Traffic [DVD]

This is a fairly long movie but i was engrossed after the opening scene. The film weaves several different, interconnecting stories all linked to drug trafficking. Cathering Zeta Jones is suberb as the wealthy wife who discovers that her husband's fortune isn't made from ligitimate business dealings, there is no way she will give up her life of luxury. Michael Douglas is his usual watchable self playing a government official who has just been given the job of sorting out the USA's drugs problem, little does he know what his teenage, privately educated daughter is getting up to. There are some very violent scenes including torture so this film may not be for the faint hearted. There is an almost-funny scene where the cops are trying to protect an informant whilst staying in a dingy hotel. A very entertaining film.

Arrived in time, product as expected , sealed, everything perfect

Even after so many years it's still a brilliant film to watch

Traffic the movie is quite good, but then so was the original Channel 4 series of yesteryear, named Traffik. Traffik was something like 8 or 10 hours long, meaning much of the story was condensed to fit into Soderbergh's version although top marks must be awarded for at least making relevant cuts to the old screenplay. The London of Traffik became Washington DC for Traffic, Hamburg became California and Pakistan became Mexico.For me Benecio Del Torro and Michael Douglas were the outstanding players. Jones's character was rather wooden and I note with dismay that despite the talent and innovation of Hollywood, they still can't stop themselves from glamming up ordinary characters into aesthetically pleasing ones. The teenage daughter of Douglas' character, plunged into drug addiction, never suffered from mottled skin, matted hair, bad teeth and open sores and instead kept her fine looks and preppy lifestyle. Even when she sold herself for a fix, the flawless youth who serviced her could have come straight from a Milano catwalk, instead of the reality of grime and sleaze just waiting to exploit.I did find the colour coding of the scenes distracting rather than helpful. Another downside was the rather muffled sound throughout the film. Was this another "reality" injection, along with the artfully sloppy editing and camera angles?But for the aforementioned faults, Traffic is a good film, an interesting Americanisation of the original Eurasian tale. But to be fair this latest version does add something that the old one could not achieve. If you don't believe me, imagine "Pulp Fiction" set in Wiltshire. Let's face it, no-one does "cool" like the US of A.

An atmospheric brilliant film.Just loved this film.A brilliant story which will hold your attention from start to finish.

i find it very sad a billion pound company cant provide a product correctly for its customers.and what we get is a sub standard product. i not be at all supprised an illegal streaming sight could provide better for free these are the facts .you provided subtitles for those who do not understand english only here in the uk.i can only give this awesome film a one star rating due to who presenting it not for the film it self i have to recollect what i seen 20 yeear's ago with "subtitles" to enjoy this film correctly .and this what we pay this company hard cash for .it is a big reflection on what they think of us .

Very interesting movie when you compare the state of the so called war on drugs back in the President Reagan days with the reality of drugs in America in 2022. A war well and truly lost forever ! Two critical scenes were way beyond the pale. Firstly the Douglas character going into a school class and marching out a student by the scruff of the neck no questions asked. Secondly at the end the DEA agent going into the drug dealers home throwing his weight around. He would not have got out alive he would be sleeping with the fishes. The cast was very good the script and story line left a lot to be desired !

I purchased this for my husbund as he had the video but it ceased to be a very good copy but the DVD is an exact copyand he enjoyed watching it.

This video was shipped quickly and arrived in good condition. This video is an enjoyable addition to my video collection! I am always impressed by the quality of the Criterion Collection versions of these films.

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Dans ce film oscarisé à la photographie particulièrement soignée qui traite de la drogue et de ses ravages, Benicio del Toro occupe tout le film tant il est excellent dans ce rôle de flic mexicain intègre. Les autres acteurs en pâtissent.

Esta película es como un documental para entender el complejo mundo de las drogas. Los actores son excepcionales. Vale la pena verlo.

最近話題の2011年公開、ウィルス・パンデミックのリアリズムが冴える秀作「コンテイジョン」やスタイリッシュな強盗団が時代を画した「オーシャンズ・シリーズ」のスティーブン・ソダーバーグ監督が、2000年のアカデミー監督賞に輝いたのが本作「トラフィック」だ。米国とメキシコの麻薬戦争を実在した人物モデルを取り入れ、現代社会の実相と人間の弱き本質に迫った脚本が素晴らしい。何故に麻薬撲滅が困難なのか、生まれ続ける需要と資金力豊富な供給、政府と麻薬カルテルとの根深い癒着、仲介業者とマネーロンダリングの巧妙な隠れ蓑、不用意な親達が招く家庭の崩壊等が、実にリアルな構造的問題として語られるのだ。家族崩壊に苛まれる米国麻薬対策本部長のマイケル・ダグラス、カリフォルニア麻薬コネクションのボスを追い詰める米麻薬警察ドン・チードルと自分の夫がボスと知って驚愕する妻役のキャサリン・セダ・ジョーンズ、メキシコでの麻薬カルテル撲滅に共闘する麻薬対策軍に違和感を持つ麻薬取締警察のベニチオ・デル・トロ。実話ベースだけに、この並行する３つのストーリー何れもがヒリヒリするリアリズムで、迫真の演技と手持ちカメラがドキュメンタリー調に盛り上げる。特筆すべきは３つの場所のシナリオ別にフィルム解像度や色調を分け、その違いが徐々に一つに収斂していく演出が上手い。一見別々の米国とメキシコは同じ土俵に居るのだと。特に序盤は観客に３つを混同させない効果もあって心憎い配慮だ。“麻薬は常に心の弱い人間から堕落させ、未成年の未来をも確実に奪っていく”その仕組みが再生産される必然性こそが本作の主張する本当の恐怖だ。そしてそれは身近で普通に起きている事実は日本でも相次ぐタレント不祥事で明らかだ。先進国や発展途上国の区別なく、社会や仕事や家庭への不満や不安が消えない限り永遠に需要は尽きず、麻薬ビジネスも不滅に成立する。人間が白から黒に染まる速さこそ、真の麻薬の恐ろしさだ。一方、途中に描かれる再犯防止の為の集団カウンセリングには気の遠くなる時間が必要なのが辛い。そう思えば貿易戦争に限らず、トランプ大統領が陸続きのメキシコ国境に壁を造りたくなる気持ちも解らなくはない。それほどに深刻な現実を知らしめてくれる迫真の本作は、一度観ておく価値がある。Blu-rayは画質はまずまず、日本語吹替えも違和感なし。広く観て貰うには廉価版が欲しい所。麻薬の「トラフィック」とウィルスの「コンテイジョン」。ソダーバーグ監督の鳴らす警鐘を聴き逃すのは現代人としては如何にも勿体無い。全編通して絶望的シーンばかりで気が滅入る映画達だが、エンディングに瞬く小さな救いの光が本当に美しい。麻薬との過酷な闘いには、社会全体の覚悟と身近な愛情の両方が必要だとの渾身の主張に身が引き締まるＷ傑作です。