Our Kind of Traitor

Seen at the Roxy Cinema in Nowra on NSW South Coast

Bea says:  We both like thrillers, and adaptations from John Le Carré's works are usually good and absorbing.  This is both, the time sped past as the twists and turns of the plot unfolded, even if it's darkness did make it feel more of a Friday/Saturday night film, rather than a Sunday morning one (when we went to see it).

The film centres on a couple, Perry and Gail, (Ewan Mcgregor and Naomi Harris) who are trying to reconnect via a luxurious European break following an infidelity.  This doesn't go particularly well, and after being left alone in a restaurant, Perry gets involved with a wealthy Russian and his family who are trying to leave behind their formerly criminal past and escape to the UK for safety and a new start.  Rather unbelievably, Perry agrees to help him.  Enter the secret service (Damien Lewis, playing Hector) and much action, adventure, internal politics and subterfuge as the secret service gets involved in smuggling the family to London.  Despite being university professors, Perry and Gail prove to remarkably adept at hiding out from criminals in pursuit of the family, handling weapons and sharp shooting.  But if all disbelief is suspended and you enjoy Bond/Jason Bourne style thrillers, you'll enjoy this one.

Diverting, somewhat unbelievable, but good performances all round.  Good to see Saskia Reeves again as well.
***


Cecil says: I'm not a big fan of films that give you a sense of foreboding right from the start, and don't let that feeling lift right to the end. I guess it is the nature of the thriller genre, but as Bea says, not great for a sunny Sunday morning...

I also felt somewhat dubious of some of the likelihood of some of this plot really happening: would even a guilt-ridden professor really let himself get drawn into some dodgy drinking mob of Russians in a posh restaurant? (that was one thing I was so glad I managed to avoid on our own recent trip through Russia as men are supposed to drink heartily with any fellow humans or you risk a social slap in the face, and vodka is the order of the day).

But really, it was obvious this group of Russians were up to something and I don't believe Perry would really have gone along with it, or gone to the party, or got himself drawn aside from some young beauty at the party (and what happened to that sub-plot, too? she never reappeared later in the film).

As for the UK Secret Service allowing amateurs like Perry and Gail to get involved in some major saga of potential defections and capture of murderous drug barons, it is highly highly dubious.

So as Bea says, you need to suspend your belief in large chunks for this one.

Gail is a senior barrister, apparently. But it would be interesting to see what the Bechtel viewers would have made of the women characters in this one. She plays a minor role supporting Perry and you kind of feel her job title was a modern creation to make up for Le Carré's 1960s attitudes to women.

Anyway, the film was OK. I'd give it a ***, but don't go and see it if the weather is nice outside and you have better things to do.