Traffic. A true anti-drug masterpiece. (Traffic (DVD))

Member Name: mugwort

Product:	Traffic (DVD)
Date:	06/05/01 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: superb acting, amoving portrait of how drugs affect people, visually stunning

Disadvantages: interpolations of scenes could be confusing, violent scenes

Traffic directed by Steven Soderbergh. The actors and actresses include Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones, Luis Guzman, Don Cheadle, Benecio Del Toro, Steven Bauer, Dennis Quaid, Albert Finney and other thespians.
All of the people acting in this film, from the ones portraying bit parts to the major roles were excellent. There was not a false note anywhere in the movie.
There were several stories somehow all woven together. Del Toro played an honest Mexican cop. He received an Oscar for best supporting actor. Michael Douglas is the US Drug Czar. His own daughter is on drugs. Zeta Jone's husband is a smuggler. The mob threatens her children. To tell you more I think could give that story line away.
The scenes take place in Mexico, Wash. D.C and the heartland of America.
One negative to me was the one scene where a hitman is shown naked and being tortured by being burned by cigarette butts. Of course it was not for real and the character was dispicable. Still it was rough watching it.
Soderbergh is one of my favorite current directors. He can be filming both independent and big budget motion pictures. He is quite adept and versitile.
My faves are "Sex, Lies and Videotape" and "Kafka" and of course "Traffic"
PS Its based on a BBC series.

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