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Traffic directed by Steven Soderbergh is a no holds
barred look at the drug war in America. Soderbergh’s film asks the questions, Is any
part of the multimillion-dollar drug program of the United States working? , Do you attack
the supply or the demand? The Mexican cartels are driven by American demand for their
products, and they have both an infinite supply and far more money to implement their
marketing program than the U.S. government has to fight it.
The film is divided into three interlocking views of the
drug chain. In a sepia-toned Mexico, Javier (Benicio Del Toro) and Manolo (Jacob Vargas),
are two decent state cops caught in the corporate drug war between the Obregon and
Madrigal families.
In Cincinnati, filmed in cool blue, an earnest and
determined Ohio Supreme Court justice (Michael Douglas) has been appointed the U.S. drug
czar at the same time he is discovering that his daughter (Erika Christensen), an
accomplished student in their affluent suburb, has become addicted to drugs in a big way
(a little bit too ironic).
In golden California, two federal agents (Don Cheadle and
Luiz Guzman) arrest a dealer who has decided to co-operate with the DEA and give evidence
against his supplier (Steven Bauer). As the supplier is arrested without bail pending
trial, his wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) begins to understand that her husband is not the
respectable businessman he appeared.
Traffic is a gritty & realistic view of the never
ending battle by law enforcement, State & Federal Governments and parents against
drugs. Supported by a fantastic cast and some excellent performances it is a powerful
story that needs to be told. |
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