Traffic Reviews
Traffic review
Posted : 1 week, 4 days ago on 17 March 2024 03:320 comments, Reply to this entry
Traffic
Posted : 9 years, 4 months ago on 26 November 2014 02:19Thankfully, Traffic presents these various stories with an even hand and refrains from the typically Hollywood choice of blustery editorializing. Addiction is a health issue – physical, emotional, mental – and shouldn’t be treated like a crime. I’ve long believed this given my own history and complicated personal relationships, and it’s nice to see a film which treats the issue as such. At least, as far as the story about a U.S. politician’s daughter descent into crack-cocaine addiction and self-destruction goes. That’s one is good, even better is the pregnant housewife of luxury that sees her entire world turn upside down once it’s revealed that her husband is a high-level drug dealer. She turn from sheltered housewife to avenging queen of a cartel is a shocking display of fight-or-flight through a warped filter.
Traffic is built upon multiple stories that frequently don’t connect directly but connect spiritually. Some are more engaging than others, but all of them are filled with a brilliant ensemble of great actors doing commendable work. Benicio del Toro gets a flashy role as a Mexican cop playing several sides, and he gives it his gonzo all. He won all the applause and awards at the time, but the role that the film rests upon is Michael Douglas’ conflicted U.S. politician. He must travel smoothly from righteous indignation about the entire abstract concept and realities of drug use in America to a more understanding and grey area as it arrives upon his doorstep.
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A very good movie
Posted : 13 years, 1 month ago on 31 January 2011 04:45I already saw this movie but since it was a while ago and since I had this movie on DVD, I was really eager to check it out again. Well, by now, I have seen most of the movies directed by Steven Soderbergh and this movie still remains my favorite one from this director. To be honest, I have to admit that it wasn't really flawless. The main issue I had was with the storyline involving Erika Christensen. I mean, it was a good idea to focus on some drug addict but why did they choose some white rich girl when most of the victims of drug addiction are actually black and poor? I can imagine that, since there were already so many characters and so many subplots involved, they had to squeeze somehow a drug addict somewhere but this girl was hardly representative of your average junkie. A part from that, the rest was some really strong stuff though, especially the part involving Benicio Del Toro who finally got some recognition for his talent as he won an Academy Award for his performance. For Steven Soderbergh, even though almost all his movies have a strong concept, they sometimes end up being rather half-baked but, with this movie, he managed to keep it tight, realistic and quite fascinating until the very end. To conclude, it is a really good movie and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you are interested in Steven Soderbergh's work.
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