© USA Films
Another strong argument for Steven Soderbergh to be taken seriously, Traffic is an engaging movie about ‘the war on drugs’ in the US. Soderbergh uses the multiple-smaller threads-making-a-bigger-canvas approach, and does it with élan in this docu-drama. The screenplay is gripping, and the camera work is investigative news-story style, which I thought was very effective. Traffic is like Syriana in its style, which again comes from the Soderbergh stable.
I’ve always thought Michael Douglas to be stone-faced, which obviously isn’t something an actor should be. In Traffic, he gained some respect in my eyes, with a nice portrayal of the US government’s new ‘drug czar’, the highest authority in the it’s anti-drug initiative. He fits the role perfectly, and brings to the character a certain sincerity of purpose, which is a big strength to the movie. His battle against drugs on a macro-level, against Mexican drug-lords and generals, and on a micro-level within his own home, due to his addict daughter, is ironic, and essays the duality in this issue – that of supply, and more importantly, demand. It also gives an insight into human psyche, how we deal with an issue differently when it’s about others, and how that changes when it’s about our own family and us.
It’s no surprise that Traffic got the attention it did at the Oscars. Soderbergh has displayed a range as a director that definitely sets him apart from the riff-raff; if he could make Sex, lies, and videotape, Traffic, and also Oceans 11 to infinity, he’s GOT to be good!
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dude i just heard that some part of Traffic was shot in Over-the-Rhine.
yeah that’s right.. has a bit of Cincinnati in it, as Michael Douglas is a resident of Indian Hill in the movie..