Rating of
3.5/4
Ranks among the top five films of 2000.
filmfan09 - wrote on 02/14/09
Traffic takes on the complex issues involved with the war on drugs in the United States and Mexico from the view of these nations as a whole to the very personal level. In the film, three stories unfold to illustrate the near impossibility of ever stopping the drug trade, despite the billion dollars that the US spends each year for just that cause. While the tales are related, the characters rarely, if ever, cross paths with one another. This is one of the elements that allows Soderbergh to deliver his message so effectively.
This film has an amazing ensemble cast where everybody is working at the top of their game. However, Benicio Del Toro definitely stands out with the breakthrough performance. Michael Douglas is also terrific, adding another strong performance to his gallery of flawed men in power. Luis Guzman and Don Cheadle make some interesting contribution to the film. Catherine Zeta-Jones, dominating the screen in every scene she appears in.
The script is solid, one of the best stories I've ever seen on film. It's so deep, ironic, depressing, and sinicle but on a stranger side, almost hopeful. The film has a stunning, and honest message about the drug trade in the world. This film should have won best picture in my opinion, Gladiator is great... but Traffic was much better.
