Traffic

Rating:
Summary: Like a film school project
Review: This movie is long... really long. I felt like I was watching a film student's project. The cheap gimmick of the different colors for the different settings served little purpose. Also, the handheld camers shots did little to add to the feel of the movie. The numerous characters were never really developed to a point where I had an interest in any of them. I really couldn't have cared less what happened to any of them (maybe that was the point of the movie - but it made me quickly lose interest). Even a wonderful performance by Benicio Del Toro couldn't save this movie. This movie was written from the point of view of someone who observed drug culture in the 70s. Many of the situations seem to reflect the attitudes of that era and not what is going on in the year 2000-1. After seeing the previews I really wanted to like Traffic, but it seriously let me down.

Rating:
Summary: An amazing film that left me astounded
Review: Most would not consider a film about the war on drugs 'great entertainment'. And they're right. It was beyond great. 'Traffic' is an amazing film that shows three sides to the 'war on drugs'. There are three stories here all mixed together in a series of short cuts that jump from one story to the next, leaving the viewer wondering what will happen and what they will see next. The first story that we are introduced to involves a cop named Javier, played by Benicio Del Toro. Javier and his partner become involved with a general who is actually playing drug cartel on the side. The general wants to get rid of all the other cartels in Mexico, but only so that he is the only one left. The second story is that of the newly appointed drug czar, Robert Wakefield, played by Michael Douglas. While he is trying to adjust to his new surroundings, his daughter (played by an amazing Erika Christiansen) is getting deeper and deeper into drugs with the aid of her boyfriend Seth (played by surprise, surprise Topher Grace from 'That 70's Show'!). The final story is sort of two stories that are interwoven. This one involves two undercover cops (played by Don Cheadle and Luis Guzman) and the woman they are watching (played by Catherine Zeta-Jones). The woman did not know that her husband was involved in selling drugs. When he is carted off to jail, she finds that he was deeply in debt to a cartel named Juan Obergon. As all these stories start to unravel, the viewer is shown a world where the motto is 'Once you get in, you can't get out'. We are taken to places we would never go, see things most people have never seen and we are taught a valuable lesson. I'll let you figure out what it is on your own. Steven Soderberg is obviously a great filmmaker ('sex,lies and videotape' and 'Erin Brokovich') and with 'Traffic' it is only made more clear. The way the stories are interwoven and the way they look make this movie as visually stunning as it is well-acted. I'd also like to applaud the screenwriter Stephen Gaughan. I look forward to his directorial debut. As far as the movies last year went, 'Traffic' was and is a stand-out motion picture among the mediocre films of today.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie, with one flaw
Review: Stephen Soderburgh deservedly won the Oscar for Best Director of this film. (Being nominated twice in the same category--Erin Brockovich was the other--for those who don't know--was a coup. Instead of likely splitting the votes, the Academy actually went with the better film.) His use of color in all the three major segments of the film (especially the Mexican part) was brilliant.

It does make me hope that Soderburgh goes back to some of his earlier stylistic efforts, such as "Sex, Lies and Videotape" and (flawed as it was) "Kafka". But his work still reflects that he can make popular films with an edge. His career should flourish for years to come.

However, of the three story lines, the "Michael Douglas Drug Czar" was the weakest. It was too pat and unrealistic on many levels. (Most especially the ending and resolution.)

Catherine Zeta Jones's performance was surprisingly effective and believable. Don Cheadle was excellent as well.

Without a doubt, the star of the film was Benecio Del Toro and the Mexico segment was by far the best. He deservedly won Best Supporting Actor.

So, if not a perfect film, it was excellent on many levels. It's well worth a viewing.

It also makes me want to watch the British mini-series version "Traffik" on which the film is based.

Rating:
Summary: Eye-opening
Review: I can't believe how many people completely missed the point of this movie. In reading reviews it's very easy to tell who expected a Disney/Hollywood epic and who was ready to accept the movie for what it was. The film attempts to show the reality of America's drug problem and it does so with various techniques, primarily by using handheld cameras and rough editing, making you feel like part of the action.

What most people misunderstand about this movie is the very premise upon which it stands. Namely, drugs are everywhere and nobody is immune from their effects. Even upper-class white prep-school students are doing it. And I can't even believe the idiotic comments I've read that cite this portion of the movie as unbelievable because these rich kids did drugs for "no apparent reason." Did you *watch* the film? That's its point! If people believe that these rich white kids aren't doing drugs because "there's no apparent reason for it" then what are they really saying? What *are* these "apparent reasons" they mention? Being poor? Being black? Coming from a broken home? It's amazing how transparent our culture becomes when we discuss these issues. What we really believe becomes clear.

This movie at least tried to dispel the myth that the only hard-drug users in America are poor blacks in the inner city. Most negative reviews come from people who just can't accept that fact and are truly part of the problem that the heroes of the movie are trying to defeat. The greatest ally of this problem is people not believing there really is one.

On a filmmaking level, I appreciate what the director was attempting to do. The film was raw and had a documentary feel to it. If you want the Disney version of a drug movie that makes you feel safe and sound as long as you stay away form cities and/or minorities, don't watch this. But if you want a film that makes you feel like you are actually one of its characters and that your own mother might be on something, then Traffic is your movie.

Any time a film that tries to depict the reality of a situation is made, we usually will see two camps of reviewers - loved it or hated it. That's because one group was able to understand the movie and what it was trying to do and the other group gets upset because they weren't "entertained" by it, the camera shakes a lot, there weren't enough special effects, the film was grainy, etc., just missing the point totally. This film was trying to wake people up from their coma and realize that America has a serious drug problem, and everyone is affected by it. Usually we don't realize this until it's too late (as in Michael Douglas' character's case). I'm amazed at how many people still seem to have their head buried in the sand after seeing it, citing the fact that rich white kids doing drugs is an "unbelievable" element of the movie. It must be nice to live in their enchanted fantasy world where rich white people don't use drugs.

On a final note, the DVD itself gets only 3.5 stars. For such a unique movie there are very few extra features on the DVD discussing it. There isn't even a commentary, which in my opinion is just inexcusable in this age of technology. There is no reason to not include these extra features, other than the fact they want to later release a special edition with a commentary and make us buy both versions.

Rating:
Summary: booo!
Review: shoddy, gimmicky directing and appalling acting by zeta-jones. boring and typical.

Rating:
Summary: Azrael
Review: This has got to be one of the worst movies of all time not even good enough for the b-movie films of yesteryear. Don't waste your time and or money on this.

Rating:
Summary: An Achievement In Film Making!
Review: I've read and tried to understand most of the reviews posted on "Amazon.com" for 'Traffic', and have a hard time understanding how and why so many people did not understand or feel for this movie.

'Traffic' is not a short easy ploted story. It is a documentary of some sort told through the circumstances of several different characters. This may cause problems for some people, if they do not expect the story line to jump back and forth throughout the movie - but once you see were the movie is going, you'll hopefully enjoy the way the film is edited into stories jumping back and forth.

'Traffic" explores the surroundings of drug users all over the world. There is not one thing in Traffic that has not happened. It has to do with: families, police, governments and everyday teenagers like myself.

An excellent cast, great screenplay and extroidinary directorial by STEVEN SODERBERGH, Traffic is Definetely One of the greatest Achievements in Film Making History.

CAST: Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle, Dennis Quaid, Benicio Del Toro, Catherine Zeta Jones SCREENPLAY BY: Stephen Ghaghan DIRECTED BY: Steven Soderbergh

DVD FEATURES: -trailors and tv spots, - inside traffic (documentary), photo gallery. (widescreen, subtitles)

Distributed by USA ENTERTAINMENT (c)2001

Rated: R (US) 14 (Can) for perversive drug content, strong language, violence and some sexulaity.

Rating:
Summary: Better than usual
Review: The storyline and characters are remarkably real for a movie, but diverse enough from the everyday lives of most to hold your attention.

Rating:
Summary: Okay.
Review: It seems to me that in the last several years the film industry has completed degenerated in terms of basic competence. Everybody is trying too hard and too many people are involved in any given project, and all the movies end up as mere teasers to what Could Have Been.

In this sense, it does not surprise me that Traffic was so lauded. Because it's, you know ... OK. Whereas most movies suck utterly. It's not really great. Not a masterpiece. And though far from brainless, it's nonetheless not as thought-provoking as it probably fancies itself to be.

Relatively decent performances, I suppose. I always enjoy Benecio Del Toro, though I couldn't help but feel his character was a bit underdeveloped here. The performance is good (though not overly demanding), but you just never get that into him as a character. It doesn't help that his particular branch of the story is rather confusing. Michael Douglas fits his role like a glove, but it's pretty standard fare for him. Catherine Zeta-Jones is acceptable, but her character's transformation -- which had the potential to be one of the more absorbing aspects of the film -- simply happens too fast, doesn't ring true, and is confusing in certain technical respects. The girl who plays Douglas' daughter -- I've forgotten her name momentarily -- is equally acceptable, and seeing her succumb to debasing herself so thoroughly to maintain her habit is indeed affecting -- but like most everyone else in Traffic, the character herself remained more than a little underdeveloped, and relatively unlikable.

In the end, it's not that Traffic was bad. It held my interest. But it just wasn't all that great either. Definitely overrated and self-important.

Rating:
Summary: This didn't win best picture why?
Review: I must say that the last year was very disappointing. First, I saw Gladiator, and did not enjoy it. It was overhyped and a sub-par movie that didn't deserve what it got at the Academy Awards. Then I saw Cast Away, and realized why that didn't do well at the awards, just because it too was a mediocre film. I watched Traffic earlier today, and I saw how some people may not like it. It's slow, hard to follow if you're not paying attention--mainly because of the many characters, the long scenes totally in Spanish, and how it jumps around--and a very odd style of filming, unlike what we've seen before. But if you really pay attention, this movie is almost a masterpiece. Steve Soderbergh, though not widely known, is a fantastic director. Not even Spielberg--my favorite director--could make two movies in one year that were so good. (This and Erin Brocovich.) I loved how the entire movie was filmed with hand-held cameras, and how scenes would cut from shot to shot...I truly think that if this was filmed in the same fashion as other movies are filmed, it would not be nearly as good. The acting was good, but nothing amazing. (Even Benicio Del Toro, who received the Best Supporting Actor award even though 95% of his role had him speaking Spanish.) This movie deserved all the awards is received, but was cheated out of one...best picture. Gladiator shouldn't have won, plain and simple. Excellent plot--disturbing, but it's true--good acting and amazing photography makes this one great movie. (A lot of movies are rated R for a reason, and this is one of them...very strong language, realistic violence, and plenty of drug use...but it's a movie about drugs, so what do you expect?)

Rent Traffic...there will be some who won't realize how great a movie this really is, so I suggest you pick up a copy at Blockbuster or wherever you go to rent videos before purchasing.