Traffic

Rating:
Summary: Are we winning the war on drugs?
Review: Traffic is about America's obsession of the drug war. The movie has three different stories. A Ohio supreme court justice (Douglas) is appointed the position of "drug czar" and oversees the operations of eliminating the Mexican cartels. Only to find out that his honor student daughter is a coke addict. Overtime his daughter falls into the world of addiction. In Mexico, a proud police officer (Del Toro) is confronted daily with the corruption of his fellow officers. Alone he tries to infilrate and bring down the cartels. And finally a wealthy socialite (Zeta Jones) in San Diego watches in horror as her husband arrested for selling drugs. For all the time she's been married to him she hasn't been aware of shady business. In these hard times she becomes desparate and will do anything to preserve her lifesytle. The director of the movie did an excellent job of blending in the stories. I was also impressed with the use of different color shades throught out the movie.

I've heard criticism about the movie being "pro drug" and it was typical of the Hollywood left. I disagree, the movie takes a different look at the war on drugs through the eyes of the various characters. Douglas's character comes to the conclusion that he can't win the war when he's losing the battle at home with his daughter. Traffic gives the message that America needs a different approach on winning the war on drugs.

Rating:
Summary: Traffic
Review: Traffic is a must see. Benicio Del Toro is riviting. As the drug war ever so closely resembles the mileue of Vietnam, Traffic offers a much needed and fresh perspective with regards to US drug policy. Traffic takes a pessimistic view towords the drug war in general; a view point that some americans share but one that is often ingored. Regardless of one's viewpoint, director Steven Soterbergh is at the top of his game. Traffic can be seen both as an important time piece and also for its cinimatic success. As a collage of three stories, Traffic's message is applicaplbe to all facits of society.

Rating:
Summary: Lost in the hype of 4 Oscars...
Review: This movie centers around the trafficing of drugs & 3 sub-plots... Michael Douglas and his new drug czar title and dealing with his daughter's recent drug addiction; unsuspecting Catherine Zeta-Jones and her drug dealing husband; and Benecia Del Toro as an honest Mexican cop fighting the corrupt police force & drug lords on both sides of San Diego & Mexico. Easy message to pick up from this movie... DRUGS ARE BAD. Maybe I had too much riding on this movie before I even sat down to watch it. Benecio did a fine job, but I still believe that Joaquin Phoenix easily deserved the best supporting actor award for his role in "Gladiator". Of the 3 sub-plots, I liked Benecio's story the best, and Michael Douglas's the least (Douglas was just to dang calm throughout, and his daughter's downward spiral from occasional weekend drug user, too crack-whore seemed like it happened overnight). I didn't care for the different color shades in the film. I also didn't appreciate the constant movement of the camera. At times it was hard to focus and follow the action. I understand this is a "style" of cinematography the director chooses... but, as the viewer, I was borderline headache bound. This is a difficult film to follow with 3 stories going on at once, not to mention a tough & complex subject matter. I'm sure with repeated viewings this might get better... but I feel the first view should be the most dramatic and influential. Plenty of fine supporting actors - Amy Irving, Steven Bauer, & unknown Don Cheadle. One reviewer writes.... "Soderbergh weaves a brilliant tapestry..." give me a break. Maybe in "Erin Brockovich", but not here.

Rating:
Summary: This is a very good film but the British Series was
Review: infinitely superior. For the most part the series was better acted and the charactizations were more sharply defined and developed. The motivation was presented with greater logic and the locales were more interesting. Having said that, however, I still enjoyed the film under discussion and would actually rate it at 3 1/2 stars. Zeta-Jones' sudden transformation from ordinary housewife to tough, manipulative avenger was just too unbelievable. That's one of the examples of

"motivation" that I meant earlier. Still, a decent effort.

Rating:
Summary: A non-stop flick
Review: Traffic is of a rare breed. The film is something different, something unique. This film is captivating, funny, and intriguing. I believe that someone should take the time to watch it more than once, because it becomes so much more after an initial viewing.

Rating:
Summary: What It Does More Than Anything Is...
Review: ....it pisses me off.

One, because it is so true. The good guys have a hard time trying to effect any change and the dealers and profiteers keep coming, get set free, and, if offed, another takes his place. It show how the uncorrupted can become the corrupted. This ain't "Superfly" in which the antihero fights a good fight, spits in defiance and is able to walk away free (which always did bug the heck outta me). "Superfly" spoke to an audience of young black folks who thought that mebbe the revolution was in rampant individualism and mebbe it needed to be seen back then. Mebbe only the antihero survives, who knows? But that was then, and this is now...."Traffic" really speaks to how one or two men can makes some kinda change in the Drug War by fighting the good fight, and fighting the good fight some more.

I get kinda angry that the entertainment industry glamorizes the illegal drug industry so much, particularly in rap records, and they sold these records with those AK toting, Blunt smoking, suped up Impala driving, warehouse in the basement working drug dealer scenarios TO THE KIDS. (I mean, the dealers are looking like the recording industry people. Or, was that the intent?) One side of society yelled something about "hey, curb this stuff", the other yelled something about constitutional rights and monitoring what your kids listen to and in the midst of this great debate, more of these illegal narcotics are getting here and in your friendly neighborhoods.

And it kinda makes me angry that the kids are/were reciting those infectious raps that glamorizes some of these Ghetto goings on. And we had a chance to nip it in the bud, but thought it was cute, and besides these rapsters/dealers were talking big money that they were going to give back to the community. And, the rapsters/dealers Ghetto Fabulous living sho' was purty...in other words, we sold out our own damn selves....and what was left of our kids' innocence.

Heck, there's a lot to be angry about this film and this whole Drug War thing we're into...

But, like the film also shows, there is also hope, a lotta, lotta hope, if some good people choose to do the right thing.

Rating:
Summary: A very accurate and informative movie...
Review: "Traffic" will teach about drugs and how they can destroy a family, if you don't already know. Though, the one thing that sets the film apart from 5 stars, is it's somewhat tendency to confuse the viewer and throw them off track. Though, it is a movie you should watch more than once, it can get a bit annoying having to rewind the movie to understand what is going on (also, it is extremely hard to understand Benico Del Toro's heavy Spanish accent). Though the rest of the film is, like I said, imformative and accurate, and gives you an inside look on the world of drugs.

Rating:
Summary: SODAJERK
Review: DISCONNECTED AND BORING, NOT ONE TRACE OF AN ACADEMY AWARD PERFORMANCE HERE, BY THE DIRECTOR OR ANYONE ELSE. ALTHOUGH BENICIO IS A REAL TALENT - ITS NOT HERE. JAQUIN FAR BETTER AS COMMODUS IN GLADIATOR.

Rating:
Summary: the best film of 2000
Review: That Gladiator won best picture instead of this masterpiece is a disservice to movies. Traffic was clearly better. The academy is very confusing at times (I don't agree with the nominations of Chocolat and Erin Brockovich either). If I had a choice the nominees for best picture of 2000 would have been:

Almost Famous, ,Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon ,Shadow of the Vampire ,Sunshine ,Traffic - Winner

(with special mention to Wonder Boys)

Rating:
Summary: An admirable, if flawed, film
Review: Traffic is easily one of the most socially important movies in recent memory, and probably the most most significant major Hollywood production since, well, uh...quite a while.

In fact, that this was a major Holywood release is in itself a reason Traffic is so important. This film marks a moment in time when Hollywood believes that mainstream America is willing to hear the message that maybe the war on drugs is not all it's cracked up to be. And to the extent that this message comes through, one can forgive it for not going farther. Even a baby step can be monumental.

Traffic is also a pretty damn good movie, all told. The cinematography is awe-inspiring, and the film features many excellent performances (most obviously Benicio del Toro, but Don Cheadle and Catherine Zeta-Jones also turn in fine showings). Although Traffic is prone to moments of melodrama, the story itself is generally gripping and well put together.

Overall, although the "drugs are bad...mmmkay?" message is somewhat annoying (I don't endorse drug use, but I don't exactly condemn it or discourage it either), I acknowlege its necessity if you are going to make a movie that ultimately condemns the war on drugs. Overall, Traffic is a fine flick, great on DVD, and I recommend it with only minor reservations.