrorism, 9/11, prejudice and most deeply, how easily we have
been manipulated and let ourselves be manipulated in these matters by lies, the
media and government here and abroad while something much uglier goes one. It is a minor classic on the subject and will
hopefully be rediscovered as such. If
you missed it, see it now!
The 1080p
2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image is styled down much like Jarhead or Three Kings to represent The Middle East, but this is one of the
rare occasions where it works. Director
of Photography J. Michael Muro (Roll
Bounce, Crash feature film) can
create some interesting images like no other camera man out there and he does
it again well here. The anamorphically
enhanced DVD is also not bad, but cannot match the resolution and stability of
the Blu-ray image. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1
mix not bad, but is usually quiet in nature, but when the subwoofer and
surrounds kick in, it is just fine. The
Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is not bad, but weaker by comparison and limited on its
own.
Extras on
both versions include audio commentary by Nachmanoff & Cheadle, stunts
featurette, featurette on the locations and the Blu-ray adds Digital Copy for
PC and PC Portable devices.
- Nicholas Sheffo
