Our Kind of Traitor Review

I don't know what author has had the most books turned into movies, but I have feeling John le Carre has to be near the top. Our Kind of Traitor is his tenth book to be turned into a movie. Previous ones include The Constant Gardener, A Most Wanted Spy, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Tailor of Panama.

Our Kind of Traitor stars Ewan McGregor as a college professor named Perry. Perry and his wife, Gail (Naomie Harris) are on vacation when they run into Dima (Stellan Skarsgard). Dima is a Russian money launderer who fears he and his family are about to get killed by the Russian mob. Dima gives Perry some important information and wants him to give it to MI6 in hopes they will move Dima and his family to London. Unfortunately the British government needs more information and Dima will not give them more unless Perry is involved. Perry and Gail find themselves in a world that is way more complicated then they would like, but care about Dima and his family and want to see them safe.

As a British spy thriller, Our Kind of Traitor succeeds for the most part. Throughout the film I was on the edge of my seat. I was eager to see how Perry would get out of the various situations he finds himself in. There is one scene in particular where Perry must help Dima get out of a hotel where he is meeting with the Russian mob. Unfortunately, the scenes of tension where followed lulls, that took me out of the movie. Our Kind of Traitor also has scenes that are by the numbers for spy thrillers. There are corrupt government officials, paper work that gets in the way and gets resolved at the last possible moment, and scenes where normal people act like they are trained killers. It would have been nice for a little bit of originality.

The performances in Our Kind of Traitor are all pretty decent. I thought Ewan McGregor did a fine job as Perry. For the most part he seemed believable as a college professor that was in over his head. The only problem I had with his character was when he had to fire a gun or fight someone, it just felt out of place for a college professor. I would have liked to have seen Namoie Harris have a little more to work with. Early on in the movie you learn that her character and Perry's marriage is on the rocks, but that tension never really arises again and seems to get resolved quite nicely. Stellan Skarsgard also does a decent job, but his performance just reminded me of his character in the Thor movies.

Our Kind of Traitor was a solid spy thriller that had me on the edge of my seat for various parts of the movie. The plot was interesting enough and the performances were decent. I would say this is a movie that doesn't need to be seen in theaters, but is well worth a rent.