TRAFFIC (US 2000) directed & cinematographed by Steven Soderbergh written by Stephen Gaghan based on the miniseries “Traffik” by Simon Moore produced by Laura Brickford Marshall Herskovitz & Edward Zwick composed by Cliff Martinez edited by Stephen Mirrione
starring Benicio Del Toro Jacob Vargas Michael Douglas Thomas Milian Luis Guzmán Don Cheadle Catherine Zeta-Jones Miguel Ferrer Steven Bauer Amy Irving Erika Christensen Albert Finney James Brolin Benjamin Bratt Dennis Quaid Peter Riegert Salma Hayek
[147mins; Colour]
Review: The year’s most critically acclaimed US studio effort, Steven Soderbergh’s complex epic of the drugs business and its struggling players is a long, ambitious, quite powerful, if clichéd and sadly predictable drama with a impressive ensemble cast.
A couple of storylines are intervened, yet seperated by shooting them in different styles depending on the plot’s location. In the blue Washington D.C. segment, Michael Douglas fights drug smuggling as a newly appointed judge, but fails to keep his daughter Erika Christensen from taking them.
In the brown part mexican border cop Benicio Del Toro dares to infiltrate the criminal actions of his superiors. In rather basic episodes rich society wife Catherine Zeta-Jones realises her husband Benjamin Bratt is a drug lord and takes over his work with the aid of lawyer Dennis Quaid to keep her lifestyle intact as DEA agents Luis Guzman and Don Cheadle hide prime witness Miguel Ferrer.
Soderbergh tries to clarify the parallel, yet differently proceeding storylines by shooting each segment in a different colour and style, but this arty look doesn’t, however, keep the movie from failing to reach the hights its obviously aiming at.
The script offers no particularly new insights into the much-discussed topic, coming up with well-known characters, situations and plots from daily TV-series. The cast is throughout reliable with standout turns by the utterly believable Del Toro, the confused Douglas and a gleefully funny cameo by Bratt as a drugs czar.
The parts, though, are stock and not very interesting. Some lines of dialogue are poignant and smart and the editing is good, but it drags too often in overlong “inner thoughts” shots, which stresses the patience. At the Oscars Traffic was nominated for Best Picture and won prizes for adapted script, editing, support Del Toro and director. Overrated, yet quality stuff.
Rating: B –
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Production Year: 2002 - Drama - Director: Todd Haynes - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Viola Davis, James Rebhorn, Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, Dennis Haysbert, Patricia Clarkson
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
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
I enjoyed parts of this film, but it was too disjointed for me. A lot went unexplained and it was way too long! Good op though
jackie-b 04.11.2001 20:45
Good op - this is one of the many films that I've yet to get around to watching. :)
LostWitness 04.11.2001 20:25
Good review. I enjoyed the movie to a certain extent, but I didn't feel that the three hour running time was justified. I was expecting something a bit meatier! Cheers, Phil :O)
Featuring a huge cast of characters, the ambitious and breathtakingTrafficis a tapestry of ... more
three separate stories woven together by a common theme: the war on drugs. Bold in scope, it showcases Steven Soderbergh at the top of his game, directing a peer...
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Traffic is the Academy Award winning thriller set in the world of drug trafficking, from ... more
the cartels in Mexico to the wealthy dealers across America. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Traffic evokes the high stakes and high risks of the drug trade, as see...
Featuring a huge cast of characters, the ambitious and breathtakingTrafficis a tapestry of ... more
three separate stories woven together by a common theme: the war on drugs. Bold in scope, it showcases Steven Soderbergh at the top of his game, directing a peer...
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...
A high-ranking judge with a vendetta against drugs learns his own daughter is a cocaine ... more
addict - a San Diego housewife must suddenly take over her husband's drug dealing business when he is arrested - a Mexican police officer struggles to do the right ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: The acting is very impressive/ editing is brilliant/ good use of colours Disadvantages: Drags on a bit/ not as original I some would have you believe
MrTink12 25.09.2004 ·
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Review of Traffic (DVD)
Advantages: Some of the best character acting seen in years, particularly in the smaller parts. Disadvantages: Dull, slow, annoying, over-long, too complicated, no real ending, over-the-top direction....the list is almost endless
superpricee 20.08.2001 (21.08.2001)
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Review of Traffic (DVD)
![Traffic [DVD] [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78540259.jpg "Traffic [DVD] [2001]")
Nov 4th, 2001
(Nov 6th, 2001)
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