Traffic

Rating:
Summary: ART, RELEVENCE,MASTER CRAFTMANSHIP,THE BITTER TRUTH
Review: This movie should be required viewing to every American (North, South,Central). THis movie squeezes the truth about drugs and their reality in a masterful way. The moviemaking was superb. The techniques were sublime. The plot takes the denial out of the drug game no matter what side of it one is in. The Cathryn Zeta Jones character shows the way the problem is exacerbated, and the politics of the drug scene was never so cleverly protrayed without the usual stereotypes to illustrate the points. THe most wonderful truisnm about this movie is the scene when the Douglas character invites the 'thinkers' outside the box and no one utters a word. The characters are so compelling and the "mexican" scenes were stunning. I can't say enough about how impressed I was with this movie. As disturbing as "Clockwork Orange" was in its day, as relevant as Private Ryan and Shindler's list are without the emotional manipulations. Raw, awesome film techniques, this is a film to own.

Rating:
Summary: Eye Opening Film About The War On Drugs!
Review: "The war on drugs" is something we've all heardabout. Many feel that much has been done to stop it. And, at one time,I also thought the exact same thing myself. But, after watching one ofthe most powerful films I've seen not only this year, but on thesubject of drugs, I now feel, this is a "war", we'll neverwin! Director Steven Soderbergh (who's had an amazing year), has madea film that many might see as an eye opening experience. Thescreenplay by Stephan Gaghan based on the miniseries"Traffik" by Simon Moore, is so real that it's almostimpossible to get involved. The characters reminded me of people Iactually know of personally or causally. The story is about threedifferent drug cartels on the verge of going under. I refuse to giveany important or slightest detail of this masterpiece. The less youknow going into this film, the more you'll be able to enjoy it. I willhowever try to describe a very brief outline. Something enough so itwill arouse your curiosity. The first of the three stories includes amexican cop named Javier Rodriguez Rodriguez (Benicio Del Toro), whois ordered to find the leading dealer in mexico, and bring him toGeneral Arturo Salazar (Tomas Milian), who is determined to take downeveryone, but not for the reasons we are lead to believe. The secondstory involves a wealthy "business man", Carlos Ayala(Steven Bauer), who is arrested, take a guess why! His unknowing wifeHelena (Catherine Zeta Jones) is know an outcast in theneighborhood. She must explain to her son what is going on, whileMontel Gordon (Don Cheadle) a cop is watching her, wanting to know ifshe knew about her husbands affairs. Things start to look bleak forCarlos when a prime witness Eduardo Ruiz (Miguel Ferrer) is brought into testify against him. But,the question is now, will he still bealive to make it to the witness stand. I have now saved the best forlast. The last story in this film deals with Ohio Judge RobertWakefield (Michael Douglas) who is strongly fighting for "the waragainst drugs". He is determined to stop mostly teens from beingable to get to the stuff. His high school 16 year old daughterthough, sees things differently. She is played brillantly by ErikaChristensen. I have no idea how old this girl is a real life, but allI can say after seeing her performance is, she is absolutely amazing!The way she was able to portray is character is unbelieveable. She wasable to handle to character in such a real character. It was likewatching one of the many kids I went to high school who have thisproblem. There're also wonderful performances by people whom I'vefailed to mention like Amy Irving who plays Barbara Wakefield,Douglas's wife. Dennis Quad plays a friend\associate of Carlos Ayala,Arnie Motzger. Plus keep your eyes open for a cameo performance byAlbert Finney as the Chief of Staff. Here is a wonderful, strong,real, film that really explores what is going on today in our countryas far as drugs are concerned. There are few films that really touchpeople in some special way. While we all may have our own list, thisfilm goes on mine. The only downfall to this film is it's a littleover 2 and a half hours. I heard many people complain after watchingthe movie. The same way people avoided films like "Meet JoeBlack" and "The Green Mile", I'm afraid people willalso avoid this. This is a first rate film with a first rate cast thatremains to be one of the best films of 2000!

Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: Traffic is as close to perfect as a film gets.The story jumps between Mexico, Ohio, and San Diego and each segment has a life of it's own. This film almost breathes, At the core of this film are brilliant performances. Benicio Del Torro is absolutley amazing as Javier Rodrigues a man torn between easy money and honor. The entire cast of the Mexico chapter are simply amazing. Don Cheadle and Luis Guzman are equaly as brilliant as undercover agents on the american side of the border trying to get a bust on a well to do drug smuggler,Steven Bauer of Scarface fame.The Hand held camera work really gives the film it's emotional punch and truley unique feel. If you haven't seen this film yet go see it. Then Buy it. It's that good.

Rating:
Summary: This is the best picture of the year.
Review: I saw this film this past weekend and I was expecting alot from it. It has been targeted as one of those can't miss oscar hopeful films that are great. However, most movies like that fail to live up to the heightened expectations. However, Traffic was better than I expected. It is one of the only films I have ever seen that actually has a message, that actually sets out to prove a point. A film that is social commentary. Soderbergh is a great director as proven by his earlier body of work (Sex, Lies, and Videotape and Out of Sight are two of my favorites also), however Traffic is by far his best work that I've seen yet. It interweves 3 different stories all dealing with the drug trade in an ambitious and truly wonderful way. IT shows every kind of thing dealing with drugs from those who are addicts to those who are supposed to stop it. And sometimes those connections are alot blurrier than expected. I reccomend this film to everyone who loves great cinema. Just see it.

Rating:
Summary: See it for the Mexican Sequences
Review: While this movie wasn't perfect, it was very well shot. The most entertaining aspect of this film for me were the scenes shot south of the border. Although I've never really been too enamored by Mexican culture or the Spanish language, the beautiful way in which the Mexican characters spoke Spanish, and the beautiful sepia toned sequences shot there, almost made me want to take a quick trip there.

Even though this film has "big-name" American stars, I have to say that I particularly enjoyed the performances of the lesser known actors portraying the Mexican characters, including Clifton Collins as Frankie Flowers (a brilliant, Oscar worthy performance as a gay, psycho hit man), and the actor who played General Salazar, the cultured, yet brutal Mexican general.

And needless to say, Benicio del Toro is a GOD! I have never considered this man sexy, but throughout the film I kept thinking how incredibly "do-able" this man is. Okay, back to business now. With age he has grown into his quirky, craggy face. His acting and subtle body language really held me captive.

Also brilliant was Don Cheadle, and Catherine Zeta-Jones was a huge surprise. I thought her role could have used more intensity, but all in all a standout performance. Topher Grace was also excellent as the snotty prep student who turns his girlfriend out to the dogs, literally.

Although usually I like Michael Douglas, I thought his performance was somewhat boring in this one.

Not a perfect film, but definitely worth your time. Compared to most of the dreck out there, this one is definitely one of the best I've seen in a very long time. Bravo to Steven Soderburgh for a job well done.

Rating:
Summary: this might be giving this credit
Review: Despite a good cast.I almost wonder why they took the job.this is dull and the direction is mishandled .3 stories at once which both relate and don't relate too eachother.If this wasn't a drug movie it whould most likely be a surething for an acadmy...lol well to sum this up it's saying no matter how hard the goverment tries they can't win the war on drugs.Perhapps i missed something some where but this gives a negative message.I generally round up reveiws butthis one im ust round down.It does have some funny moments ,but seethis if yourinto watching people pretend to get off on the stuff.Nap time anyone?

Rating:
Summary: The most important film of 2000
Review: Steven Soderbergh's TRAFFIC is a masterpiece of filmmaking and an indictment on the United States War On Drugs. There simply isn't a bad performance in the film, and Benicio Del Toro as a Mexican cop is a standout.

There are some films that get kudos because of their subject matter, but as films they are weak. This one is not. Soderbergh has made his CITIZEN KANE.

Rating:
Summary: an ok movie, not a great movie as other have said
Review: The movie was okay. It, however, definitely didn't live up to my expectation. I expected a lot when I went to see the movie since Soderbergh directed it. Well, after viewing, I wasn't really blown away. Only thing i liked about this movie was the choice of film stock he used for the mexico scene. It was very grainy, which i thought was well suited for the mood of the scene and the emotion of the character (Benicio Del Toro). Unlike other cheap hollywood movies, he used the grainy images for the entire movie whenever that scene came on (a bold move). Other than that, nothing was new. some people said they liked the way he interwove multiple story lines or angles, but i don't think it was really new or a break through in filmmaking. And in terms of theme, nothing was new or profound. It's a same old story of somebody who's life gets screwed because of drug but because of dedication and moral obligation of others he/she gets a grip on their life again(or did I miss something?) Maybe I expected too much, but Soderbergh is too good of a director to be without high expectation.

Rating:
Summary: Judging Traffic
Review: In light of the praises and otherwise, a few things made this film interesting, compelling and a curiosity for me. One is that this film seems to point at a new genre (what it's called and if it has ripened is another story). Some posts/reviews I have seen mention references like Altman and Tarantino but I think whatever puzzles anyone is poss. the result of some sort of door being opened by this film. This is cool.

(*partial spoiler ahead) Another element is in the the way in which some of the subject (read : "message"?) is being addressed. This definitely earns my applause. I grew up partying and wasn't doing it 'cause I hated my parents or rebelled against school (am I a freak?) - This small parallel in Traffic alone was, I hope, a helpful eye-opener to folks who see the drug "issue" in excessively black and white terms. I mean, how can one forget the scene where the kids panic and want to help their friend (who has just ODed) but because there's so much stuff to deal with if they are "found out" that they try to abandon him at the hospital. This "pickle" is a sad state of affairs and the victims are the kids despite their lack of malice.

Performances and the filming/directing style all seem to be just part of this greater picture. As I think out loud here, I am very curious to see what sort of spin-off releases we see or influences we see showing up in future films.

Rating:
Summary: A good TV movie, but not worth a trip to the theater.
Review: I admit I had high hopes for this film. After Soderbergh's last three releases (Out of Sight, The Limey and Erin Brokovich) I expected greatness.

Instead of reliving previous movie magic, I found myself sitting through a well-acted, nicely shot but ultimately unmoving, tired story. Beyond Don Cheadle's superb work (yet again he will be ignored come Oscar time), the acting is merely solid, but not very impressive. The mundane acting fits the movie's dialogue and story - not much in the way of noteworthy. Sure Soderbergh frames his shots nicely and piles on the lighting and exposure tricks to add punch, but in the end it's just a slick, well-made, though antiseptic view of drug trafficking.

There is no new ground covered. No new characters. Nothing much happens that hasn't happened in dozens of other movies. While one might say Brokovich and The Limey played out in a similar fashion, those movies at least had some soul and texture to juxtapose the cold, removed feel of Traffic. The Limey had the added dazzle of the disjointed narrative and the jump cutting, matched by Stamp's vacant, creepy gait and gaze. Brokovich followed the same David v. Goliath patterns we've seen, but the washed out film and the snappy wit, along with Albert Finney's work put it beyond the average TV-movie-of-the-week feel it should have presented. Traffic on the other hand, came across far too often like a fictionalized 60 minutes episode. Too much of the dialogue was spent explaining the drug trade (or talking down to the audience)and not enough screen time was spent really delving into the lives of the people involved.

Is Traffic a good movie though? Sure. It's solid, sort of a superbly crafted NBC Miniseries. It's just not on par with Soderbergh's last few works. And light years behind Out of Sight. Rent it.