Rent American Traitor (2021)

American Traitor (aka Axis Sally / American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally) review by Mark McPherson - Cinema Paradiso

Movies have the power to make history come alive. True historical events can be transformed into entertainment if there’s some interesting worth exploring. The tale of Axis Sally is very much a unique aspect of history that feels more poignant now for its focus on how easy propaganda was to whip up during a time of massive political tensions. So why does this film just feel so dead?

Based on the book Axis Sally Confidential by William E. Owen, the film is more or less a courtroom drama the focuses on putting Mildred Gillars on trial. She had been accused of stirring up Nazi propaganda over the radio to US military forces during World War 2. Every night she would approach the microphone amid a band and speak to the troops about how much things suck in America and how much better the world would be if fascism could be embraced. For the naysayers of such influence, consider that this was a time when it wasn’t uncommon for Nazi rallies to be held in America for preaching the same sense of nationalism and traditionalism. The Nazis, of course, produce the broadcasts of Mildred and write up her lines.

Meadow Williams plays Mildred with a great sense of desperation and aloofness. Amid her broadcast career, she finds herself being seductive in front of a mic and terrified when off the air. The Nazis who give her orders want to make sure she follows the script to the letter. One mere ad-lib and she’s beaten and raped by Joseph Goebbels (Thomas Kretschmann). When on trial, however, she has little hope for her fate. She sits in her cell and remains quietly confident that her fate is sealed.

Representing Mildred is attorney James Laughlin, played with a certain sense of easy dignity by Al Pacino. The lawyer is only mildly conflicted about taking on the case. There are voices of reason around him that are telling him it’s a bad idea to go down this road of trying to defend this woman from treason. James, however, is no stranger to more cases that conflict with his morals and ethics. Pacino gives a great performance for an aged, passionate, and conflicted man who finds himself a bitter mess about the world he occupies.

Despite Pacino’s usual exuberance for any role he takes, this film just feels dead. Every scene falls flat on any emotional core and seems to be trying too hard to throw on that retro gloss for such a story. Greater contemplation doesn’t feel as present when there was clearly more effort put into costumes, makeup, and 1940s aesthetics than anything else. Points for the cosmetic appeal but there needs to be more than just a handful of good-looking actors to make this story work.

American Traitor had the potential to be a very poignant piece of American history and a strong observation on propaganda. What we’re left with is a lukewarm courtroom drama with hardly a spark to its somber and heated tale of treason and war. Even a strong performance by Al Pacino and a beautiful singing voice by Meadow Williams can save such a picture.