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TRAFFIC
An
important movie that will educate, shock, and enlighten viewers
about drugs and their place in our world.
-Review
by SCOTT CRIPPS
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TRAFFIC
(2000)
This page was created on January 05, 2001
This page was last updated on
May 16, 2005
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 Directed
by Steven Soderbergh
Writing credits: Simon Moore (miniseries Traffik)
Screenplay: Stephen
Gaghan
Michael
Douglas .... Robert Wakefield
Amy Irving .... Barbara Wakefield
Erika Christensen .... Caroline Wakefield
Don Cheadle .... Montel Gordon
Benicio Del Toro .... Javier Rodriguez Rodriguez
Luis
Guzmán .... Ray Castro
Dennis Quaid .... Arnie Metzger
 Catherine
Zeta-Jones .... Helena Ayala
Steven Bauer .... Carlos Ayala
Jacob Vargas .... Manolo Sanchez
Clifton Collins Jr. .... Francisco Flores
Miguel Ferrer .... Eduardo Ruiz
Topher Grace .... Seth Abrahams
Peter Riegert .... Attorney Michael Adler
Benjamin
Bratt .... Juan Obregon
Tomas Milian .... General Arturo Salazar
Marisol Padilla Sánchez .... Ana Sanchez
Albert Finney .... Chief of Staff
Joel Torres .... Porfilio Madrigal
D.W. Moffett .... Jeff Sheridan
James Brolin .... General Ralph Landry
Produced
by Laura Bickford, Marshall Herskovitz, Cameron Jones (executive),
Graham King (executive), Andreas Klein (executive), Mike Newell
(executive), Richard Solomon (executive), Edward Zwick
Original music by Cliff Martinez
Cinematography
by Steven Soderbergh (as Peter Andrews)
Film Editing by Stephen Mirrione
Rated
R for pervasive drug content, strong language, violence and some
sexuality.
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Running Time: 1 min.
QuickTime
2 MB
QuickTime
5 MB
QuickTime
7 MB
RealVideo
Trailer
RealVideo
Trailer
RealVideo
Broadband Trailer
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No
one gets away clean
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 SYNOPSIS:
A contemporary
thriller set in the world of drug trafficking, Traffic evokes the
high-stakes, high-risk world of the drug trade. Told through a series
of interrelated narratives, the stories range from the highly personal
to those filled with intrigue and danger. A pair of undercover DEA
agents (Don Cheadle and Luis Guzman) work in the sordid and dangerous
world of San Diego dealers; a wealthy drug baron (Steven Bauer) living
in upscale, suburban
America is arrested  and
learns how quickly his unknowing and pampered wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones)
takes over his business; the U.S. president's new antidrug czar, an
Ohio State Supreme Court Justice (Michael Douglas), must deal with
his increasingly drug-addicted teenage daughter (Erika Christensen);
and a Mexican policeman (Benicio Del Toro) finds himself caught in
a web of corruption. |
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 TRAFFIC
Review by SCOTT CRIPPS
Scott is married, has a little one on the way, and
is a youth pastor for Westview Baptist Church here Calgary, Alberta,
Canada. Movies are a large part of his life which he enjoys with
his wife. |
 Traffic
is an important film. It will not lighten your spirits, it will
not have you rolling in the aisle and it most definitely won't
be called the "feel good movie of the year". Nevertheless
it is an important movie that will educate, shock, and enlighten
viewers about drugs and their place in our world. Traffic had
an amazing cast of actors who all should all be recognized for
their work in bringing the world of drugs, which so often those
of us who live in suburbs or who are not directly affected by
drugs ignore, to vivid life. Traffic is a gritty movie that employs
many different techniques to convey the imagery and the feelings
of the drug world. Much of the movie had a documentary sense to
it where the footage was all done with a handheld camera. As well,
every time the story went back to Mexico, a yellow tinge came
upon the screen that accentuated the dirt, heat and destitution
of Mexico bringing together a movie that appears frighteningly
real. Therefore the movie showed that from the White House, to
posh mansions, to the filth of the inner cities, to the slums
and dirt of Mexico, drugs have infiltrated and infected them all.
They are a plague that knows no cure, and they are killing our
friends, neighbors and families.
The
central character in Traffic is the drugs, everybody else are
merely supporting cast to the centrality of the drugs. Drugs are
what link and hold this entire movie together as Traffic explores
all the different aspects of the drug trade from both sides of
the law. There are many different sub-plots that combine to make
the overall story. The following are the different yet interlocking
storylines occurring simultaneously throughout the movie.
-Washington
D.C.-
 This
is the story of the impact of drugs on an American family. The
family is not your typical family as the father, Judge Robert
Wakefield, is the newly appointed anti-drug czar of the United
States. His job is to turn the tide on the war against drugs but
while he is doing this, the very problem that he is hired to eliminate
enters his own home through his daughter. From this storyline
we see the impact drugs have on youth and youth culture. Upscale
suburban kids, who have everything going for them, but nothing
to do, get caught up in the world of drugs and drug addictions.
 We
especially see the influence one youth, Seth Abrahms, has on Robert
Wakefield's daughter Caroline, as he introduces her and supplies
her with the drugs she needs for her addictions. We witness the
downward spiral one enters when drugs become one's all in all
and the degrading behavior that addicts exhibit to maintain their
dependency on drugs. Therefore this storyline demonstrates the
devastating impact drugs have on families. Drugs destroy the mind
and body of the users but they also tear apart families as these
characters so aptly portray.
-Tijuana,
Mexico-
 Drugs
are a big time business in Mexico. In a country where legitimate
economic opportunities are scarce, the drug world offers quick
money but high risks. Traffic describes this scene through the
eyes of a Mexican policeman, Javier Rodriguez. Javier is a legitimate
cop who finds himself working for one of the leading anti-drug
enforcers in Mexico, General Arturo Salazar.
Life in Mexico though is not that black and white with the good
guys on one side and the bad guys on the other; Mexico, except
for Javier, is all about the shades of gray. Tijuana, because
it is right on the border with the United States, is a central
point for the distribution of cocaine and in Traffic it is controlled
by two rival drug cartels. Therefore Javier finds himself right
in the middle of it all, warring drug cartels on one side,  corrupt
police and military on the other and himself being tempted by
money and power and forced to make many difficult decisions upon
which his very life depends. Javier proves time and time again
that he is the very type person this world needs more of. He is
not perfect, but he is a man who stands up for truth and for what
he believes in. As tempting as the money and power are, he stuck
to his convictions even when his life was in danger for doing
so. He stayed the course despite losing his best friend and in
the end came out the victor.
-Suburbs
of San Diego, United States-
 The
third and final major storyline involves the DEA and a midlevel
drug dealer, Eduardo Ruiz who fingers his drug tycoon boss, Carlos
Ayala, which results in his trial. In this storyline we witness
the trial process of major drug players and the limitations that
the law and law enforcement officers have in dealing with the
drug suppliers. Carlos lives in the wealthy suburbs of San Diego
and unknown to his pregnant wife, Helena Ayala, he is a major
drug importer for one of the Tijuana drug cartels.  When
Carlos is arrested, Helena's world falls apart. Accustomed to
wealth and prestige she loses everything when her husband is busted.
After the life of her son is threatened she becomes willing to
do anything to make sure her husband can win his trial and their
life can return to 'normal' including taking over his business
and running the drugs again. This part of Traffic also takes inside
the lives of the DEA agents and the efforts they make to rid the
US of drugs. We see the hard work and sacrifice they make to ensure
that the community baseball diamonds and parks are safe for kids
to play in.
 In
the end the characters and incidents in the movie question the
impact the efforts of the DEA and other drug enforcement agencies
are having in the war on drugs. The questions posed are, in terms
of the big picture, what does the arrest of a single person do
in relationship to the inflow of drugs into the country? Are the
thousands and millions of dollars spent prosecuting drug offenders
really worth it when there is always somebody else ready and willing
to fill the spot left by that person?  The
answers to these questions are not given in the movie; in fact,
judge Robert Wakefield in a press conference during Traffic attempts
to explain his ten point plan to deal with the problem of drugs.
Right before he starts he breaks down and states that to fight
the war on drugs is to fight your very own family because the
problem of drugs is so pervasive. He realizes that he doesn't
have the answers. This movie is a gritty one to watch but it is
important because it in no way glamorizes the world of drugs which
so many movies seem to do. Drugs are evil and bad, and for portraying
that to us and to our youth we should be grateful.
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ABOUT
A MOVIE REVIEW OF YOURS
Subject:
Traffic
Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2002
From: "Gerben Meijer"
Hi,
I just finished watching Traffic (didn't catch it all - it was on
tv here and missed some of the first part). i went on searching for
reviews on it and also came across your review. I was wondering if
you had ever seen Requiem of a Dream. I couldn't find it in the reviews
anywhere, and was wondering what your opinion is on that particular
movie.
Also,
I read your review of K-Pax. Wonderful movie
isnt it? I was wondering if you are familiar with the books of Jakob
Lorber (http://www.j-lorber.com/) since the words I read in his writings
appeal the most to me in regards to the underlying message in K-Pax.
This
might come all out of the blue, but if you have some time, I'd appreciate
it if you could let me know what you think. I'm really interested
in your thoughts on this :)
Thank you in advance.
Gerben
REVISITING
AMERICAN BEAUTY
Subject: American
Beauty and Traffic
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2001
From: "Steve Forsyth"
I
revisited this film again after seeing the movie Traffic. I think
it's interesting the contradictions coming from the same industry
(Hollywood - yes I know they are from different studios, but it's
the same industry in the end). In Traffic, though the film makers
atemted to remain mostly neutral in their views, still they showed
the dark reality of drugs and the evil that comes from it - certainly
an anti-drug film. Yet, look at American Beauty from a few years
earlier. The catlyst for the freeing of Kevin Spacey was has embarkment
into drug use. The one 'grounded" character amidst all the fake
people was the drug dealer. Drugs in this film are a positive thing.
I
tried defending this film for awhile from the harsher critics, claiming
the film was trying to show us ourselves in a way that might cause
us to change some of our thinking. But I really regret that now.
I think a much better film could have been made with all the same
elements but without unnecessary nudity (meant to arouse) and showing
more definite harm coming from the drug use and total self-indulgence
of Spacey's character. As it is, Spacey is 'freed' when he leaves
responsibility. A most irresponsible message, I think.
Again,
I don't think the intent of the filmmakers was to turn us all into
pedophiliac, drug-using, family churning people - but I think he
should have been a little clearer with just what was wrong with
this picture.
FINAL
SCENE
Subject:
The final scene as metaphor for the whole movie
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001
From: Mark
"Traffic"
ends with a little league baseball game. Each batter gets on base
after one pitch -- the pitching and fielding are mediocre at best.
As the scene ends, the bases are loaded and the pitcher is trying
to intimidate the runners back to base instead of allowing the steal.
We never see the next batter swing, but he's coming to the plate
and it looks like he might just knock in a run or two. Likewise,
the dealers, users and cartels are "outplaying" the government and
parents. However, the government and parents don't give up. They
just keep "pitching and fielding," intimidating and waving back
the drug forces the best they can. The film's open ending and the
scene's open ending both leave us wondering "How long until this
game is over? It could be a long night. Will the offense bring in
some of those runners on base out ther? Will the defense stop them
any time soon? Even if they're stopped this inning, what will happen
next inning?" This could sound trite, but my theory is: there are
very few scenes left to chance in a Hollywood film. This is a fully
intentional metaphor.
ONE
LIFE AT A TIME
Subject: Traffic
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2001
From: Kim
Finally
saw Traffic tonight. I'm so deeply moved I came home and turned
my computer on immediately. What an incredibly well-done film.
What
moved me the most spiritually was the scene where Robert Wakefield
finally finds his daughter. I thought to myself THAT is our God.
Though Robert had to painfully learn grace and involved love for
his daughter, our Lord has always been that to us, wading into the
nakedness, shame and heartbreak of our sin and rescuing us, searching
for us desperately, such an important man, such an important God,
leaving it all to come and find us. When Robert sent the john out
of the room with fierce anger, and moved toward his daughter with
heartwrenching compassion, I could only think of how God is also
fiercly protective of that which would harm us, and in turn reaches
out to us with the heart of a passionately involved and caring father.
What a tragedy that we don't often respond as easily as Caroline
did, but instead turn our heads or try to cover our sin, fearing
rejection. She didn't even seem surprised to see him, but simply
looked utterly relieved and said "hi Daddy."
I
too noticed a cross in the final scene but not on the wall. It was
on the podium Caroline was standing behind; there must have been
two. I think it was supposed to be a church. I thought to myself
that though it is obvious that governments and law enforcement must
fight the cartels and pushers - both the elite and the small fry
- drugs are not going away any more than prostitution is. For the
Carolines, when one cartel is dissolved, she can still find her
drugs. Her life is not changed or healed. To me, the "real" heroes
are those amazing individuals that work everyday with people like
Caroline, people so desperately trying to get their lives together.
I thought it was very significant when Robert said on the plane,
"why isn't treatment here? Make a note to find out why treatment
isn't here."
The
victory is won one life at a time...
TRUE
TO THE BITTER END
Date: Wed, 07 Mar 2001
From: Gordon Scott
I,
being rescued from a life not much unlike a figure that might have
been portrayed in the movie, felt it was a compelling and moving
film.
As
one who knows all to well, the world being portrayed, I can tell
you this movie does a very good job of getting to the essence of
the desperation and futility in the lifes of all of those it characterizes.
Its
an extremely sad movie, when realizing that it is so true. It hurts
to know its still real, yesterday today and tomorrow. Day in and
day out all over north america, this movie is being replayed in
the lives of real human beings. It is a painful reminder of the
anguish the population endures on an hourly basis, because none
of us is immune and we all know someone who has been touched and
hurt by this scourge.
Gordon Scott
WORTH
SEEING
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001
From: Trey Harris
Saw
Traffic the other night. Not a feel good movie at all, but one well
worth seeing. It captures the entire drug scene. One of the most
important scenes of the movie was the end with the parents willing
to listen to their daughter's tale. They should have thought of
that long before.
Trey Harris
SOOTHING
AND UPLIFTING
Subject:
"Traffic"
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2001
From: David Buckna
Finally
saw the film "Traffic". Wow! Did you notice the cross on the wall
in one scene (near the end of the film) when the daughter speaks
in front of a group, with her parents in the audience? Was it a
church or church hall? Did either of you think the backstop frame
(with netting) in the final scene [at the baseball diamond] resembled
a large cross? It sure did to me! And what was the song played?
Very soothing and uplifting.
David
Response:
Yes I did notice. It is a story of a father who discovers the meaning
of grace for his daughter. -David
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