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Traffic (2000): Soderbergh's underdiscussed near masterpiece
Posted on 6/3/18 at 9:07 pm
Posted on 6/3/18 at 9:07 pm
There's something about this film, for whatever reason, has kind of fallen through the cracks of history.
Sicario gets lots of publicity recently, and deservedly so, but Traffic --if you take out the daughter storyline -- is a superior film.
It's Del Toro's best performance, Cheadle's second best performance, and probably Soderbergh's best directing job. Yes, it won Oscars, but hasn't resonated with tbe public like some other great films of the last 20 yrs.
The major downfall, though, is obviously Michael Douglas's kid in the movie. It almost derails the bigger narrative.
I understand why it was in the movie... The drug czar had to have a personal connection, but the actress was just so annoying and unlikeable.
If you edit her out of film completely, it's an all timer....probably one of the 2 best "drug trade" movies ever.
French Connection being the best.
9
Posted on 6/3/18 at 9:22 pm to Jack Ruby
I agree with this review:
.
I'd rather watch Blow over Traffic anyday.
Or Narc with Jason Patrick.
City of God
American Gangster
New Jack City
Layer Cake
.
quote:
Traffic is one of those square-up-the-middle tracts that make people think they're thinking
quote:
The film soft pedals any advocacy for legalizing drugs and offers no hard-hitting critique of current policies, except to say it doesn't work.
quote:
Traffic has potent moments and that old reliable, a 'powerhouse cast,' but after about half of its 147 minutes the thought was nibbling on me: Why is this not cohering as a really major work?
quote:
I don't see this slightly better-than-average drug thriller, with slightly better-than-average direction by Steven Soderbergh, as anything more than a routine rubber-stamping of genre reflexes.
quote:
Resisting making a movie about characters instead of sweeping generalizations on the wide world of illegal drugs, [Soderbergh] fails to come up with a point.
I'd rather watch Blow over Traffic anyday.
Or Narc with Jason Patrick.
City of God
American Gangster
New Jack City
Layer Cake
Posted on 6/3/18 at 9:22 pm to Jack Ruby
(no message)
This post was edited on 6/3/18 at 9:23 pm
Posted on 6/3/18 at 10:10 pm to Jack Ruby
quote:
Traffic --if you take out the daughter storyline -- is a superior film
Agreed.
Posted on 6/3/18 at 10:20 pm to mizzoubuckeyeiowa
I found it overwrought and cliched . It tried way too hard to be an IMPORTANT film but it was so Conventional. Not a fan. Wanted to be a fan. But not a fan.
Posted on 6/3/18 at 10:32 pm to Lsupimp
quote:
It tried way too hard to be an IMPORTANT film but
This is the crux. The film was heavy. And half the time for no reason. It never took a breather. It was - this coffee I'm drinking is the most important cup of coffee in the world.
I mean I'm no lover of Sicario but Traffic was more like Crash and less like Sicario.
There were NO characters. It was just people on screen. It could have worked with better backstories.
Posted on 6/3/18 at 10:39 pm to mizzoubuckeyeiowa
I loathed Crash also .
Posted on 6/3/18 at 10:51 pm to Jack Ruby
One of the best ending scenes. 
Posted on 6/3/18 at 11:28 pm to Jack Ruby
Think it's one of the best endings to film period
The little league baseball game with Brian Eno's An Ending (Ascent) gives me chills everytime I watch it
The little league baseball game with Brian Eno's An Ending (Ascent) gives me chills everytime I watch it
Posted on 6/4/18 at 1:34 am to Jack Ruby
Traffic hasn't aged great, but it's a great movie. Douglas and Cheadle were big time actors and Soderbergh was at his height of popularity. It's just a low key movie. No action other than maybe the car bomb scene. It's not perfect, but it's a great movie. I mean the storylines are color coded. U can literally skip any parts u don't like including the Michael Douglas storyline. Which at worst is above average. Zeta-Jones gets better as it goes and the Mexican story is awesome. Different time than sicario. I guess it's a very technical film with quiet solid performances. Not a bad watch at all
Posted on 6/4/18 at 8:05 am to Jack Ruby
quote:
The major downfall, though, is obviously Michael Douglas's kid in the movie. It almost derails the bigger narrative
I had no problem with this storyline, and for me the movie still holds up well as one of the all time greats. Far superior to Sicario -it’s on a whole different level.
Posted on 6/4/18 at 8:12 am to mizzoubuckeyeiowa
quote:
I mean I'm no lover of Sicario but Traffic
Fun fact:
James Brolin is in Traffic.
Josh Brolin is in Sicario.
Posted on 6/4/18 at 9:18 am to Jack Ruby
Blow >>>> Traffic >> Sicario IMO.
Posted on 6/4/18 at 9:25 am to mizzoubuckeyeiowa
quote:
I'd rather watch Blow over Traffic anyday.
Or Narc with Jason Patrick.
City of God
American Gangster
New Jack City
Layer Cake
One of these does not belong
This post was edited on 6/4/18 at 9:27 am
Posted on 6/4/18 at 9:59 am to Lsupimp
quote:
I loathed Crash also .
Crash sucks.
Posted on 6/4/18 at 10:55 am to TheCaterpillar
Totally disagree with it being better than Sicario. Traffic doesn't have near the suspense and has the snoozer daughter storyline.
That being said, it's still a good movie and I own a copy.
That being said, it's still a good movie and I own a copy.
Posted on 6/4/18 at 11:02 am to H-Town Tiger
New Jack City is awesome. American Gangster sucked.
Posted on 6/4/18 at 11:16 am to mizzoubuckeyeiowa
quote:
City of God
A great movie even with the subtitles
L'il Ze was a true psychopath and Carrot was not that far off from being one either. There are no true heroes in the movie other than the kid Rocket who just wants to get out
What was really scary were the Runts....a bunch of pre teen kids who terrorized the slum, which is actually something of a true story they grew up to be the most notorious gang in Rio ( Comando Vermelho/ Red Command) those made the Bloods and Crips look like CYO kids
Posted on 6/4/18 at 11:21 am to Brosef Stalin
quote:
New Jack City is awesome
Posted on 6/4/18 at 11:25 am to Jack Ruby
quote:You mean the blue and yellow movie? It was a'ight.
Traffic
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