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TRAFFIC review
The film I saw last Thursday at Austin, Texas beginning at 7pm and running for 2 hours and roughly 43 minutes is not the movie you will see this coming holiday season.
The print of TRAFFIC I saw was Soderbergh's first test screening of this film... and while being filled with almost across the board brilliant performances... despite being a wonderful script with wonderful dialogue... despite being one of the top 3 or so films in terms of quality I've seen thus far this year... TRAFFIC wasn't quite what it can be yet.
TRAFFIC is currently missing the... OOMPH that it needs to really damage the psyche of America. Do not get me wrong, there is currently some imagery and poignant moments that leave you with your mouth open and thinking... "Oh God," in that horrified sort of way... but there are some missed opportunities... especially in regards to Catherine Zeta-Jones' character. This is not to say her portrayal of the character is lacking... she plays every scene as she should... it is only that her character is not allowed to have the scene that it needs to be completely burned into our communal cinematic memory. There is an opportunity to really horrify and shock the audience... and that is not to say one should always do that, but in TRAFFIC, Soderbergh has a responsibility to hit us harder than a film of this type has before. Catherine needs her MIDNIGHT EXPRESS moment, she needs to be humiliated and debased on camera. Her character needs it. Now... will we see that scene? I mean... it wasn't in the print I saw... right? Well, this past Friday, I was talking to the head of USA FILMS and from the sound of things... Soderbergh has requested and been granted permission to have a few days of reshoots and pick-ups to harden TRAFFIC a bit more.
Right now... if released today... TRAFFIC would garner some of the most strongly opinionated reviews this year. This is not to say it would earn universal applause... it's not that type of film. You see... TRAFFIC has political hot button issues throughout it. Depending on one's opinion about America's Drug Policies... and Drug Issues themselves... that will color many of the reviews you will see.
This is not a passive filmgoing experience, TRAFFIC forces you to react... provokes you into thought. This is not a slurp your pepsi and crunch your popcorn fare... This is full-fledged cinema. Is it entertaining? Hell yes... You know how you react to GOODFELLAS? How there are moments where you are howling in disturbed laughter... but how for the most part... you are sitting in dead silence watching what is taking place on screen? Well... that's this movie in a heartbeat.
The performer that you will most likely most strongly latch onto is Benicio Del Toro. Benicio between now and the end of the year is going to really really step up in filmgeek culture as being more that the gibberish speaking man from THE USUAL SUSPECTS and Dr Gonzo from FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS.... If those two roles were his only work... we would cheer... But in TRAFFIC, Benicio Del Toro emerges as being one of the absolute most watchable personas on screen today. About 90% of his role takes place in Spanish with subtitles... but in reality... you almost don't have to read... you can see it all in that weathered tired Droopy-dog Bogart eyes of his. Benicio has all the strengths of say Deckard or Sam Spade. He is a detective with his very own special brand of ethics... He is a cop in the most corrupt police force in the world... Mexico border town... Tijuana. He is an absolute human badass... Not that he beats people to death... not that he is the fastest most accurate gunslinger bam bam sorta fella. His character simply knows his geometry. He knows the angles and how they should be played. He knows the value of a condom in the wrapper of a pack of cigarettes... He knows how to play it as a straight up Ace of Spades. His character is wondrous.
The next performer that I want to talk about plays the most fragile damaged spirit onscreen since Chloe Sevigny's role in KIDS... I'm talking about Erika Christensen. She plays Michael Douglas' daughter in the film... and without her performance, Douglas' character would have nothing to react off of. He would be standing there like Terrence Stamp in STAR WARS EPISODE ONE acting to and about ping pong balls. However, Erika turns in a performance that is just simply fantastic. You don't see her going through withdrawls... you don't see her grades slip. She is your intelligent rich as hell freebaser. And you can see how completely blissful her existence is... We can see her simply become a creature of sensations. A being completely enthralled about tingly moments and that feeling of orgasmic bliss. You see... this is the real threat of the hard hard drugs... It's all about the chemical bliss that they give you. It's an adiction to pleasure... and she is completely sated by her tastes. Now... I can't speak for the rest of the year... the films yet to come... I'm willing to bet there are some amazingly haunting scenes in ENEMY AT THE GATES... but as of seeing TRAFFIC, I have seen no stronger haunting moment on screen this year than her line, "Hi daddy." It will destroy any HUMAN being. Fantastic.
I have highlighted the above two performers out of a cast that turns in just amazing performances. You a Luis GUZMAN fan? Well prepare to be very very happy with his work here. How about Don Cheadle? You feel like I do, that he was completely ripped off by his Oscar nomination snub for DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS? me too... Well here, he is again... as always... in top form. How about Miguel Ferrer? You like him? You feel that he hasn't gotten any really really great parts since his character in ROBOCOP? Well, he is FANTASTIC in TRAFFIC. Michael Douglas? Well... there is a reason Michael Douglas has those Oscars he has... He doesn't pick easy roles or easy movies.... His part was to be originally played by Harrison Ford... and ya know what... Harrison just doesn't have the cajones to be in this type of film. Douglas on the other hand... Time and time again he has taken the hard and difficult movies. CHINA SYNDROME, WALL STREET and now this. He's produced films like CHINA SYNDROME and ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST... He is as solid a supporter of smart political tough movies as you'll find... and I wish more leading men in Hollywood had his nerve... His character is to be the self-aware hypocrite. It's not entirely pretty. There are actors that I don't really know... like the kid from 187 that plays a gay assassin for the cartels... or the General in charge of cleaning up the drug cartels of Mexico... There are reliable actors working in top form like Albert Finney and Dennis Quaid and Amy Irving and James Brolin... Hell, even THAT 70'S SHOW kid rules in this thing.
Now the problems with the film that Soderbergh will be addressing through the editing process will be some early dragging at the beginning of the film.... He'll need to toughen the film a bit... making it a stronger more powerful work of art... and do not think that a movie at a cost of $50-60 million can't be art... because Soderbergh is going to be giving it to you this year. (And Zemeckis will too for that matter)
The film is photographed by Steven Soderbergh... and it has that desaturated bleakness that is indicative of the subject matter of the film. It's shot in what mostly feels like hand held camera work. This may disturb some (ROBOGEEK) and may delight others (like me) but you can not refuse to acknowledge that this film is very much Soderbergh's baby. It feels like no other filmmaker's work. The jumpcut editing in dialogue... where the visual image is forced to catch up to the audio... I love... Soderbergh took the time as a filmmaker to explore his own style through a series of below low budget films and that time and effort is really really paying off right now.
For a first print being shown with warts and all... Soderbergh has a film that in it's present form... I feel wouldn't quite be best picture material... but would trample through cinematography, editing, writing, actor, supporting actor, actress and supporting actress awards. What Steven does between now and the targeted release date for TRAFFIC... that will determine whether or not the director and producers will garner nominations for themselves.
TRAFFIC as it stands is one of the most powerful and assured works I've seen in quite some time. It will be debated and argued about and everyone will agree that Soderbergh and the people that made this film have gigantic metal cajones, and they really put them on the line for this film. I can not wait to see a final print, and I hope and pray that the MPAA allows this film to be released with an R... this is an important work which needs to be released uncompromised...
P.S. For the Dick Man down below.... TRAFFIC is about the entire world of drugs within and concerning the United States... It is about drug abuse, treatment, distribution, in fightings, DEA, America's judicial system, the grunts on both sides fighting, the hypocrisy and futility of the Drug Czar and how the war on drugs is everybit as futile as the war in Vietnam. It's about a series of characters throughout the above world and how this war touches and affects each of them. It's about looking the other way and turning the other cheek... about sending drug offenders to jail where they learn new and better connections and methods... And it's not a film where you should know anything other than you must go see it.
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Aug 21, 2000 3:37:02 PM CDT
CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT THIS MOVIE IS ABOUT FROM THIS HUNK OF CR
by dick dickman
Please Harry, You dont have to spoil the entire movie to give us a little bit of storyline or SOMETHING. Name drop every name in Hollywood and tell us who played who and who the key grip was and who was the best boy and the gaffers assistant, but for Gods Sake give us a little STORY LINE!!!!!! This is a review right? A REVIEW OF THE MOVIE, not the cast or the director or the studio or the..oh never mind. Thank you.
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Do mean Catherine Zeta Jones needs to press her boobie against a window and say "Oh Billy!"? Anyway, Catherine is overrated when it comes to acting and beauty. I mean, she's pretty pretty, but she's not "uh...huh...aw shucks...purty." pretty. But, then again, who the hell am I to talk? Wow, this post was pretty pointless.
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I don't like the sound of that final, almost throw-away commet, Harry. Is there a true cause for concern as far as the R rating goes? Oh, and good review, by the way. It whet my appetite just right. I don't want any storyline revelations on this one at all. Movie criticism is so friggin' arbitrary anyway. I don't see how a retelling of certain plot points makes much of a difference in the credibility of a review.
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Soderbergh is by far one of the top five filmmakers working today. Everything he has done has been fabulous, not always perfect films, but always interesting, entertaining and challenging. I think that after this film he will finally get the respect that he deserves........
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Soderbergh has rather unerring taste ("Schizopolis" notwithstanding), so if we look at this print as something of a rough draft (after only one month of editing) and he has a good stretch of time ahead with money and permission for reshoots... you bet that he's going to hone this thing to a diamond. I've followed this guy from "sex, lies" on, and he's nothing if not consistantly interesting. I'm pleased to see him developing a body of work, as a journeyman of sorts, and he's got a sure hand in such a variety of genres... Independent enough to not care what the "independent-minded" expect of him... God bless Steven Soderbergh.
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Usually Soderbergh films kick arses(even Erin Brockovich with that bad excuse for an actress Julia Roberts)buy I'm already having my doubts with this one...first off, Dennis Quaid. Is it just me or is this the most loathesome actor on planet fucking Earth? Nice string of great movies he's had out lately too on here say.
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Harry, what would you have to say about the small appearance of Salma Hayek in the movie?
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Aug 21, 2000 6:22:22 PM CDT
Wonder Boys + Traffic = Michael Douglas Oscar Nomination
by hell's cigarette
This guy plainly has the balls to play characters that are either flawed or make the guy actually look his age (in the case of Wonder Boys). His work in Traffic will likely overshadow his performance as Grady Tripp in in Wonder Boys, and that really is a shame. FYI....Wonder Boys is being rereleased on October 20th so GO SEE IT.
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As someone who has read this screenplay by Gaghan, I can honestly say that this script never had oomph in it. One scene was horrific and I bet it is the scene Harry is hoping doesn't cut or trimmed. Reason: It's the whole movie. This script was and is a series of scenarios we have seen before in other movies. The only hope that this film has is Soderberg. If he goes back and does reshoots that is where the heart and soul of this film will be found and we be born, because it wasn't on the page.
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apart from that, damn fine review. and anyone dissing harry's reviews should fuck off and read ebert's nonsensical crap.
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...Then again, bad grammar and heartfelt opinions are what this site is all about. However, " she needs to be humiliated and debased on camera ..." I'm sensing issues here people. I think we should explore this in "group" ...
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Go to Amazon.com and pay whatever they are charging for the video tape. There is no DVD. I assure you, if you like all of Soderbergh's films, you will LOVE Schizopolis. It's the kind of film that casual film buffs seem to loathe but people who like Soderbergh and his 2 key influences on this film (Monty Python and Richard Lester) seem to really love. I think it's truly great and its been ripped off by several films in the last few years (ie. American Beauty, Your Friends & Neighbours, etc.). Don't try to deny that the people behind these films have seen Schizopolis. They definitely have and it shows. It's pure, saturated genius. Post-modern in all the right ways and hilariously funny. Also, for fans of Soderbergh's private life (whatever the hell that means), his ex-wife and daughter play his wife and daughter in the film. Oh, did I mention that Soderbergh plays the 2 leads in the film, himself. SEE IT NOW!
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I have always liked Miguel Ferrer and I like him as much as all the people who love Bruce Campbell. I like Bruce Campbell, but Miguel kicks ass! He is one of the most underated character actors out there who can also probably be the lead in a major film. he did a good job as the lead in The Night Flier. If you want a real mindfuck, don't see The Cell, see The Night Flier! That ending will fucking blow you away. I am a guy who writes a number of screenplays and while I'm writing them I consider who I would cast in the roles, I always find a role for Miguel. So Miguel if you want to hit it big in the film industry, give me a call, I could use a kick ass actor like you. From Robocop, to Twin Peaks, to the Stand, to Hot Shots Part Deux, to The Night Flier, to Lateline, no one can go wrong with Miguel. And hey a little trivia, Miguel along with Bill Mumy created the marvel comic hero Comet Man, and Miguel plays in a band called Seduction of the Innocent which is made up of other sci-fi and comic guys, and he's George Clooney's cousin. IT's about fucking time Miguel got a role worthy of his range and power. Miguel you kick ass Dude!
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I was lucky enough to work on this film for a few days on location and I have to say- watching Soderbergh shoot this damn thing hand held was f***ing amazing!!!!! The man is a Film God!!!
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Looking forward to this one.. Got the opportunity to work on it as well in DC, and got to share a word with Mr. Douglas. Nothing spectacular, but still, pretty cool.
It was meticulous, and moreso than some films I've worked on. To tell the truth, most of the actors that day were disappointed by the treatment, but I could tell, there was an energy there, and I think, from what I've read that it will be AWESOME!!
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For the unaware.. (this has no real spoilers, but Harry wantes to keep it kind of a secret.. this doesn't ruin anything.. and is available in any Entertainment weekly) The movie is about a Drug Czar whose daughter becomes addicted to drugs, all the while the Czar (Douglas) is working with (or against?) the highest levels of government dealing with the war on drugs. Its a morality play that involves the reprecussions of a personal point of view on someone who has always conveniently depersonlized his amoral vocation.
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Soderbergh will come through. At least, he sould since he's editing the thing himself; something most directors do not do(Coen Brothers excepted). Oh, yeah, Lester...Dennis Quaid may not be in any major blockbusters lately but he was in a gem of a film called 'SAVIOR'a few years back. The guy can definitely act and I'm not too sure why you think he is so loathsome...but (as Peter David would say) I digress.
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Yeah they gave the oscar to Spacey last year for playing a masturbating teen seducer (or seducee), but American Beauty was a runaway oscar train that couldn't be stopped (does anyone really think Ball deserved the award over Charlie Kaufman? Isn't the word "original"?). If Traffic does indeed question the ethics and necessity of the drug war, wil mainstream critics get behind it, or criticize it into the ground like JFK. It's amazing JFK was able to get nominated for anything, and surely it deserved to win over Silence of the Lambs for its achievement in "Motion Picture Arts & Sciences". I doubt Douglas will win an Oscar for this OR Wonder Boys, because when Jeff Bridges did the same thing even better in The Big Lebowski he was awarded by no one. As long as Hanks and Zemeckis don't win anything I'll be happy. Early prediction: Gary Oldman, best supporting actor for The Contender.
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Aug 22, 2000 8:20:56 AM CDT
Indeed, I have been questioning Harrison Ford quite often lately
by stephen dedalus
Ford was on Inside the Actor's Studio just recently, and he talked about how THE MOSQUITO COAST and WITNESS were brave departures from the Indiana Jones and Star Wars movies. So why doesn't he try and do something different form all the Sidney Pollack romance shit like SABRINA and RANDOM HEARTS? Oh well, people do not stay on top forever (it didn't help that Bravo decided to air FORCE 10 FROM NAVARONE after the interview-- THAT is Ford's worst). But Douglas really is brave for doing this, especially since he is finally starting to break out of the FATAL ATTRACTION knock-offs (although DISCLOSURE was quite different and more intelligent than most sex-thrillers). Anyone who is under the foolish impression that America has even made a dent in the drug trade and that we're "winning the war on drugs" should see this. Hell, if those thick-headed bastards in D.C. would get it through their heads to JUST LEGALIZE POT, then a lot of our problems would be solved.
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Y'all know me..... y'know how much I like the Guzman..... I have faith in Soderberg to tighten this puppy up, and deliver an incediary piece of filmmaking. As for JFK: easily the greatest work of cinematic propoganda since TRIUMPH OF THE WILL, and about as useless. Even the looniest JFK conspiracy buffs had trouble swallowing it whole. Now, had it been meant as a satire of the conspiracy industry, we might be talking about one of the all time greats; however, when Ollie sets his sights on satire, we get NATURAL BORN KILLERS, which is of use to no one.
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i can't believe the scifi guy who loves katherine heigl forgot to judge the best person in that cast! majandra delfino!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so what about that 70s' show guy... we all love majandra how was she?
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This movie sounds great. It will be interesting to see the so-called "war on drugs" explored on film. p.s.... Go Rudy!
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Having been to the same screening, I agree with Harry that it lacks "oomph". I'm pretty skeptical that it can be fixed, but I guess we'll see. I thought the ending was especially corny, and some of the Mexican stuff hard to follow. I kind of wish they HAD managed to get Harrison Ford for this- Ford's vulnerability would have worked really well here. This nation has been debating drug policy for years much more passionately than this film. It's not a film that is going to "shake things up" unfortunately, which is too bad.
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Damned sickly british fingers (sorry, wrong talkback). Anyhoo, yeah, that was a great sunday afternoon movie when I was 10 years old (1987), but now, Damn! that could've been a great movie...
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Soderbergh's favorite DP right now is the very talented Ed Lachman who shot "Erin Brockovich" and "The Limey". Are you sure Soderbergh handled the directing AND lensing duties(AKA Peter Hyams and Doug Liman?)
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Having seen the same screening in Austin, my understanding from talking to the writer afterwards was that the dialog jump cuts were not deliberate but that they would be corrected or reshot. Maybe he was just loathe to tell me that it had been done on purpose as artistic license (though I thought it looked forced). My take on the film: I was prepared for predictable Hollywood pap and was taken by the intelligence and awareness visible throughout the film. This was only my second Soderbergh film after the underwhelming (to me) Sex,Lies... and after seeing this, I'm going to rent the rest of his films. The film got me excited about movies again more than anything since The Matrix. All the performances were grade A and I even liked the informality of the cinema verite photography. But the ending was pure Hollywood sappy bull$***. Please leave out the happy ending or toughen it up.
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Listen, youse guys, Gordy is NOT dead despite what that Loser-Tony says. One person who IS dead is Pasolini. He was MURDERED! UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES! MANY YEARS AGO! If you have ANY inforMation about WHO murdered Pasolini and WHY contact the Italian Police. Peace out!
P.S.
"Who dropped the bomb on hip-hop? Who got Pasolini? And who shot Tupac?"
-Public Pasolini
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After great films like Sex Lies and Videotape, King of the Hill, Out of Sight and Erin Brokovich,
everyone has to admitt that he -
No one has mentioned that TRAFFIC is based on the four hour British TV film called TRAFFIK. It played a few years back on PBS. It's highly recommended and is essentially the same story.
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To those of us who have had contact with this world, this movie is laughably behind the times. While I applaud the effort to educate white, middle-class America on the evils of not having an inner life, scenes like the 'big, bad black man dealer' screwing the pug-faced little white girl are just insulting. Obviously if you are a zombie, you will end up in unsavory situations...but by implying that you hit rock-bottom if you are being screwed by a black man, they are just manipulating the hatred between the races. I also disliked the grainiess of the film. It reminded me of sitting in high school watching hygiene films. What is this, the 1950's? All in all, I could've passed if it weren't for Benicio Del Toro's wonderful performance.
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After reading the review above, my expectation of this film were brimming. However, despite being a reasonably engaging film, it did drag and was ultimately disappointing. Maybe you have to be caught up in the drugs world for this film to talk to you emotionally ? I personally found it rather flat and lightweight. Maybe if there were less characters in the film, it could spend more time developing them and make you care about them. Not a bad film, but not the blockbuster that I was expecting.
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I love films, I love films that make me think, I thought Traffic would make me think and it did...it made me think about what else I could be doing in the ammount of time I was spending bored. It's not that Traffic is bad, infact it promises so much, and that's what's frustraiting it looks so good yet is so..well messy. Great ideas were here, the cocaine doll, the poor girls fall into prostitution and drugs the falling drugs governer. Each one of these idea's heck maybe two would make a great 1 and a half hour film yet you feel desopite the wonderful nuggets of writing are lost in the mess of crossing storylines. Another problem I found with traffic as I sat in my local cinema munching on Minstrels was the fact that half of the film was in Mexican or Spanish or some other language. We did have the pleasure of subtitles though (Thankyou sooo much, how about just not having it in in the first place???)
Despite my dissapointment there are many good moments in this film. Overall though It just tries too hard.
3/5
MISTAKE ALERT!: Notice when the witness in court is speaking in the stand quite clearly the microphone switch is on off. Ha Ha mistake found
If you agree, or Disagree please do E-male me on Natshirt99@yahoo.com
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