Rating: 
Summary: Weak plot pumped up with stunning visuals and great acting
Review: Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this movie, but ultimately it left me unsatisfied because of a very weak script.Considering the accolades this film received, I was surprised at how trite the story actually was. I've heard so many comments about how complex this film is and I just don't see it. When it's announced that Madrigal/The Scorpion died during plastic surgery, you know he'll turn up later alive. It's no surprise that Salazar is in cahoots with the drug cartels. And there are holes, big ones, in the plot: Wouldn't Frankie Flowers' cell phone records link him to Helena Ayala? Wouldn't the DEA agents be more careful in protecting Ruiz, especially since an attempt had already been made on his life? The film also offers no real ground breaking insight into the issues raised. You can find better writing on tv (pick any episode of Law & Order). Shame on the Academy for honoring this movie with a Best Screenplay Oscar. It just doesn't deserve it! In the end the film is saved by stylish visuals thanks to the direction of Steven Soderberg and great acting from an amazing cast. Traffic is worth a viewing...unfortunately, its all style and no substance.
Rating: 
Summary: Very over-hyped effort, but good acting.
Review: First things first: The acting is pretty good, even when it is unintentionally humorous. However, I've got to wonder what kind of person thinks that this film makes anything other than the most simplistic statments about drug traffic or national drug policies. What was Soderbergh thinking? The characters are all charicatures from the liberal mindset. The viewer has no opportunity to empathize with any of the characters...the victories are hollow and the tragedies are meaningless. See a good production of "Hamlet" if you want to experience internal conflict and true tragedy. This movie is like something Dan Rather would put together. But, Del Toro IS quite good....
Rating:
Summary: Overrated
Review: This is another case of movie star names selling a movie. If I had heard about this movie WITHOUT being told who was starring in it, I never would have bothered seeing it. But, I did see it! At first, it seemed riveting and interesting but after a couple of hours, the only good parts were Benicio Del Toro's scenes. The story was boring and far-fetched and in my opinion, this was a hyped up bunch of hot-air. For example, I've never seen a government official break down at a press conference because his daughters on drugs. Come on! Don't insult our intelligence. And drugs being transported as fully constructed dolls made of cocaine! Hmmmm, what happens if someone sweats on one of the dolls? This movie wouldn't even fool a kid let alone an adult. Terrible.
Rating: 
Summary: Powerful And Provocative.
Review: Steven Soderbergh's "Traffic" is an important film document of the world we know as the drug war. It is a well-assembled film that explores the facts and issues in a thrilling, intelligent way. It is a visceral movie that dives right into the realities of the subject with a clarity and sharpness seen in so few dramas. Here is one of the important American films. Split into three storylines, it shows what is wrong with the drug war, it shows the facts of how drugs get in here and why. What I got out of it is the idea that the idea that the drug war is a literal "war" is useless because it is more of a health problem and education crisis. Why are drugs so continuosly coming in here? Because people buy them. So, the problem isn't the cartels, the problem is US. How to fix it is what Soderbergh rightfully leaves us up to figure out. He shows here that he has the talent to be a visceral director like Oliver Stone or Martin Scorsese. He directs the scenes in Mexico with a grainy, gritty photographic style that adds mood and texture which is powered by Benicio Del Toro's stunning performance as a Tijuana cop trying to do honest work. The other stories are great too. The angle about the drug czar's daughter becoming an addict is a powerful warning sign to any parent. The storyline involving the police busting a cartel lord and his wife taking over is thrilling and intriguing. And Soderbergh films all with style but with a clarity and realism that make scenes feel like material from a documentary. "Traffic" is real, it is alive and it is a film that tells the truth. Anyone who cares to open their eyes to what has been going on should see it, anyone who wants to see a smart, important movie for a change should see it. Those critics here who whine that the movie is too long or boring, go home to your ignorant forms of movie-watching and rent "Free Willy" or something. "Traffic" is for the people with cojones.
Rating:
Summary: Why did the chicken cross the road?
Review: I dunno. But anyway about the film... Ok, I had to watch it twice before I figured out what was going on and even then I figured, what was the point? It's a really long movie anyway. The most irritating thing about it was the way it suddenly ended - I won't tell you how, I'll keep you in suspense. Basically, the movie's about a three way competition between two drug cartels (Juarez and Tijuana) and the US DEA, FBI, ETC ETC blah blah...I got irritated with the general too. I forget his name though. Javier was cool, though. Ok, so what did you learn about the movie from this review? Absolutely nothing. And that's what you'll learn from the movie too...
Rating: 
Summary: Soderbergh breaks the case.
Review: O.k., now I guess you've already know what "Traffic" is all about, right ? But if you still haven't see the movie yet, let me give you some helpful reasons why you should do so: first of all "Traffic" happens to be THE most convincing and enthralling narcotics thriller since the glorious days when Popeye Doyle broke the french connection. "Traffic" is wonderfully acted, stunningly edited and photographed (Soderbergh operated the camera himself, using the pseudonym "Peter Andrews" !) and very uncommon for traditional hollywood film standarts. Benicio del Toro gives an outstanding performance as narcotics detective Javier Rodriguez Rodriguez, speaking only spanish throughout the entire film (alright, there is one brief scene where he speaks english with a heavy accent !), but Soderbergh also gets great performances from Michael Douglas, Luis Guzman (meanwhile a Soderbergh regular) and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The soundtrack, composed by Soderbergh's longtime companion and former "Red Hot Chili Peppers" drummer Cliff Martinez, is very unnasuming and underlines perfectly the several situations of the film. The transfer of this disc is very well done. Due to the fact that "Traffic" was shot in very grain images and colours (each of the three stories has another "look"), very similar to the "Dogma" films, it is a little difficult to tell, if there were any flaws of picture quality, but to me it looks pretty good. The extras on this DVD include an electronic press kit (or "B-Roll" if want to call it that), that seems very much of a letdown (because it looks to me like one of those Made-for-cable documentaries minus narration), but if you like to watch only the director directing (and the actors acting, haw, haw), you might get your kicks out of it. Me, I would have prefered at least one informative audio commentary track, like the one Soderbergh did for his previous DVD releases "Sex, Lies and Videotape", "Out of Sight" and "The Limey", which really offered not only intereseting insights, but was also highly entertaining. But, hey, you can't have it all, can you ? Extras also include several deleted scenes and filmographies of cast and crew. O.k., so if you like to watch a good crime thriller for a change, then "Traffic" may serve you well, but be warned: if you are out to catch an action/adventure film, your popcorn might get stuck in your throath. I can assure you that "Traffic" contains almost no "action" whatsoever (there is only one brief chase at the beginning). "Traffic" tells three stories, has no main character the audience can rely on, and is more or less entirely based on characters and their motivations. A return to the great "ensemble" pictures of the seventies, if you like.
Rating:
Summary: I want my money back
Review: I absoultley hated this movie! Its was boring, very very boring. I am still puzzeled as to why this movie won so many Oscars. One of my friends picked this movie, and we still haven't let him down for picking such a terrible movie. I envy those who haven't seen this.
Rating:
Summary: one heck of a powerhouse film
Review: this film deserves al 4 acadamey awards for best director, best supporting actor, best adapted screenplay, and best film editing. one of the best dvd's i have. it is long yet intriuging enough to kep you in it. an epic achievement this was partly based on the 1980's miniseries "Traffik" which traced the drug war from the Middle east to Europe. the cast is all star the plot gripping. definitely one of the greatest movies of all time.two big thumbs up for the powerhouse epic.
Rating:
Summary: Boffo!
Review: Imagine Orson Welles on a chicken sandwich binge hitting Chicago with David Bowie, Andy Warhol, and Harold Bloom in tow, all jamming to a recording of Luis Bunuel choking on a strawberry milkshake...and you have Traffic. Classic!
Rating:
Summary: Wake me when it's over
Review: I rented this film because I had heard so many positive things about it and the cast list was incredible. Boy, was I left with a bad taste in my mouth. Traffic follows 3 different stories that are all circled around the topic of drugs. The only story I found interesting was the one about the daughter of Michael Douglas' character (I was so bored I didn't bother to catch any names), and that was the story they spent the least amount of time on. The rest of the time we are supposed to feel sorry for a bunch of murderous mexicans trying to smuggle heroine over the border who are torturing some assassin for no reason. Some other guy gets shot by another guy and then 30 minutes later he is trying to save his life. It makes no sense. This movie is vERY long, and very drawn out. The directing is horrible and the use of solid colors instead of real-technicolor (I.E. Yellow, Blue) is really annoying and pointless. You will never be more bored in your life. It was painful to sit through, and I was hoping the ending would pay off. But it didn't. I don't recommend this to anyone for any reason. To think I rented this over Leprechaun 2.
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