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.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring !
Review: Traffic is easily the least entertaining of the 5 best picture nominees in 2001 oscar and I am so pleased it didn't win the best picture. Why Steven Soderbergh won an oscar for this one instead of Erin Brockovich is beyond me. The story about DEA war against Tijuana drug cartel. The movie itself is boring and way too long (listed at 147 Mins). And for some reasons, the picture is presented in 3 different color setting for each plot line so Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones, and Benicio Del Torro all have 3 different colors. The DVD itself is OK. Picture is sharp and the Dolby Digital 5.1 is ok as most of this movie is dialogue anyway. If you have heard good things about this movie, it did win 4 oscars, rent this first before you buy as this is not as good as what the critics said.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing and overhyped!
Review: No plot, too many undeveloped characters with inexplicable behavior. The straight A, upper middle class daughter with everything going for her starts doing hard drugs for no apparent reason. The six month pregnant, soccer mom (Zeta-Jones) who knows nothing about her husband's drug trafficking activities, suddenly becomes a drug king pin and a "killa" after her husband gets arrested! Huh? This movie qualifies as a two hour Public Service Announcement against drugs, nothing more. Four Oscars fully undeserved.
Rating:
Summary: ...!!!
Review: This ...! Boring. Boring. Boring. I can't imagine why this movie was up for any award especially an Academy Award! The best actor was the strung out teenager. I cannot believe that Benicio del Toro beat the bad guy from Gladiator for his performance. It was truly the most twisted example of how politics and popularity rule the Academy Awards. In addition calling it a movie is really inaccurate. It is a documentary film. Excitement? NO. Action? NO Drama? YES If not for the puzzle you have to put together to understand how all the characters are interwoven there is no entertainment value. This is a classic and depressing example of the ... Hollywood has been dishing out for the past couple of years with few exceptions. But you'll watch it anyway for the sake of the famous Douglas couple.
Rating: 
Summary: addictive: #1 movie of 2000
Review: Amazing acting, writing, and directing. Three gritty and true to life plots, depicting the different levels of society and how drugs destroy everyone; no matter where they come from, what color their skin is, or where they are educated. Both Benicio Del Toro and Catherine Zeta-Jones give the performances of their carriers. Don't pass this one up. For some reason you can watch it over and over and it never gets old. #1 movie of 2000.
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste you time or money
Review: This was the worst movie I have seen in a long time. The cinematography was awful. (Switching from brownish/orange filter during scenes in Mexico, and Blue filter while on Micheal Douglas) This movie had potential, but it had too many characters to keep up with, and Katherine Zeta Jones turned from an innocent "soccer mom" to a cut-throat drug trafficing killer within 2 minutes. I just don't understand what all of rants and raves were about. I have seen better made for TV movies on Lifetime channel. If you want a long dry movie, this is the one for you.
Rating:
Summary: boring
Review: I watched this movie because of all the hype it got when it was in theaters. It ought to be called something like, "a day in the life of the drug trade." There are a lot of characters, none of whom is really developed. The cast is apparently working as an ensemble, with no main plot and no main character; just a bunch of minor intersecting story lines. Partly as a result, no character and no plot was interesting or engaging. Also, the camerawork which showed scenes in D.C. under a blue filter and scenes in mexico under a yellow filter (so signify heat?) which i assume was supposed to be artsy, was mostly just irritating.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT
Review: This movie was awesome. Definetly the best movie of 2000. The acting and camera work was really cool. The dvd is really good with a great picture and great sound.
Rating:
Summary: Del Toro.. An amazing performance
Review: A plethora of acting elite star in this three story epic about the war on drugs both in the U.S and Mexico. Spanning through the top brass of the United States down to the grittiest part of this strange war, the Mexican police department. Benicio Del Toro plays a lowly Mexican cop, a man who is haunted by his past, and regrets the future he soon will have. In a country where law enforcement is considered an entreprenurial endevour, the Mexican police are individuals of both crime and a demented sense of justice. Other roles played by Catherine Zeta Jones, as the wife of an accused drug lord and Dennis Quaid as the lawyer that defends him are also memerable. Michael Douglis's part, is less than memerable. It is terrible over-acted, and could have been played at the same level by any mediocer actor. All in all, a good film.
Rating:
Summary: Creative angles on the drug war
Review: This film breaks up the "war on drugs" into several perspectives: drug dealers and their families, US kids getting addicted, and a US government official trying to solve the problem. The different perspectives are woven together quite seamlessly. Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Benecio Del Toro are quite believable in their respective roles. The bit about Douglas (government anti-drug official)'s own spoiled daughter getting into drugs was realistic and ironic. Traffic is much BETTER than other "drug films" like "Blow" with Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz-which was slow and gut-wrenchingly depressing. You'll be entertained with dynamic characters, a great plot and fast-paced shots. A well-rounded picture of the drug mess in the US. This movie is a "must rent" more than a " must buy". It's not one of those films you'd feel like watching more than twice.
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