El Cosmico here again, this time with our pal Uncapie's review of TRAFFIC.
I saw this flick a few months ago; it was a different version. I was going to see the latest cut yesterday morning, but my butt was still recovering from the numb-a-thon. It was too early. So I missed it. What to do? I asked Father Geek and Quint how it differed. Basically, they said that nothing major had been added, and that, as is often the case, there was a decision that about a half hour should be cut, and so a lot of things I'd seen were now missing. Specifically, plot and character development.
So, I don't know quite what to tell you to think about this film now. I hear that Benicio del Toro's part is mostly the same, which to me is the most essential thing. On the other hand, I've heard that Catherine Zeta-Jones-Douglas' role has been cut significantly, which I think is rather wrong. In any case, part of me still thinks that this film might have been better if cut into two works, one focusing on the del Toro character, and the other on the Michael Douglas character. Or, maybe just the del Toro film. In a world where films are cut not for quality but for length, this might be a way to preserve a bit of the former. Then again, what the hell do I know?
The important thing to remember here is that Benicio del Toro gives one of the best performances by a lead actor that you're going to see anytime soon I've always thought well of the fellow, enjoying all of his roles that I recall, but I never before saw him play a character with such intense skill as he does in TRAFFIC. This guy alone is reason not to miss the film.
Storywise, well, having a certain unnamed stake in the issues discussed, I would have liked a focus on certain different matters. Then again, that would have made for a longer film, harsher cuts, etc.. On the whole, then, it's not as great as a film as I think it could have been, but still a definite need-to-go-see. Enough from me, though, here's our pal Uncapie with a heap of helpful thoughts:
Just saw a special advanced screening of "Traffic" at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood tonight. Director Steven Soderbergh was in attendance and there was a q and a after a short discussion of the film.
Soderbergh uses several overexposed camera techniques to describe various moods and locals in the film. Sometimes it enhances the movie, other moments, its just irritating. Soderbergh was also the DP on this project using a pseudo-name.
I can see why now Harrison Ford bowed out of the film and was replaced by Michael Douglas. The character doesn't have that much to do and isn't really the focal point of the film. Douglas faces a hypocritical, moral dilemma to declare the war on drugs, while his wife, portrayed by Amy Irving, has experimented with drugs and his daughter, Erika Christensen, is an addict. It was hard for me to feel sorry for her character and her friends depicted as rich kids who get high and do the nasty similar to Robert Downey, Jr.'s performance in "Less Than Zero." Not to get off on a rant, but that is really pushing life imitating art with that guy!
The show stealers in this film are Benecio Del Toro, who plays a Tijuana detective who gets involved too deep with Mexican corruption and has to make harsh career choices. Most of his dialogue is subtitled. He really lights up the screen with his presence. The other two actors are Luis Guzman and Don Cheadle, which they could have easily just made the movie about these two cops and their adventures. They really bring magic to the film.
Soderbergh exploits the futile attempt at the war on drugs and why it'll never be won. Miguel Ferrar, in typical pissed-off Ferrar mode, as a busted drug dealer who is going to turn evidence, gives a brilliant speech why and how the United States opened up drug trade more with the NAFTA agreement: "Mexican cargo trucks will be able to go from state-to-state just like UPS, FedEx or DHL and we left the door wide open for them to do so!"
I was amazed to see Dennis Quaid looking like a younger version of Harrison Ford in a few scenes. In the opening shot of him, I actually thought it was Ford making a cameo! He plays a sleazy business associate of drug dealer, Steven Bauer("Scarface") who tries to move in on his territory and his pregnant wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones-Doulglas. With the recent events in Quaid's life, this drew an uncomfortable tension in the audience I saw it with.
Cameo performances by Albert Finney, Salma Hayek, Peter Reigert and James Brolin are fine.
Overall, some of the performances were great, but I left the theater feeling it was flat. Certain moments where Douglas could have really shined, were just left bland. Same thing with Zeta-Jones-Douglas. Bauer, just doesn't have that much screen time for of us to get to know his character. I felt that I see it all before. It seemed like a fifth year "Miami Vice" episode, without the gun play.
Uncapie
