Traffic [videorecording] / a USA Films presentation in association with Initial Entertainment Group ; a Bedford Falls/Laura Bickford production ; produced by Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz, Laura Bickford ; screenplay by Stephen Gaghan ; directed by Steven Soderbergh.
Steven Bauer (Carlos Ayala), Benjamin Bratt (Juan Obregón), James Brolin (General Ralph Landry), Don Cheadle (Montel Gordon), Erika Christensen (Caroline Wakefield), Clifton Collins, Jr. (Francisco Flores), Benicio Del Toro (Javier Rodriguez), Michael Douglas (Robert Wakefield), Miguel Ferrer (Eduardo Ruiz), Albert Finney (Chief of Staff), Topher Grace (Seth Abrahms), Luis Guzman (Ray Castro), Amy Irving (Barbara Wakefield), Tomas Milian (General Arturo Salazar), D. W. Moffett (Jeff Sheridan), Dennis Quaid (Arnie Metzger), Peter Riegert (Michael Adler), Jacob Vargas (Manolo Sanchez), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Helena Ayala). Based on "Traffik" created by Simon Moore originally produced by Carnival Films for Channel 4 Television (U.K.). Originally produced as a motion picture in 2000. Special features Disc One: Director/Writer Commentary [audio feature], Producers/Consultants Commentary [audio feature], Composer Commentary [audio feature]; Disc Two: Deleted scenes (27 min.) [with optional commentary by Steven Soderbergh and Stephen Gaghan], Demonstrations (27 min.), Additional footage (34 min.), Trailers (6 min.), Trading cards [text feature]; insert features an essay by film critic Manohla Dargis.
Contents:
Bust in the desert -- General Salazar -- Robert leaves Ohio -- Meeting Ruiz -- After school -- Helena lunches -- Robert is briefed -- General Landry -- Javi & the tourists -- Georgetown party -- Ruiz in the hospital -- Carl is arrested -- Salazar asks for help -- Back home in Ohio -- Arnie briefs Helena -- Javier picks up Frankie -- Caroline at a party -- Frankie's interrogation -- Arnie explains the business -- Caroline at jail -- Salazar play "good cop" -- Bail denied -- Ruiz gives his statement -- Dinner with Frankie -- Obregón cartel hit -- Inspecting the border -- Helena visits Carl -- Scoring drugs -- Helena is threatened -- Ana looks for Manolo -- Robert gets EPIC tour -- Robert talks to his staff -- Helena asks for money -- Scorpion -- Robert & Barbara argue -- Robert catches Caroline -- Javier in the pool -- Helena makes lemonade -- Caroline in rehab -- Helena fits pieces together -- Robert visits Salazar -- New home; testimony -- Helena meets Frankie -- Caroline escapes -- Ana is worried -- Looking for Caroline (day) -- Caroline pays for drugs -- Escorted to court -- Frankie stalks Ruiz -- Manolo in San Diego -- Two graves -- Looking for Caroline (night) -- Javier comforts Ana -- Helena & Obregón make a deal -- Javier goes on the wire -- Monte at the funeral -- Robert is told about Salazar -- "Field trip" -- Caroline's pusher -- Javier talks to Ana -- Robert follows Seth -- Ruiz's "big day" -- Another desert bust -- Press conference -- Arnie confronted; Monte visits -- "We're here"; night baseball -- End credits.
Summary:
Traffic is a mural of a war being fought and lost. In a culture devoted to instant gratification and the quick fix, it poses unanswerable questions about greed, corruption, economic inequity, pleasure, self-medication, dependency, and addiction. The stories of a well-meaning politician with a wayward daughter, a rich suburban homemaker who sees her comfortable life hijacked by two earnest DEA agents, and a conscientious and honorable Mexican police officer illustrate the difficulties of waging this war against people who are essentially members of the family. How do you combat human frailty, human nature, and the basic human desire to take the edge off? Are we all not just doomed to repeat our mistakes, but--perversely--willing?
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.