Film Review- Our Kind of Traitor

Our Kind of Traitor is a spy thriller directed by Susanna White and starring Ewan McGregor, Naomie Harris, Damien Lewis and Stellan Starsgård. Based on the John le Carré novel of the same name, the movie follows Perry Makepeace and his wife Gail as they become embroiled into the world of Russian mobsters and money launderers after a chance encounter with the charismatic Eastern-European Mafioso named Dima. Now, they must assist MI6 agent Hector in helping Dima take down this crime syndicate before they can spread their influence to the UK. Limited advertising has meant this film has went under many peoples radar, however I would argue that this is a movie worth seeing if you are a fan of the spy genre. 

First of all I was a big fan of the way this movie was shot and directed. White (whose only previously feature was the second Nanny McPhee movie) makes a lot of brave decisions with the way she shoots scenes and it makes for some really gorgeous cinematography. The opening slow-motion shot of a dancer mid-jump is absolutely stunning, while the visual of a young girl lying dead in the snow with blood slowly pouring from her head makes for some chilling and effective imagery. There are flickers of excellent visual-storytelling at play here, and White does all she can to not only make this movie thrilling, but also well-above par from a visual standpoint. Cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle (who won the in 2008 for Slumdog Millionare) also deserves immense credit for how good this film looks. 

The film's other key strength for me was the standout performances from both Ewan McGregor and Stellan Starsgård, as well as the outstanding chemistry between the two actors. McGregor is great in the main role, delivering a good subtle performance as a man who has lost his way and is trying to find some purpose in his life. His characters evolution is perhaps the stories most satisfying arc, as we see Perry become more self-confident and sure of himself as the film progresses. For his part, Starsgård displays both comedic and dramatic chops in OKOT. Fiercely protective of his family, Starsgård's character is a friendly and entertaining while at the same time being a ruthless killer. It's exactly the type of role that the Swedish actor excels in, specifically evidenced by the parts he has taken in his native land. In my opinion, Starsgård is the shining light of this production, bringing the necessary levity and grit where and when each is required. 

But the problem is as much as I really enjoyed this movie, I cannot ignore the issues it has. The biggest problem is that too many plot threads and story-arcs do not get the payoff they deserve in the third-act. We do not see any of our antagonists (set up so well in the film's first half) get their comeuppance, we don't see Lewis' Hector get any satisfying form of revenge, and we don't see a final moment of romantic reunion between Perry and Gail (although the chemistry between the  two wasn't as strong as it should have been). The ending is weak and underwhelming, and the film's final third is void of any character development for most of its talented cast. From a personal standpoint I wasn't a fan of Damien Lewis in this film, finding his portrayal of Hector to be a tad grating. The story also does contain some noticeable plot holes, most glaringly MI6's reluctance to sanction the investigation, despite an abundance of mounting evidence.

I really wish I could score Our Kind of Traitor higher, because in all honesty I really did enjoy this movie. It was shot by a director clearly determined to prove her worth, and features a very game cast with Stellan Starsgård absolutely stealing the show in a great performance. However, the film does lose its way in the final act, and there are a number of plot points that don't get the necessary pay-off they deserve. It almost feels as though production was rushed in its final stages. Regardless, it is an enjoyable thriller that I would recommend seeing.

Score: 6.8/10