America's terrorist fetish exposed

American film audiences have long been fascinated by movies that deal with terrorist bad guys. Though it would be considered more of an action flick, the “Die Hard” series is a clear favorite; followed by the boarding-school kids-versus-terrorists battle royal depicted in 1991’s “Toy Soldiers”; and let us not forget all the terrorists in Arnold Schwarzeneger films like “Collateral Damage” or “True Lies.”

But in the post-9/11 world, terror-influenced movies like “Rendition,” “Lions For Lambs” or “Stop-Loss” have taken a more political route. Don Cheadle’s newest film “Traitor” weaves contemporary politics with intense action.

Cheadle plays Samir Horn, a bomb expert with a troubled past whose motives are constantly in question. After befriending Islamic terrorist Fareed (Aly Khan), Samir ostensibly joins the terrorist cell himself and helps to oppose the American way of life through mass murder and destruction. His religious beliefs are unquestionable, but after seeing his father die via car bomb as a child, it is difficult to know where Samir’s loyalties truly lie.

What initially appears to be a concoction of unconnected scenes and questionable character motivations gradually begins to makes sense as Samir’s plan reaches its apex. Cheadle portrays his character’s inner conflict with subtle brilliance and saves the film from becoming trapped in conventionality. The well-rounded cast includes Jeff Daniels as a terrorist special agent and Guy Pearce and Neal McDonough as FBI agents attempting to track down Samir.

With their film, writer and director Jeffrey Nachmanoff and co-writer Steve Martin capitalize on American cultural anxiety, fear and fascination with terrorism. But the film is more than just a terrorist action flick because in addition to having created such an intricately conflicted lead character, the filmmakers show both sides of the war on terror from various locations around the globe. “Traitor” reminds us that Muslims and terrorists are mutually exclusive, and that a few misguided fanatics do not mean that one group is inextricably linked to the other.

By the conclusion of the film we are left wondering whether there can be a central hero in the game of terrorism because in order to win, many lives must be lost. Terrorism will always exist at some level, but what matters most is how one responds.