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Ozymandias sends in a review from England of TRAFFIC
Well Father Geek just received this note from our Dublin office and ol' Ozy our hardworking Irish news editor. Its a Brit's look at TRAFFIC, a motion picture that I for one can't wait to have hit the American screens full force.
If your touchy about SPOILERS you may want to avoid the following, its not excessive, buuuuut...
Hey guys, Ozymandias here...
One of our army of geek spies in the UK had a gander (as we say over here!) at the new Soderbergh the other nite..... He be Fieldman No.1:
A 'TRAFFIC' REVIEW
Hey guys, Ozymandias here...
One of our army of geek spies in the UK had a gander (as we say over here!) at the new Soderbergh the other nite..... He be Fieldman No.1:
A 'TRAFFIC' REVIEW
A 'TRAFFIC' REVIEW
Just caught a UK screening Of Traffic and while I'll try and avoid spoilers I can't make huge promises. Traffic tells a set of three or four stories all relating to the shipment of cocaine into the US. On the one level there's Benicio Del Toro as a customs cop right up to Michael Douglas as a Washington drugs czar. The stories intertwine and overlap but not in an overly flashy way its not like 'COOOOL!' when you see two characters from separate strands pass each other in the street but it does serve to show that the business effects different people in different ways at different levels. Less cool and more smooth.
Smooth is the operative word when describing 'Traffic'. Theres well a over a dozen main characters in as many plots and subplots unravelling but the efficiency in the way Lord Soderbergh edits the segments didn't fuck up my head at all. He also uses lots of different film stock and sound to help the jump from tale to tale. Very cool - the boys coming along nicely.
The performances are pretty damn slick as well. And there's a wiiiide array of actors and actresses that are very well loved and admired by Aint It Coolers at present; Don Cheadle, Luiz Gusman, Salma Hayek, Albert Finney are just a few of the thespos all obviously very pleased with being able to deliver nicely understated performances. Absolutely no grandstanding from anyone and if you like watching fine acting you'll love Traffic. Sorry, But Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich was still JULIA ROBERTS rather than 100% Erin.
Was Michael Douglas MICHAEL DOUGLAS? No not really. His characters job is to watch and learn and calculate as he realises he is waging a war that he cannot win. When he realises his daughter is a junkie he becomes ever so slightly the angry, impotent yet fighting Douglas we have seen in 'Falling Down' and apart from a slightly cheesy 'inability to deliver a speech scene' at the end he really did a fine job. His daughter is played by a young filly by the name of Erika Christensen, shes like Julia Stiles, only with the ability to act very well. You couldn't help thinking about Harrison in Douglas' part though, but I bet old Greypubes regrets not taking it.
I don't like films that make consciously manipulative attempts to pull at your heartstrings or give you a fix of sanitised fast-food outrage that Spielberg is so good at. (Sorry chaps but the man is pretty cynical at trying to make you care). With 'Traffic' I was impressed by the style but wanted to feel and care more about what was going on. I wanted to be shocked at the drugs trade - I wasn't. I wanted to be outraged at the ineptitude of the US customs and shocked at the high level corruption in Mexico, I wanted to hiss at the hitman. But everything was just a little detached for me - But watching Benicio watch baseball made me smile.
All round a very classy film indeed that goes even further to prove that Soderbergh is shaping up to be one of the best directors working in Hollywood.
Cheers
FieldmanNo.1
-------------
L8r,
Ozymandias.
Ain't It Cool News - Ireland/UK Office,
Penthouse Suite,
Ozymandias Towers,
Dublin,
Ireland.
Mail me @ ozymandias@dublin.com
Ozymandias.
Ain't It Cool News - Ireland/UK Office,
Penthouse Suite,
Ozymandias Towers,
Dublin,
Ireland.
Mail me @ ozymandias@dublin.com
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When does this open?
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great cast, good idea, great reviews -- this movie should kick ace. I liked the bit someone wrote earlier that spoke of the unique feel & coloring of the "world" of each story thread. I love that Oliver Stone-ish mix-n-match approach. I don't expect to be too moved on a personal level, with regard to my politix about drug smuggling, but I'm looking forward to this film's release in the US. (I hope Soderbergh avoids the one thing I didn't like about the Limey, which was all the time-hopping in the first half of the movie -- he's on the plane, he's with Luis Guzman, he's back on the plane, now he's in England, now he's on the plane but apparently he's thinking about Luis, then they're in a car talking, then he's back on Guzman's doorstep. I mean, what the fuck. I thought I would like it better by the 5th or 6th time I saw the movie but I didn't. But I guess challenging movies are good movies.)(another complaint = I hated the lack of love-story resolution in EBrokovich. but, that's how life is I reckon. That's how her love life ended up I guess.) Anyways I'm stoked about this movie!
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Out of Sight was simply amazing! Everything about it was fluid, engrossing, and cool. He takes so many risks, but they're all so subtle you never even notice them. I found Erin Brockovich to be perhaps the most I've ever enjoyed a movie that I cared nothing about, and The Limey had the feel of the best Film School project ever. It was a hypnotic editing experiment. This man makes every actor he works with look like Olivier, look at George Clooney before and after Out of Sight. Clooney always had talent and charisma, but he couldn't escape the head-tilting prettyboy persona he cultivated until Out of Sight, and now he's one of the best and most daring actors working today. Hopefully the world will begin to recognize Soderbergh's genius when Traffic hits big the way it's going to hit! And the cool thing is, all of this has just been practice for Ocean's 11.
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Canadians rule! Go Canada.
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It's delicious to hear that he's back to acting rather than the ACTING!! he's done in his last two films...as for Salma, she's just divine...
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I hope this one is good. Sex, Lies and Videotape had no payoff at the end, Out of Sight was wretched. But the Limey, now THERE is a film. That movie is a clever and perfect masterpiece. So here is hoping that Traffic has that same quality...
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terrance stamp wasn't "time-hopping" (jesus christ, what a term) on the plane, off the plane, back on the plane in the limey like you thought he was. he was remembering all of the events of the film, just once, from the plane. the whole flick was his character's flashback. it was interesting to see him on the plane, assume he was on his way to l.a., and then slowly realize that he's already taken care of business and is heading back. that nonchronological structure was a major aspect of the film, and to not like that and still see it six times, well....i don't know what to tell you. this is the second time i've had to tallywhack you today, it's a good thing this one wasn't a question on the quiz show too, kid.
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Another strong review for Traffic, coupled with Harry's bit about the trailer - everyone totally on point. By the way, the score behind the film, put together by Cliff Martinez ROCKS SHIT! Flea, Herbie Hancock, Alex Acuna, Pauliho da Costa! Say no more.
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Ok, don't take this the wrong way, but Fuck Off!! Out of Sight was masterful. It was elegant, it was classy, it was cool, it was adventurous, it was romantic. It was many, many things, but wretched was not one of them. I mean, you're totally entiltled to your opinion, (my Fuck Off was of an incredulous rather than an insulting nature, so don't think I'm flaming you too ferociously here), and you don't have to like it, but maybe you should watch it again, because I find it hard to believe that someone could appreciate The Limey and totally hate Out of Sight!
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Still one of his best
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Out of Sight: Sorry for my difference of opinion. People should not have to apologize for their tastes, but I also have to appeal to the past four years of film school classes behind me as well. Yeah, I know, what do they know, right? But there was nothing original in the entire film that I could see. The female "hottie" was very plain and unattractive, George Clooney was the star, and he had an annoying comic-relief sidekick! The Limey is revolutionary in the way it was a sequel to a film nobody remembers, and ups the ante quite a bit in character development. How many sequels can you say that about? And the whole concept of the film really only being about 50 min. long, but looped in genius fashion so that it never seems repetitive is powerful economical filmmaking at its best. Do not listen to me; I am the guy that heavily dislikes Clerks as well. I could get specific (and cite point by point technical or story structure reasons why I heavily dislike Out of Sight other than broad swipes that are more a matter of taste than fact, but it would be a waste of time for me right now.) And to attack me with the harshest of words is totally unnecessary; Who cares? I mean, not EVERYONE will enjoy the same films! My wife and I share the same scope of tastes, but we still HEAVILY disagree on a few here and there. Come on, anyplace you discuss movies you will inevitably run into this. Harry has already blatantly thoroughly trashed much of what I hold dear and I have accepted it as fact rather than send him threat letters...
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Ok, regarding my attacking you with the harshest of words, I did make a point of stating that my exclamation was incredulous rather than insulting. Sorry if I didn't make that clear. I'm not one to expect that everybody has to like the same movies; I was more defending one of my favorite movies from the adjective 'wretched'. And if I do so in a way that sparks a reply...well, that's what the talkback is for. Minor technical faults can be found in most any movie; OoS has a few that Soderbergh himself points out, no traffic on the bridge scene, etc. Fine, but they're so minor that they don't impact the movie at all. And what he does well..flashbacks, color, sound, dialogue, teaching Clooney to act, pacing. But I guess those are matters of taste. You claim to want originality, which you say the movie lacks, but then in the same breath you complain that the lead actress wasn't "hot" enough for you? If that's the sort of originality they teach in film school, I guess that explains much about the state of Hollywood today. Me, since it's been a while since I saw a summer movie that risked confusing the audience with flashes and freezeframes (but didn't), paid such attention to color and atmosphere in relation to setting, and was chalk full of 3-Dimentional characters (everybody had a motive and a past that impacted the character) and Elmore Leonard's consistantly phenomenal dialogue, I'm going to continue to consider Out of Sight quite original. And, as a post script...sequels to a movie nobody remembers aren't a good idea just by nature of being a sequel to a movie nobody remembers. Eddie and the Cruisers, anyone?
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I was rushed and a little unclear. No, I could care less if the female lead was a "hottie". That should never be a concern in most dramas. Maybe I have just misinterpreted fans of the film in general. I watched it, was not impressed, but then I come here and all anyone discusses is how "hot" the lead is, how she makes the film infinitely watchable, blah, blah, blah. Superficial that is, yes. But that is the only criteria concerning the film I have ever heard praise of. I have always meant to give OoS a second chance. I like Elmore Leonard, but this story just did not "hook" me when I saw it. Perhaps you are correct about colour, pacing, Clooney's acting. Those type of elements are the kind that GET BETTER over time, each repeated viewing, just as with Kubrick's work. So maybe one is in order for me, but I still think that the pure gut-reaction I had to my first viewing of the Limey being so powerful, how could OoS ever live up to that level if I felt nowhere near the same with it on first taste? And about the sequel for sequel sake: Again I was unclear. I never knew this was the case until recently about that film. I just think that is a phenomenal trivia fact that adds to the film after one has seen it.
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I can't believe I'm the only person who remembers seeing Traffic when it came out on PBS as a 3 part series back about 7 years ago. It was a BBC production if I'm not mistaken.
I saw the trailer this summer and even before the title came up at the end, I remember thinking, "Hey, this looks familiar". And sure enough...
The main difference is that the ORIGINAL Traffic took place in England, and the Geezer Douglas part was a member of Parliament. His daughter was a heroin junkie and he was an outspoken anti-drug type. The other storyline was set in the opium poppy fields of Afghanistan where this lowly farmer tries to get his crop to market.
I just remember stumbling across the 1st part of the series and getting immediately hooked in. A very interesting concept the way all these characters' lives intersect however obliquely. Reading the review of the NEW Traffic, I'm heartened to hear that they seem to be staying fairly close to the original concept and story line (except that instead of Black Tar, we'll be following the Devil's Dandruff).
Can't wait to see it. Hell, I wouldn't mind if they re-ran the original series on PBS again for that matter.
Chavo out -
Oh. I get it now.
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Nov 30, 2000 12:25:58 AM CST
Soderbergh gets better and better, I can't wait to see what he d
by cruel shoes
And while Out of Sight is no Schizopolis, it is a perfect goddman film. Everytime I watch it gets better and better. One of those films that give you comfort, like some friends have come over. That's how resonant the atmosphere is, and how great those characters are. Perfect perfect perfect. If you don't like Clooney, that's not the film's fault. Can you honestly call Citizen Kane shit because you're not a big Joseph Cotton fan? I'm not comparing Out of Sight to Citizen Kane, that comparison I save for SCHIZOPOLIS and it's (as yet unmade) sequel SON OF SCHIZOPOLIS! Please Soderbergh, MAKE THIS MOVIE!
nose army, T.A.S -
Sonderburgh is cool too to use "Poor Cow"(Pretty good flick.) footage in flashback sequences and make it match. STAMP IS THE MAN! "BOW DOWN TO ME, SON OF COLUMBIAN DRUG DEALER, EL JOR-EL!
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"sex, lies and videotape" had no payoff at the end?!! I think not. I was only 13 when it exploded in 1989, but I revisit it once a year to remind myself what genius Soderbergh has to have been able to pull off a debut like that. The old Criterion box is starting to laser rot. I might have to pony up for that DVD. The commentary between Soderbergh and Neil LaBute might be worth it, too.
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The original B.B.C. tv series was very good, possible spoiler, there was a great scene at the end when a guy stabbed the evil Drug Barron in the neck a syringe full of heroin and we watch suffer the same fate as his victim's as he dies from the overdose.Another memorable moment was when a desperate mother was forced to transport dope to England to save her children only to have condom full of heroin break open in her stomack and kill her on the plane.To contradict an earlier poster I think the drugs were coming from Pakistan not Afghanistan.
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Nov 30, 2000 4:53:54 AM CST
Hibbidy, yep you Canadians really do contribute something.
by doublejack
British people suck. Is that the best one of you superior Canadians can come up with on a Traffic talkback?
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Is a pretty damn good actress. From the trailer, the chick in TRAFFIC looks nothing like her anyway, so I'm wondering where the comparison comes from...
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Hey you guys. Anyone who liked/loved "The Limey" has to
see "Point Blank". Mr Lee Marvin(the coolest) and John Boorman
doing it as original as it gets in 1966. It's got flashbacks, revenge the whole nine. As for the remake, it should be erased from the face of the planet.
Cheers -
Erin Brokovich wasn't a terrible movie but it was damn boring coupled with the fact that we've learned that most of the story is 70% bullshit. A good part of the movie is about Erin picking up disposable waste! Best actress for julia roberts? If she wins I will officially never trust the academy awards ever again! First Helen hunt, then Gwyneth, but those were semi-plausible. Roberts is just too boring and cornflaky they don't have awards for cleavage.. yet. She is the definition of true mediocrity walking on the mainstream plane. I can't believe how Soderbough sold out on Erin Brockavich. He had something going from "out of site" and the first ten minutes of Brockovich were interesting but it turns into mainstream schlock and not only that but bad mainstream schlock. Traffic sounds interesting but any movie with Michael Douglas I gotta pass.
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... or rather one British person rules, or more accurately one British person rules Canada! Don't see Jean Chretien's or Pierre Elliot Trudeau's face on the flipside of that loonie do ya, eh?
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Hahaha!!! Poor Harrison Ford. I'm really looking forward to this flick.
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I think both sides have been sufficiently argued, though I would also rush to point out that these are very very different films, appealing largely to different crowds or at least created with the intent of appealing to different crowds. I think Mr. Soderbergh was indulging different parts of his creative self here. So leaving aside the question of which was better (silly anyway, in my mind), can't we agree that each was exciting and excitingly different (not necessarily Original, for what film is) from the usual movie fare? Now, that aside, there's this issue of The Limey being a sequel to Poor Cow. Whoa. This is a new concept to me. I know the connection, I know which scenes were pulled from Ken Loach's much earlier film (has anyone seen it? I'm very curious), but can anyone point to an interview or DVD commentary (I don't have a player, so many of you may have access to something I don't) where he states definitively that this is a sequel, where he says maybe that he was so taken with that film and that character that he just had to revisit them? In the interview I read, he said he couldn't have made The Limey, not in the way they did, and that he probably would have given it up, if they'd not gotten the rights to Loach's film. But he did not say The Limey was conceived as a sequel; if anything, I got the idea that the insertion of the Poor Cow footage was an idea that arose later, and that he soon realized it was essential. (I'm not looking for surmises, I'm seeking the words right from the horse's mouth...) Regardless, I'm excited about Traffic.
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I have the DVD. The character Stamp played on Poor Cow had the EXACT same name. It is mentioned on a featurette and text for the film that this is the case, and that after Soderbergh aquired the rights this became a "fun" thing to do in making a sequel of sorts to a film no one much remembers. It is the same character, only twenty-twenty-five years later than we last saw him in Poor Cow.
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I stand (well, I'm sitting) corrected (in a way). Thanks, 0007 (btw, what is that--license to spill? ; ) ). See, for those of you who think I'm just a long-winded troublemaker, I admit my errors when wrong. Anyway, it's been fun. Regardless of its origins, The Limey was most definitely one of my favorite films of 1999. --kyle out
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Cool thing I hear about TRAFFIC is that there is a lot of dialogue in Spanish with subtitles, which would give it a more realistic feel. I hear there are many Latin actors and actresses in the movie, like Benicio del Toro, Luis Guzman, Clifton Collins Jr., Stephen Brauer, someone even told me that Salma Hayek makes a cameo appeareance! Check out the trailer and site! http://trafficthemovie.com
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