Movie spotlight
An exploration of the United States of America's war on drugs from multiple perspectives. For the new head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the war becomes personal when he discovers his well-educated daughter is abusing cocaine within their comfortable suburban home. In Mexico, a flawed, but noble policeman agrees to testify against a powerful general in league with a cartel, and in San Diego, a drug kingpin's sheltered trophy wife must learn her husband's ruthless business after he is arrested, endangering her luxurious lifestyle.
The film presents a complex, multi-faceted look at the illegal drug trade from various perspectives. It follows a conservative judge appointed to lead America's war on drugs, a Mexican cop caught in the corrupt system, and drug kingpins and addicts whose lives are intertwined. The interconnected stories explore the devastating consequences of drug trafficking on individuals and society.
Traffic was met with widespread critical acclaim, praised for its ambitious structure, Soderbergh's direction, and powerful performances, particularly from Benicio del Toro. It was lauded for its unflinching portrayal of the drug war's complexities and its moral ambiguities.
Praised for its intricate, interwoven narrative that effectively captures the scope of the drug war.
Acclaimed for its stark and realistic portrayal of the human cost and systemic corruption associated with drug trafficking.
Lauded for its exceptional performances, especially Benicio del Toro's Oscar-winning role.
Google audience: Audiences largely appreciated the film's intense and thought-provoking examination of the drug trade, highlighting its gripping storytelling and strong performances as key strengths.
Won 4 Academy Awards including Best Director for Steven Soderbergh and Best Supporting Actor for Benicio del Toro. Nominated for Best Picture.
To visually distinguish between the different storylines, director Steven Soderbergh used different color saturation techniques: the Mexico City storyline was filmed with a blue tint, the American suburban storyline with a golden or yellow tint, and the DEA storyline with a more neutral, desaturated look.
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Remember when western governments went through their phases of appointing a “czar” for everything? They clearly didn’t recall just what happened to the last one of them, and to be fair to “Wakefield” (Michael Douglas) his chances of success...
**Someone needs to go back to directing school** This gem of the millennium comes with a great story (which has been done countless times before and after), great actors (funny faced most of them), and very well done action. Unfortuna...
Seen this a few times over the years and still remains a compelling multi-character drama with some fine performances all around. Also has some great visuals depending on the storyline. Not sure where I rank it amongst Soderbergh's other wo...