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This film won a lot of awards when it was released, 4 Oscars and 5 Golden Globe Awards, and was also in receipt of much critical acclaim. The first time that I saw this film I was disappointed and certainly did not feel that it deserved the praise that it received. However, having recently watched it for a second time I have changed my opinion somewhat.
The film deals with the drug problem in the United States, however where it differs from other films in this genre is that it chooses to tell the story though three interlinked mini stories that serve to portray the impact of the drug trade on suppliers, users and those in place to prevent the trade. There are some big name actors in this film but no one stands out as the star as each storyline is given equal picture time.
The director Steven Soderburgh, who won a best director oscar, switches between each storyline shooting each in a different colour. Time to own up but I only realised that each colour signified a particular story through the extra features on the DVD. While each storyline can stand on it’s own there are occasions where they overlap, with scenes showing actors crossing over each other as the story unfolds.
As I mentioned earlier the cast features a number of well known names including Michael Douglas, Dennis Quaid, Catherine Zeta Jones and it also saw the rise to critical acclaim of Benicio Del Toro.
Douglas plays a high court judge, Robert Wakefield who has been recently promoted by
the President into the role of Drugs Czar. When taking up the role there is a scene where he meets up with his predecessor who tells him the story and about the former world leader who gave his replacement two letters with the instruction to open the first letter when he made his first mistake and to open the second letter when he made his second mistake. When the occasion for opening the first letter arose it simply stated “blame the previous job holder”. When the occasion arose to open the second letter it stated, “write two letters…” Within a short space of time Douglas is seen giving a speech blaming the shortfalls on the previous jobholder. All of the scenes featuring Douglas are shot with a blue hue and show him struggling to find his feet, one scene that serves to show both the futility of his battle and the sheer scale of the task facing him is at a party. In this Soderburgh used real senators, lobbyists and drug professionals to put across their own views on where efforts should be placed.
In a second scene Douglas is on a plane asking all of his people to be creative and to think outside of the box to come up with new ideas to battle the flow of drugs from Mexico, the silence is deafening made all the worse when he realises that within his advice team there is no one with an understanding of treatment issues. All the while that Douglas is looking for answers he is blind to the fact that his own teenager daughter is becoming an addict after first experimenting with drugs with her spoilt rich friends. When he finally comes to terms with reality he also has to accept that for him also drink has become a crutch that supports him just as drugs have for his daughter.
Zeta Jones plays the role of Helena Ayala whose rich life of luxury begins to collapse around her after the arrest of her husband accused of being the head of a drug trafficking ring. All these scenes are shot in normal colour that serves to highlight the wealth that surrounds her and also in this storyline there is a small amount of humour provided by the two street cops who through the use of grasses attempt to bring her husband to justice. These roles are well played by Don Cheadle (Montel Gordon) and Luis Guzman (Ray Castro) who provide some good buddy banter in the early scenes. Despite the humour these are the weakest scenes, the grip on reality is stretched with Zeta Jones being transformed from the doting mother and charity fundraiser into someone able to take over her husbands operation both in the states and across the border in Mexico.
The third storyline features the excellent Del Toro as Javier Rodriguez a cop based in Tijuana who, along with his partner, after stopping a truck containing drugs finds himself working for a Mexican General who is looking to bring down both of the drugs cartels in Tijuana and is quite happy to use torture and force to achieve his aims. The scenes with Rodriguez are shot entirely in Tobacco, which gives it a gritty quality that emphasises the poverty that surrounds them and also serves to give a sense of the heat in Mexico. Subtitles also help to create the image that this is real-life shot with a handheld camcorder rather than a big Hollywood production.
This style of filming is probably one of the reasons why I did not like this film first time round and, once I knew what to expect, actually found it much more enjoyable second time round. The film does not really give any new insights into the war on drugs but the style of filming is entertaining and gives it a documentary feel to the proceedings, as if you have a front row seat into the working of government, the Mexican authorities and drug cartels as well as into the lives of those involved.
No DVD review would be complete without some comment on the bonus material of which you get an additional 65 minutes. The deleted scenes are probably the most interesting of those on offer, some of these help to link the story and fill in some gaps and also I find it interesting to see what ended up on the cutting room floor. There is the usual trailer and interviews with director and cast members but neither of these held my interest and the same can be said for the B-Roll which is basically shots of the cameraman and director taking shots of the action, I may be doing this a disservice to anyone who is really into their films but for the average Joe I pressed the stop button after three minutes. Finally there is a comprehensive list of production notes including bio’s of all the main characters which is great for settling those “What have I seen him in before?” discussions with your partner.
In total the film is a long one at two hours twenty minutes however don’t let this put you off as it moves at a fast pace between each of the different storylines which keeps you on your toes. It is an 18 certificate as there are sex scenes and some showing drug use.
To conclude if you did not like this film first time around give it a second chance as the DVD is good value and I have grown to like it. It is something a little different and does make the viewer sit up and take notice without attempting to give you the answers.
I bought my copy a few months back as part of a 3 for £20 offer in HMV which has long ended. Currently it is available on Amazon for £18.99 but check out the used section as prices are quoted as starting from £1.49.
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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
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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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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Traffic (DVD)
![Traffic [DVD] [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78540259.jpg "Traffic [DVD] [2001]")
Jun 21st, 2004
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