Able Danger, directed by Dave Herman and shot in film noir style, is as invested in its political message as it is in the artistry apparent in each and every shot. And with lines like, “That’s how we define ourselves: by demoralizing Arabs,” scattered throughout the film, one could say it’s very invested in the anti-Bush message it preaches.

The nerd protagonist is Thomas Flynn (Adam Nee), employee at the café and bookstore Vox Pop (which really does exist in Brooklyn), and a staunch conspiracy theorist that believes the American government was behind the planning of 9/11.

It’s immediately clear that the bike-riding, satchel-carrying, glasses-wearing Flynn is not your average coffee shop employee. From the very beginning and throughout the film, the viewer sees him from the ominous point-of-view of some American secret intelligence operative. When a mysterious foreign woman (Elina Löwensohn) shows up at his coffee shop with proof of who was responsible for the 9/11 attacks, Flynn’s dark and paranoid adventure begins.

Everything is shot in black and white except for the images on TV screens and visions Flynn often experiences. Although the majority of characters are engaging, there are a handful of overly cliché foreigners.

Even for a film noir, Danger takes the theatrics a little too far.

Grade: B-

Able Danger releases in select theaters Oct. 31.