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I usually don't watch films like that until they are shown on free cavble channels. But my wife kept telling me it was a good movie and last night... well, we rented a DVD.I was expecting very little, and with that in mind I was not disappointed. Even if overall it should have stayed as a made-for-TV thing, $3 for the rent was almost justified. A too-cliche-loaded to be anything even remotely close to movie art, this film does cause emotional reactions, predictable as they are, but right nonetheless, and I hope that alone makes it worth showing around the country.
Not that I expect all the drug users to drop their needles after watching it. But still, it has the right to exist, unlike some stuff from So Ca.
Call me a sucker, but I was still expecting more - based on its publicity and many good reports. Any way you look at it, it is still a bunch of cardboard cut-outs with very little to be noted in the areas of directing or acting. The only redeamable piece of acting came from Del Toro and it was quite solid.
Michael Douglas? Well, the man CAN act, but not here. That role was so shallow - my dog could play it passingly. Michael strained in few scenes to make it look justify his salary, but really the material is so pitifully lacking any drama that he was simply swinging his arms fast - he still could not fly.
Too many cliche's, too many predictable situations, primitive script but strong message with one good actor... does that justify $3?
Well, when the credits started rolling, we both were somber. I am still thinking not realy about the film, but more about life. I guess that makes that $3 well spent.
I don't regret that someone made that film. No, it will not stand as a good "film" on its own shaky legs, but perhaps that was not its creator's intention. But I will take that crude and almost naive thing over all the Titanics in the world.
Follow Ups:
Though I might like the Matrix more certainly I would rank Traffic above Gladiator, the Patriot, and other such unprovocative action films and the plethora of he/she, which ones simpler, type situation romances that dumb down the industry.
You have very high expectations for your 3 dollars. I mean, it's only 3 bucks!The movie was nominated for best pic because of it's political content, not because it was a great film. Hollywood loves the idea of legalizing drugs and ending the drug war because it's unwinable as the system works now (as do I). Any excuse to bring attention to their pet causes.
Del Toro was good, but I woulda picked someone else for the Oscar (Dafoe comes to mind) and Sodderburgh's directing Oscar was given to him because he shot most of the movie himself with hand held cameras. Hollywood loves to reward stuff like that too.
I liked the movie. Great film? No, but I enjoyed it's flow. Don Cheedle and his partner's banter made the movie much more enjoyable for me. As movies about drug dealing and that whole culture goes, I admired "Traffic" because it had something different to say and a different way of saying it unlike movies like "Blow".
I'm a little curious here ...
I saw the film and found it to be one of those few very good films that come out of the American movie industry maybe 3-4-5 times a year.
I understand that you all didn't like it in particular, which is fine by me - my curiosity goes along the line of what movies you DID like, say, the last one or two years?
I don't know if my query may sound rude or anything, I assure you, that is not my intention. As I said, I'm just curious :-)Thanks,
Thom
No problem at all. Except I don't keep good record of what I have seen. As most of the films I watch are not the current ones, I could use help remembering recent good ones.Do you mean just the American films? Because if you mean just "films" in the wider sense (as I tend not to divide them into national catagories, but rather good/bad/excellent), then you can just look at the archives here, as there are MANY films that I loved listed over the past couuple of years or so - I have not been too shy naming what I loved.
So if you could list the recent films (American or otherwise) I would be happy to answer your question in more detail.
Thanks for your quick reply, Victor. I have been following the discussions at AA for only a few weeks, so forgive me if I'm asking something you may have posted earlier on.
Some of the recent titles I would consider worthwile (I'm concentrating on temporary near-mainstream American cinema - the classics we can discuss some other time):American Beauty
The Insider
Fight Club
Wonder Boys
Saving Private Ryan
Memento
Billy Elliot- just to name a few that come to mind. It's not that I necessarily find these films to be the absolute "best of the best" (certainly not if beforementioned classics be included) - but just to investigate into whether we share some preferences or not.
Best,
Thom
I would just like to offer my unsolicited opinion of the same movies.American Beauty- Loved it. Especially the plastic bag scene.
The Insider- Didn't see it because of it's agenda. May rent it someday.
Fight Club- Loved it. Had me remembering the strange and violent comaraderie I experienced in the Marines.
Wonder Boys- Loved it. One of Michael Douglas' best performances.
Saving Private Ryan- I liked it but felt The Thin Red Line was better. I think too much as it is which probably explains my preference.
Memento- Haven't seen yet.
Billy Elliot- Haven't seen.I'm often criticized by my brother because I tend to like 98% of the movies I see. The last movie to really irritate me was Mission to Mars. Man, that was terrible!
Rob C
nt
You are not giving me too many choices here, and I am afraid with some of these we would reopen the old wounds, but just as a quick scan...***American Beauty Incredibly bad.
***The Insider Didn't see because of its agenda
***Fight Club What I knew about it didn't make me go see it
***Wonder Boys Didn't see it based on its Director/Stars
***Saving Private Ryan Atrocious
***Memento Still to see it
***Billy Elliot Don't know about this oneBut seriously, I am mot much plugged into the modern day American movies scene. We go to the movies less frequently than I would like, and when we do, we try to make sure it is something worth watching. Most of our vewing is done at home. When I go to the rental places there are hundreds of promising films on the shelves that I have not seen yet. There is no theater showing good films in Wilmington (the last one one closed down), and Ritz in Phily is about 40 minutes away.
OK, it might seem we just differ in opinions :-)
Now, this only makes life more colourful, right?Best,
Thom
I also found the movie very overhyped. Was shocked that it was nominated for Best Picture award, and even more shocked when the director won !!! Story was unrealistic and just didn't involve the viewer enough. I did see it at a good theater though, as sometimes if you watch a DVD the movie loses something (the atmosphere, the crowd, etc.) All in all was very disappointed.
Hello Victor
I thought it was way overhyped. Agree on Del Toro. See if you
can find the original PBS production also called"Traffik" far superior.
Later
Rich
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