Search - Traffic [Special Edition] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Brief Nudity, Not For Children, Profanity, Substance Abuse, Sexual Situations, Drug Content, Watch With Your Teen, Youth Substance Use Movie Release: 2000 DVD Release: 05/28/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Dual Layered,Special Collection Audio Tracks: English, Spanish Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 2 Number of Discs: 2 Run Time: 2 hrs 27 mins Studio: Polygram USA Video Members Wishing: 3 Genres: Drama, Crime Drama, Addiction Drama, Police Drama, Social Problem Film See Also: Traffic, Traffic, Traffic [Special Edition] [Criterion Collection], Traffic [HD DVD], Traffic [Blu-ray]

Described by director Steven Soderbergh as "Nashville meets The French Connection," this multi-character drama explores the effects of international drug trafficking on all fronts: from their source, to the U.S. border, to the federal government, to the private lives of users. Based upon a miniseries originally aired on Britain's Channel 4, Traffic divides its time among three main storylines and almost a dozen locales. The first and primary plot thread, set in Ohio and Washington, D.C., concerns freshly-appointed drug czar Robert Wakefield (Michael Douglas), whose enthusiasm for his new prestige position is quickly offset when he realizes his 16-year-old daughter Caroline (Erika Christensen) is graduating from recreational drug use to habitual abuse -- a secret that his wife, Barbara (Amy Irving), has kept from him. South of the border, Mexican cop Javier Rodriguez (Benicio Del Toro) attempts to wage his own war on drugs, heading off a cocaine shipment in the middle of the desert with his less-than-virtuous partner Manolo Sanchez (Jacob Vargas). Surrounded by corruption, Javier approaches the drug war with an attitude of patience and compromise, which opens him up to investigation from General Arturo Salazar (Tomas Milian), the country's dubious drug-enforcement liaison to the U.S. Meanwhile, San Diego drug kingpin Carlos Alaya (Steven Bauer) is caught in a sting operation spearheaded by DEA agents Montel Gordon (Don Cheadle) and Ray Castro (Luis Guzman), leaving behind his very pregnant and very oblivious wife, Helena (Catharine Zeta-Jones). At the behest of Carlos' lawyer and shady confidante, Arnie Metzger (Dennis Quaid), Helena decides to carry on the family business -- with tragic consequences. Adapted by Rules of Engagement scribe Stephen Gaghan, Traffic marked Soderbergh's second major release in 2000 after the critical and box-office success of Erin Brockovich, as well as his second feature as cinematographer (credited under the pseudonym Peter Andrews). A favorite with various guild and critics' awards, Traffic won four Academy Awards in 2001, including statues for Best Supporting Actor (Del Toro) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Gaghan), and surprise wins for Steven Mirrone's editing and Soderbergh's direction. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide

Michael Douglas - Robert Wakefield
Don Cheadle - Montel Gordon
Benicio Del Toro - Javier Rodriguez
Luis Guzman - Ray Castro
Dennis Quaid - Arnie Metzger
Catherine Zeta-Jones - Helena Ayala
Erika Christensen - Caroline Wakefield

Those that purchased Traffic on DVD will probably kick themselves with release of the inevitable special edition, produced by Criterion. This two-disc set is quite possibly worth a second investment in this film. Though picture and sound have not changed much, the extra material offered is far more plentiful. Three commentaries start things off: one from director Steven Soderbergh and writer Stephen Gaghan; the second from producers Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz, Laura Bickford, along with consultants Tim Golden and Craig Chretien; and, finally, the third from composer Cliff Martinez, which also features some additional music cues that weren't included in the theatrical release. In addition to the commentaries are 25 deleted scenes running just over 25 minutes, with optional commentary from Soderbergh and Gaghan. Also included is 30 more minutes of footage -- some used, some not -- from different segments of the film, including the cocktail party for politicians and lobbyists and extensive selections from the El Paso Intelligence Center. A number of these segments use the multi-angle feature to view them in up to three different manners. There are also three featurettes, including one on the film process for the Mexico scene. These short documentaries are excessively technical, but are nevertheless interesting. Finally, along with a number of trailers and television spots are humorous "trading cards" for the drug-sniffing dogs of the DEA. As for the picture and sound, the image is framed at 1.85:1 and is anamorphic. Soderbergh's distinct visual style is re-created impeccably on disc. His purposeful color scheme really shines on DVD, with the cool blues and harsh, washed-out yellows a real standout. The 5.1 English soundtrack is also quite good, and though it's far more centered up-front with little significant use of the surrounds, it still sounds clear and distortion-free. Granted, no one appreciates a better DVD being re-released after a long period, but this is one that's worth a second look. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide