Product Details

• Actors: Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Neal McDonough, Jeff Daniels
• Directors: Jeffrey Nachmanoff
• Format: Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Anchor Bay - ITN
• DVD Release Date: December 16, 2008
• Run Time: 114 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (140 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000ACOXL
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,982 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Traitor" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

An action film rich with politics, espionage, and complicated characters, Traitor is an engrossing film in which the lines between right and wrong are anything but clear and the threats of terrorism and conspiracy across the globe seem startlingly real. Sadim Horn (Don Cheadle) is a devout Muslim, once trained and employed in engineering and explosives by American Special Forces, who has chosen to settle in Afghanistan. FBI agents Clayton (Guy Pearce) and Archer (Neal McDonough) begin investigating an uncooperative Sadim in an Afghanistan prison because of his connections with terrorist Omar (Saїd Taghmaoui) and, as events unfold, uncover ties between Sadim and several international bombing incidents. As agents Clayton and Archer follow Sadim around the world, Sadim's dedication to his faith becomes abundantly clear, as does his involvement in an international bombing conspiracy. What's less than clear in all the contradictory evidence is the nature of Sadim's role in the conspiracy--specifically, which side he's really fighting for. Traitor is an action-packed, suspenseful film with strong acting talent and a disturbingly real message. Bonus features include audio commentary by director Jeffrey Nachmanoff and Cheadle, an "Action!" featurette about the film's stunts and special effects, and a look at the production's exotic filming locations. --Tami Horiuchi

Stills from Traitor (Click for larger image)

Beyond Traitor

Traitor + Digital Copy [Blu-ray]

More from Don Cheadle - Reign Over Me (Widescreen Edition)

More from Anchor Bay - Righteous Kill

Product Description

A rouge former US Special forces operative is aiding terrorists to carry out acts against the West; however, it's unclear where the man's loyalties lie.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars "What Language Do You Dream In?" ~ Faith, Sacrifice And The Greater Jihadi February 11, 2009

By Brian E. Erland HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

The tagline for the '08 film `Traitor' is "The truth is complicated". After viewing the movie I can only compliment the filmmakers for picking such a wise and appropriate phrase to encapsulate what unfolds before its audience. The occidental mind has yet to come to grips with an Islamic mindset that encourages its most fanatical followers to strap explosives to their bodies and detonate themselves in crowded buildings, transportation centers or any high traffic venue that will best unsettle the security of its adversaries. It is "terrorism as theatre" and all the world is its stage.

In `Traitor' Don Cheadle delivers a marvelous performance as Samir a Islamic, Sudanese born American immigrant who after spending years in U.S. military intelligence apparently has a change of conscience and joins an extreme terrorist organization after being recruited by Jihadist and future best friend Omar (Said Taghmaoui). Said is also magnificent, the on-going conversations between Omar and Samir discussing the Jihadist mindset and mission and how they compare with past and present acts of aggression by America are searing, thought-provoking and nuanced. For me they make this movie worth the time and effort. That's not to say that there isn't anything else worthwhile in this film, but it is there relationship and intellectual debate that raises the film to a higher level.

As for the rest of the film, well this isn't one of your typical fast paced action films. The storyline unfolds rather slowly, too slowly at times. But it does build momentum about halfway through will firmly hold your interest to the end. `Traitor' offers the viewer great performances, intellectual stimulation and political relevance. There is in my opinion two flaws that keep the film from receiving a -5 Star- rating.... The `Big Moment' at the end is rather unrealistic for reasons I can't discuss without spoiling the surprise and secondly, the ultimate decision made by Samir was a little too black and white for a storyline focused on exploring the gray areas of faith, conscience and choosing sides.

Footnote: Guy Pearce also delivers a stellar performance as the FBI agent pursuing Samir. Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Suspense Drama With A Message... December 28, 2008

By Jed Shlackman VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

This film is a suspenseful drama that looks into the world of espionage and the so-called war on terror with the view as advertised on the DVD jacket "the truth is complicated." Cheadle plays a Sudanese born US Army vet trained in explosives who is seemingly working with Islamic terrorists... though who he is actually working with is not as it seems - even to himself. There's a message in this film that the ends don't justify the means, and the characters are led to question whether it's right or just to kill for a cause just because you believe you are the good guys. Cheadle does an excellent job playing this troubled character, while Guy Pearce is the FBI agent who is pursuing him. One interesting thing depicted in the film is how intelligence operations are complex and that terror groups are often being steered by government agents/informants, who in some cases lead what can be considered false flag terror - and the public reports about the events are based on disinfo created by government intelligence operatives. This film encourages us to look deeper at what's going on and question anyone who believes they are killing or sacrificing lives for a god-sanctioned agenda. The only weakness I found in the film was that there are a few loose ends in the film that don't get explained... but that's like real life where we can't find out everything.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Strong Cheadle Movie December 29, 2008

By Kevin Jacobson

Format:DVD

A good movie that makes you think, as other reviewers have indicated. From the beginning I was drawn to trying to figure out Cheadle's character (Samir Horn - the main character) - a devout Muslim clouded in ambiguity. In one of the first scenes, we observe him as a boy in Yemen witnessing his Sudanese father's murder via a terrorist attack - then we quickly jump to the present where for the first chunk of the film Horn is seemingly drawn into the terrorists' world and planning/executing major attacks on civilians. During this time we also find out that Horn's mom is American, and that Horn is a veteran of the U.S. Special Armed Forces, as well as witness flashes of his character, which is grounded in his Muslim beliefs - i.e. his concern for other, belief in non-violence/murder. While being drawn in by the depth of his character, you start to wonder if you're being made to sympathize for a terrorist - perhaps this is the statement of the movie. Just before this happens however, clues begin to appear about Horn's true intentions - though up until the end of the movie you are kept to wonder how it will all "work out".

Even after discovering how Horn fits into this whole mess, the ambiguity of his character remains; one divided between loyalties to his faith, his country, and to the greater good. For example, his faith is against murder - yet for Horn to accomplish his "mission" he has to keep pushing deeper and deeper into a terrorist network, even as more innocent people are murdered or threatened during the course of his actions. In doing so, he seems to be going for the greater good - but having trouble fitting that into his faith's ideological framework. All the while his country looms in the background - partly on his side, partly the enemy....

Other points I liked about the movie - I thought it did a good job of portraying aspects of the true Muslim faith - and showing a division between this and the "extremists" who claim the same faith. To some degree - and I hesitate to say this - it also showed aspects of the other side by humanizing parts of the "terrorists" - such as the Omar character. Yes - terrorism is terrible - but I think its needs to be understood that these individuals do not just sprout out from Satan, but are drawn into what they do by complex factors that - the more we understand the more we can move closer to ridding our world of such actions/murder. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The fight against terrorism December 23, 2008

By David Pruette VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Traitor is a well-done film about terrorism and international espionage. Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce star. Pearce plays an FBI agent while Cheadle apparently plays a member of a Middle Eastern terrorist sect. On the other hand, he also gives hints of being a spy for US Intelligence operating way under cover. This dichotomy is one of the strong points of the film. Cheadle joins in efforts to bomb the US Embassy in Nice, France and follows that by being a member of the operatives planning to bomb 50 buses on Thanksgiving Day in the US.

Cheadle's character is Samir Horn. Born in the Sudan, he sees his father killed by a car bomb. He goes on to be educated in the US, joins the US military, serves in Afghanistan, and then appears to join the side of the terrorists. He is a devout Muslim, and Cheadle does an extremely good job of depicting Horn as being torn between doing what he must to work his way to the leaders of the terrorist movement while at the same time following his true belief in the teachings of the Koran.

The film has excellent action scenes, and both Cheadle and Pearce do fine jobs in their performances. The characters move to various areas of the world, so the film has a good look to it. The Special Features included with the DVD don't amount to much. One short deals with the stunts and special effects while the second feature shows the film's exotic locations. I did not listen to the audio commentaries by Don Cheadle and Director Jeffrey Nachmanoff.