Traffic

Ok so what better way to start then with this Acadamy award winning film of 200o. So I rented a few movies that I thought looked pretty decent and a disc of entourage to watch as my films for the week. I thought I would kick start the week of with a little entourage, and as I was watching one of the main characters was talking about getting a new writer to finish their film, "We need Stephen Gaghan", "Stephen Gaghan!?", "Yea, he wrote f@cking 'Traffic'". As he said this I looked in my pile of films and saw the words "Traffic". Crazy coincidence I thought! So off with entourage and in with Traffic.

Written by Stephen Gaghen (Rules of Engagement, Havoc) and directed by Stephen Soderbergh (Erin Brockovich, Oceans Eleven) and led by an All Star cast including Michael Douglas, (Basic Instinct, Black Rain) Benicio Del Toro, (21 grams, Snatch) Topher Grace (that 70's show, spider-man) Erika Christensen (Swimfan) and Don Cheadle (Crash, Oceans 11). The film follows several story plots that overlap as the characters are individually affected in some way by each others actions.

It is rare to find a movie that, could hold an audience purely on the storyline. It is also refreshing to see so many A-level actors in the same film, where individually they don't have the screen time they could potentially have had, had they adopted a different movie. But to see them believe in a story so completely they put money and ego aside to create a great all round story that was completely captivating to watch.

Micheal Douglas, having just taken over as head of the Drug department of the United States represents the American society and their stance on drug use. With drugs affecting every single American, and in some cases it being easier for the youth to get their hands on drugs than alcohol. It shows the beaurecratic side of the war, where it is merely a numbers game and an individual human being can be ranked as only a statistic. However, as Michael Douglas' character having to deal with his 16 year old daughter spiralling into drug use and addiction he realises the urgency of winning a losing battle.

Benicio del Toro represents the low income individuals who are so personally affected by the cruel world of drug Trafficking. Delivering his best performance to date, his character, a police officer in the country of Mexico struggles through inner morale issues, with so many voices telling him whats right, he has to choose for himself where his loyalties lay. 

The cinematic contrast through the use of Colour grading gives great depth throughout the film. using dark blues throughout the American scenes portays the way people subtract themselves from real issues as they are so caught up in the red tape and choosing to being so politically correct ALL the time, that it creates the atmosphere that a subject so painfully important, seem mello and swept under the rug. Where as the hot reds and warm colours of the mexican scenes makes everything seem so personal and that every little action affects every other person in a large way.

There is so much more to touch on and I could potentially dive further in depth to the second two sets of storylines led by Don Cheadle and Catherine Zeta Jones. But as this is the very first blog I may end it here.

so in conclusion I give this film a 4 and a half stars out of 5 and highly recommend it as a must watch.

Peace and love,

Ben