Traffic (DVD)

Review of

Traffic (DVD)

Overall rating (58): Overall user rating Traffic (DVD)

4 offers from £0.50 to £4.99  

All Traffic (DVD) reviews

 Write your own review


 


 


Traffic - A Critical Review

4 Feb 26th, 2001

Advantages:
Fantastic acting, original incite into the drug trafficking world .

Disadvantages:
Not that entertaining .  Catherine Zeta Jones looking awful and unconvinving .

Recommendable: Yes 

Detailed rating:

Did you enjoy it?

Story

Characters / Performances

Special Effects

How does it compare to similar films?

more


Alex1226

About me: I powerlift, I write poetry, I watch films. Oh and Im a weirdo!

Member since:18.01.2001

Reviews:24

Members who trust:7

Review rated by 6 Ciao members on average: very helpful

Steven Soderbergh follows up his successful ‘Erin Brockovich’ with an uneasy portrayal of the drug-trafficking industry between Mexico and America. The film is essentially split into three stages of the cocaine industry, with Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones and Benicio Del Toro (Snatch, The Usual Suspects) taking the leading roles in each stage.

Douglas is presiding over his new role as drug tsar-elect, and whilst he is immersing himself in talks with ‘experts’ and leaders of various groups, he learns of his daughter’s own drug problem and dependence when one of her sixteen year-old friends overdoses, thus not only compromising his position, but learning of the impotency of his role and the power of the drug barons. The scene in which Douglas cracks while giving a speech is brilliantly acted.

Catherine Zeta Jones’ character finds her life falling apart when her husband is arrested for cocaine trafficking, and finds her friends have cut her off and the custody of their son is in question. As the trial of her husband approaches she finds herself drawn into the criminal underworld to protect her family, and even sets up her own drug smuggling operation.

Benicio Del Toro stars as Javier Rodriguez Rodriguez, a Tijuana cop who manages to infiltrate a drugs cartel and befriend its leader General Salazar. He is accompanied by his wayward friend Manolo Sanchez (Jacob Vargas).

Each of the three ensemble dramas overlap to some extent, but it is the third of the three stories that is the most interesting, with Benicio Del Toro stealing the show, and it is shot with a distinct filter to indicate the harshness of the environment.

‘Traffic’ is a serious film, but its disquieting effects make it less enjoyable and entertaining than it might have been, although the two DEA agents played by Don Cheadle (Boogie Nights) and the ubiquitous Luis Guzman (Carlito’s Way) provide admirable comedic relief. Zeta Jones is both unconvincing in the role and is also looking less glamorous than she used to be, even accounting for the fact that she is pregnant. This is one area where the film fails. Her character moves far too quickly from utter condemnation of her husband’s actions, to being a cocaine baroness.

The film does succeed in not making any moral claims, but it also hints that there can be very little done to tame both drug use and drug trafficking with ever more sophisticated measures being taken by the traffickers in evading detection. The acting is superb and the assembled cast is the best I have seen this year, yet it is strangely not as entertaining nor as enjoyable as it should have been. However, although the film is nearly two and a half hours long, Traffic does not drag at all, such is the compelling nature of the acting and the direction.
Overall 6/10
 

Evaluate this review

How helpful would this review be to someone making a buying decision?

Rating guidelines

Comments about this review
DavidBell2000

DavidBell2000

05.03.2001 15:41

A superb review! The only possible fault is that I fear it may provide just a little too much information. I wanted to see this film anyway, and after reading your review I have every intention of doing so, but, for example, if the scene of Michael Douglas cracking is so great, it may have been nice to have not know it would take place within a speech. I will now watch this at the first available opportunity.

drusilla

drusilla

26.02.2001 19:20

Very refreshing to read a review that doesn't just concentrate on the good things about a movie. I haven't seen the film, but thanks to you, I now have a good idea on what it's about. Thanks.

Add your comment

max. 2000 characters

  Post comment
Compare Prices sorted by Price
Traffic [DVD] [2001]

Traffic [DVD] [2001]

Featuring a huge cast of characters, the ambitious and breathtakingTrafficis a ...

more

£ 0.50 amazon dvd 719 Ratings

Postage & Packaging: Check Site.

Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-​2 business days.​.​.

     Visit Shop  

amazon dvd

Traffic [DVD] [2001]

Traffic [DVD] [2001]

Featuring a huge cast of characters, the ambitious and breathtakingTrafficis a ...

more

£ 4.88 amazon marketplace dvd 94 Ratings

Postage & Packaging: Free!

Availability: Temporarily out of stock.​ Order now and we'll deliver when available.​ We'll e-​mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon.​.​.

     Visit Shop  

amazon marketplace dvd

Traffic-DVD

Traffic-​DVD

...

£ 4.93 thehut.com 25 Ratings

Postage & Packaging: £0.​00

Availability: In stock -​ Usually dispatched within 24 hours.​.​.

     Visit Shop  

thehut.​com



Compare prices
Traffic [DVD] [2001] Traffic [DVD] [2001] Traffic-DVD
Traffic [DVD] [2001] Traffic [DVD] [2001] Traffic-​DVD
amazon dvd amazon marketplace dvd thehut.com
£ 0.50 £ 4.88 £ 4.93
Postage & Packaging: Check Site.
more
Postage & Packaging: Free!
more
Postage & Packaging: £0.​00
more
 Visit Shop  Visit Shop  Visit Shop
amazon dvd amazon marketplace dvd thehut.​com
Similar offers
Traffic Dvd Sex Traffic Dvd Human Traffic Dvd
Traffic Dvd Sex Traffic Dvd Human Traffic Dvd
ebay ebay ebay
£ 5.99 £ 8.99 £ 6.99
Postage & Packaging: 0.​00
more
Postage & Packaging: 0.​00
more
Postage & Packaging: 0.​00
more
 Visit Shop  Visit Shop  Visit Shop
ebay ebay ebay
Review Ratings
This review of Traffic (DVD) has been rated:

"very helpful" by (100%):
  1. DavidBell2000
  2. redridinghood
  3. A_BAD_USERNAME
and 3 other members

The overall rating of a review is different from a simple average of all individual ratings.
Products you might be interested in
The Day After Tomorrow (DVD) The Day After Tomorrow (DVD)
(+) A good film with great special effects
(-) A little predictable in places
97 reviews
Buy now for only £ 1.95
Frequency (DVD) Frequency (DVD)
Production Year: 2000 - Drama - Director: Gregory Hoblit - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Andre Braugher, Jim Caviezel, Noah Emmerich, Dennis Quaid, Shawn Doyle, Elizabeth Mitchell
47 reviews
Buy now for only £ 1.49
A Celebration Of Blockbusters (Box Set) (DVD) A Celebration Of Blockbusters (Box Set) (DVD)

This product has not yet been reviewed. Rate it now
Buy now for only £ 12.99
Related products on eBay