Synopsis:
While on holiday in Marrakech, an ordinary English couple, Perry (Ewan McGregor – THE IMPOSSIBLE, THE GHOST) and Gail (Naomie Harris -SPECTRE, SOUTHPAW), befriend a flamboyant and charismatic Russian, Dima (Stellan Skarsgård – AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO), who unbeknownst to them is a kingpin money launderer for the Russian mafia.
When Dima asks for their help to deliver classified information to the British Secret Services, Perry and Gail get caught in a dangerous world of international espionage and dirty politics. The couple is propelled on a perilous journey through Paris and Bern, a safe house in the French Alps, to the murky corners of the City of London and an alliance with the British Government via a ruthless and determined MI6 agent (Damian Lewis – HOMELAND).
From the writer of DRIVE (Hossein Amini) adapting the hit John le Carré novel – the mind behind TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, and directed by acclaimed Susanna White – this taut thriller twists and turns its way around the world with dramatic consequences.
What We Thought:
Our Kind of Traitor is a pretty solid thriller. It’s nothing we haven’t seen before, but it’s decent enough.
The cast is what makes it at least watchable. I’ve been a fan of Ewan McGregor’s years. I think he’s an underrated actor. As a professor caught in the middle of an international scandal, he really captures that everyman type role. He’s not over the top. He’s not all of a sudden tough or badass. He’s just a teacher in the middle of it.
Stellan Skarsgard is also quite good. I’ve been a fan since Good Will Hunting. He’s believable as the money launderer for the Russian mob. Damian Lewis also believable as a British MI6 agent. And Naomie Harris is always solid.
The film itself is pretty generic though. There’s no major “wow” in it and you can see where it’s going. It’s still an overall enjoyable film, but just don’t expect to be blown away by it.
We’ve definitely seen films and shows like it. Just recently another John le Carre adaptation came to TV, The Night Manager. This film is very similar to that. Tom Hiddleston plays a hotel manager caught in the middle of an international investigation. McGregor gets caught in the middle of an international investigation in this. I liked that show, and again, I overall liked this.
With a lesser known cast Our Kind of Traitor wouldn’t have worked at all. Despite not one original element in it, the cast holds your attention long enough to finish it. I don’t know if it’s something I’d watch again and I don’t know why it’s opening in Summer Blockbuster Season, but for what it is, it is…
OVERALL RECOMMENDED!
Cast & Crew:
- Ewan McGregor
- Stellan Skarsgard
- Damian Lewis
- Naomie Harris
Recommended If You Like:
- The Night Manager
- A Most Wanted Man
- John le Carre Adaptations
The Nerds Templar 