I just watched the 2008 movie Traitor, starring Don Cheadle, and I must say I was very disappointed.
It's a completely fear-mongering film. If you want to monger anyone's fear of Muslims, let them watch this piece of crap.
It features a seditious plot to simultaneously blow up 50 buses using terrorists who have secretly blended into American society. Said terrorists have been laying low for an extended period of time, waiting for their diabolical instructions. These normal folks include an upper middle-class fellow living in suburbia, a female college student, a young man working at a coffee shop, and a construction worker.
The implication is so very clear. But thank God movies don't affect people's behavior and thinking.
Oh wait.
So not only should Americans be afraid of the Bin Ladens and Zarqawis of the Muslim world, they should fear the new Muslim who just moved into the neighborhood or the Muslim co-worker who begins to pray five times a day (incidentally, the film had the Don Cheadle character getting fired from work due to that exact reason).
Even the hero of the film has questionable loyalties upto the end. So no worries Mr. Joe Sixpack, go ahead and question your fellow American Muslim's loyalties. It's completely understandable.
Nice.
And of course let's just totally forget about the legitimate threat posed by homegrown terrorists.
The other item that made me sick was the inference that the only good Muslim is the one who proves his allegiance by turning informant to the FBI. I've written on this before and coincidentally Suhaib Webb recently put up this related post on his site.
The movie comes off as some pseudo analysis of the inner conflicts faced by Muslims torn between their faith and country. But it fails. Miserably. Not only because of what I mentioned above, but in its 'analysis' the movie fails to once make mention of possible grievances that Muslims may have against the west such as Iraq, Israel, economic exploitation, etc.
Save your money, your time and your mind. Don't make the mistake I made.
On the bright side it could have been worse. I could wasted hours reading some stupid book.
Oh wait...
WAW
3 days ago
16 comments:
Asalaamu alaikum,
You know what the sad part is? The actors and director actually thought that they were doing a good thing. Even when they try to be fair, they fail. Muslims have got to start making films. I know some of us are but Muslim filmmakers are not getting the financial and moral support that they need. Sad.
and to think your sister and brother in law actually recommended this movie as "balanced"...
that's the only reason i saw it...
quite disappointing.
although don cheadle remains to be the most under-rated actor going around in Hollywood...the man has some talent
WS
Saqib
Hmm.
To what Izzymo said,
Aren't in a sense movies immoral, so like Muslims shouldnt be making movies so were screwed.
I mean how do uyou make a movie without even the littlest cleavage, without bad themes yet people will still watch it?
PS. I like how you said, "At least I didnt waste hours reading a stupid book"
Lol
-The Muslim Kid-
Well try sitting in an audience almost fully made up of Muslims as they watch themselves portrayed as world terrorizers...and not one gets up in protest and walks out...oh wait...I did.
half hour into the movie I was out the door...what a crock.
As salaamu 'aleykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu
Forgive me for a comment not related to the post. There is an excellent new blog dedicated to a book called: *An Incomplete History: The Muslims of Spain Post 1492 in a Global Context and its Relevance to Muslims Today*
http://historyofandalus.wordpress.com/
The situation of the Muslims living in the West today poses a striking similarity to the situation of the Muslims in Al- Andalus post 1492 (when the last Muslim ruler surrendered the last Muslim stronghold of Granada to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella). This marked the official end to Islamic rule in Al- Andalus. However, this did not mean all the Muslims left Al Andalus in one go.
Muslims lived in Andalus for at least two hundred years after the fall (1492). Their lives were not easy. In many cases they were forced to give up their identities, could not practice Islam in public, they were not allowed to speak Arabic (and therefore could not pray in congregation) or even give their children Muslim names! So what began as tolerance for the practice of Islam in Al- Andalus and allowing for their affairs to be judged under Shari’ah courts (Capitulations of Granada) slowly but surely led to the persecution of the Muslims of Al-Andalus until no trace of Muslims in Andalus were to be found.
I have not seen a hollywood movie for over 3 years because why should I support their racist agenda. Plus these Zionist are already multimillionares so why should I enrich them more. Sadly though the majority of muslims do not share my view and continue to support them.
AA-
@IzzyMo, good point. I failed to mention that in my post. It could be plausibly argued that the makers of the movie were actually trying to be objective (maybe even sympathetic) to the Muslim perspective. And look how bad it turned out.
I agree, Muslim filmmakers are sorely needed.
@Saqib, LOL! I didn't want to mention that, but since you brought it up, I also watched it on their recommendation. We should meet at their house with pitchfork and torches! :-)
@MK, "Aren't in a sense movies immoral" That depends on the movie your watching as well as the spiritual level you're trying to attain.
Movies are powerful tools that can be used effectively and positively to introduce ideas and values to the public. I don't see how they can be judged immoral.
AA-
@CoolRed, You are seriously da woman! I woulda forced myself to sit through it, considering that I paid $10 for the ticket. I guess that's how cheaply I sell out my principles. LOL!
Good onya sis!
@Sam, you got a cool blog. I'll be sure to visit it regularly, IA-
On your point, I can agree that there isn't much inherent value in watching films and the implicit/explicit messages they are passing along. But sometimes I give in and indulge myself. :-\
Actually Im one of those types that will generally force myself to sit through the movie regardless of how bad it is just for the money spent aspect...but I couldnt do it with that one...I was way tooooo pissed off.
Only one other film has forced me to leave the cinema early...Get Smart...I just didnt see the appeal...everyone else were laughing themselves into oblivion...I walked out...grrr!
haha pitchforks are ready...
just waiting until they get back from Pak
and you raise a good point to Muslim Kid as well - movies in and of themselves are not immoral.
they are powerful tools, only if the Muslim world realises the potential of this medium
Saqib
by the way - as a side note, i think the only thing to come out of Hollywood that didn't completely tarnish the image of Islam while portraying Muslims was Kingdom of Heaven...
but then again, it'll be a brave man (albeit a very a stupid one) to come out and try to tarnish the rep of Salahuddin...
Yeah this movie had me seriously upset. I was seething throughout the film. Everyone else seems to enjoy it. In fact I met muslims who thought it was FAIR to muslims. I was like, are you insane?? It was the biggest propaganda piece of isht to come out of Hollywood yet!
I generally avoid any post 9/11 Hollywood movies about Muslims, no matter how well intentioned they seem to be. I also heard of this movie and Rendition (as well as others about the Iraq War)being Hollywood's attempt at a balanced portrayal of Muslims. While it's certainly better than crap like 300 and Iron Man it just goes to show how ignorant Hollywood moviemakers are to think that this was an honest portrayal of Muslims! As long as they have storylines with Muslim characters revolving around themes like terrorism and religious extremism they will fail big time in showing a nuanced portrayal of real Muslims and their day to day lives.
Part of me thinks that despite these movies being box office bombs Hollywood does not want to get out of that stupid mindset of equating Muslim characters and storylines with terrorism and extremism. If they did they would have greenlighted Palestinian American Cherien Dabis' indie movie Amreeka about the lives of Muslim Palestinian immigrants in America. But I suspect they'd rather use the same old tired stereotypes about Muslims especially since idiotic action/adventure comic book movies like 300 and Iron Man were successful even while the "more realistic" portrayals didn't like Traitor, Rendition, Iraq War movies, etc.
I agree izzymo， apparently, the makers of that film think they are doing good.
but according to the reviews from chinese non-muslim audiences to this movie, I think, at least, the movie shows some kind of positive images of muslims. that may be the only good of this movie.
Hollywood movie is just so, they just care about benefit.
and I have a question, i am a movie fan, and have watched thousands movies, but strangely, I haven't ever watched a arab-made movie. Don't arab countries make movies?
@ Miloservic: Don't arab countries make movies?
Arab countries make plenty of movies, and this doesn't count the number of American/European movies shot entirely or partially in Arab countries. The real problems I think are two: the vast majority of films made in Arab countries are going to be Arabic language productions (with English and French subtitles costing more money) and, more importantly, a lot of these films aren't very well distributed and/or promoted outside of the Arab world.
I think the same can be said for the films of a lot of countries. For example, there is a small but decent film industry here in Singapore that produces several films in English and Chinese every year, but I wouldn't be surprised if most people outside of East and Southeast Asia haven't seen any of them, despite the fact that most of them are rather good.
JDsg: Thanks.
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