Traffic [Criterion Collection] [2 Discs]

Director: Steven Soderbergh, Marshall Herskovitz, Laura Bickford

Overview

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.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/07/2006
UPC:	0715515017220
Original Release:	2000
Rating:	R
Source:	CRITERION
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:27:00
Sales rank:	25,594

Special Features

Disc One - The Movie:; Digital transfer, enhanced for 16x9 televisions; Three commentary tracks: director Steven Soderbergh and writer Stephen Gaghan; producers Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz, and Laura Bickford, and consultants Tim Golden and Craig Chretien; and composer Cliff Martinez (featuring two music cues not included in the final film; Dolby Digital 5.1 theatrical mix and 2.0 reduced dynamic range home video mix; English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing; ; Disc Two - The Supplements:; Twenty-five deleted scenes, featuring commentary by Soderbergh and Gaghan; Film processing demonstration: Achieving the look of the Mexico sequences; Editing demonstration, with commentary by editor Stephen Mirrione; Dialogue editing demonstration with sound editor Larry Blake; Thirty minutes of additional footage, featuring multiple angles from the scenes of the El Paso Intelligence Center and the cocktail party where U.S. senators, major politicians, lobbyists, and others express their views on the drug war; Theatrical and television trailers; U.S. Customs trading cards of the K-9 squad used in the detection of narcotics and illegal substances

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Michael Douglas	Robert
Benicio Del Toro	Javier
Don Cheadle	Montel
Catherine Zeta-Jones	Helena
Dennis Quaid	Arnie
Luis Guzman	Ray
Miguel Ferrer	Eduardo,Eduardo Ruiz
Amy Irving	Barbara
Albert Finney	Chief of Staff
Erika Christensen	Caroline
Benjamin Bratt	Juan
Peter Riegert	Adler
Topher Grace	Seth
Steven Bauer	Carlos Ayala
Jacob Vargas	Manolo Sanchez
Clifton Collins Jr.	Francisco Flores
Tomas Milian	General Arturo Salazar
Marisol Padilla S?nchez	Ana Sanchez
Joel Torres	Porfilio Madrigal
D.W. Moffett	Jeff Sheridan
James Brolin	General Ralph Landry
Jsu Garcia	Pablo Obregon
Salma Hayek	Madrigal's Mistress (uncredited)
Corey Spears	F.-Up Bowman
Majandra Delfino	Vanessa
Alec Roberts	David Ayala,DEA Agent, Public Storage
Bill Weld	Himself
Don Nickles	Himself
Harry Reed	Himself
Jeff Podolsky	Himself
Barbara Boxer	Herself
Orrin Hatch	Himself
Charles Grassley	Himself
James Pickens Jr.	Prosecutor Ben Williams
Rudy M. Camacho	Customs Official
Yul Vazquez	Tigrillo/Obregon Assassin
Jack Conley	Agent Hughes
Eddie Velez	Agent Johnson
Craig N. Chretien	Director of EPIC
John Brown	Assistant Director of EPIC
Mike Siegel	DEA Representative
Steve Rose	Marty
Kimber Fritz	Rehab Counselor
Daniella Kuhn	Tourist Woman
Brandon Keener	Tourist Man
George Blumenthal	Partygoer No. 1
Stephen Dunham	Lobbyist
Margaret Travolta	Economist
Jewelle Bickford	Partygoer No. 2
Dave Hager	Partygoer No. 3
Tucker Smallwood	Partygoer No. 4
Victor Quintero	Salazar Soldier
Toby Holguin	Salazar Soldier
Ramiro Gonzalez	Salazar Soldier
Viola Davis	Social Worker
Elaine Kagan	Judge Reed
John Slattery	ADA Dan Collier
Jim Ortega	Arrested Man in Apartment
Greg Boniface	Tackled Man No. 1
Tom Rosales	Tackled Man No. 2,Van Passenger
Harsh Nayyar	Witness No. 1
Mary Pat Gleason	Witness No. 2
Vincent Ward	Man on Street
Gregory Estevane	Polygraph Adminsitrator
Alex Procopio	Polygraph Assistant
Rita Gomez	Mrs. Castro
Kaizaad Navroze Kotwal	Teacher
David Jensen	`John'
Jay Fernando Krymis	Waiter No. 1
Mike Malone	Waiter No. 2
Rene Pereya	Doctor
Kymberly S. Newberry	Press Secretary
Carroll Schumacher	Ayala Security
Michael Showers	Meeting Leader
Rena Sofer	Helena's Friend
Stacey Travis	Helena's Friend
Jennifer Barker	Helena's Friend
Dean Faulkner	Helena's Friend
Andrew Chavez	Desert Truck Driver
Michael Saucedo	Desert Truck Driver
Jose Yenque	Salazar Soldier/Torturer
Emilio Rivera	Salazar Soldier No. 2
Michael O'Neill	Lawyer Rodman
Russell G. Jones	Clerk
Lorene Hetherington	State Capitol Reporter No. 1
Eric Collins	State Capitol Reporter No. 2,Actor
Beau Holden	DEA Agent CalTrans
Peter Stader	DEA Agent CalTrans
James Lew	DEA Agent CalTrans
Jeremy Fitzgerald	DEA Agent CalTrans
Russell Solberg	DEA Agent CalTrans
Don Snell	DEA Agent, Trailer
Enrique Murciano	DEA Agent, Trailer
Gary Carlos Cervantes	DEA Agent, Trailer
Carl Ciarfalio	Ruiz's Assistant
Steve Lambert	Van Driver,Actor
Rick Avery	DEA Agent, Public Storage,DEA Agent, Public Storage
Eileen Weisinger	DEA Agent, Public Storage
Ken Johnston	DEA Agent, Public Storage
Mike Watson	DEA Agent, Public Storage
Kurt Lott	DEA Agent, Public Storage
Lincoln Simonds	DEA Agent, Public Storage
Steve Tomaski	DEA Agent, Public Storage
Buck McDancer	DEA Agent, Public Storage
John Callery	DEA Agent, Public Storage
Ousaun Elam	DEA Agent, Public Storage
Peter Reichardt	Actor
Leticia Bombardier	Actor
Benicio De Toro	Actor
Clifton Collins Jr	Actor
Cliff Martinez	Composer

Technical Credits

Stephen Gaghan

Simon Moore

Stephen Gaghan	Screenwriter
Laura Bickford	Producer
Kevin Hannigan	Special Effects
Marshall Herskovitz	Producer
Cameron Jones	Executive Producer,Producer
Graham King	Executive Producer,Producer
Andreas Klein	Executive Producer,Producer
Mike Newell	Executive Producer,Producer
John Robotham	Stunts
Richard Solomon	Executive Producer,Producer
Debra Zane	Casting
Edward Zwick	Producer
Simon Moore	Screenwriter
Richard A. Benoit	Special Effects
Rusty Amodeo	Sound Effects
David Betancourt	Sound Effects
Larry Blake	Sound Effects
Joseph Brennan	Sound Effects
Matt Coby	Sound Effects
Werner Hahnlein	Special Effects
William Harrison	Special Effects
Michael Roundy	Special Effects
Gunter Anderson	Special Effects
Jim Dunn	Stunts
Paul Ledford	Sound/Sound Designer

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Traffic [Special Edition]
1. A Bust in the Desert [3:05]
2. General Salazar [2:34]
3. Robert Leaves Ohio [2:23]
4. Meeting Ruiiz [5:10]
5. After School [2:19]
6. Helena Lunches [1:38]
7. Robert Is Briefed [1:35]
8. General Landry [1:41]
9. Javi & the Tourists [1:44]
10. Georgetown Party [1:36]
11. Ruiz in the Hospital [1:42]
12. Carl Is Arrested [:57]
13. Salazar Asks for Help [2:18]
14. Back Home in Ohio [1:21]
15. Arnie Briefs Helena [1:26]
16. Javier Picks up Frankie [2:07]
17. Caroline At a Party [3:54]
18. Frankie's Interrogation [1:14]
19. Arnie Explains the Business [2:37]
20. Caroline At Jail [1:48]
21. Caroline Is Questioned [2:15]
22. Salazar Plays "Good Cop" [1:40]
23. Bail Denied [3:16]
24. Ruiz Gives His Statement [2:00]
25. Dinner With Frankie [2:40]
26. Obreg?n Cartel Hit [1:30]
27. Inspecting the Border [1:09]
28. Helena Visits Carl [1:19]
29. Scoring Drugs [2:21]
30. Helena Is Theatened [1:45]
31. Ana Looks for Manolo [2:28]
32. Robert Gets Epic Tour [1:46]
33. Robert Talks to His Staff [1:29]
34. Helena Asks for Money [2:00]
35. The Scorpion [3:14]
36. Robert & Barbara Argue [1:51]
37. Robert Catches Caroline [2:14]
38. Javier in the Pool [:11]
39. Helena Makes Lemonade [2:05]
40. Caroline in Rehab [2:32]
41. Helena Fits Pieces Together [1:47]
42. Robert Visits Salazar [3:06]
43. A New Home: Testimony [1:54]
44. Helena Meets Frankie [1:54]
45. Caroline Escapes [1:31]
46. Ana Is Worried [:39]
47. Looking for Caroline (Day) [1:13]
48. Caroline Pays for Drugs [1:09]
49. Escorted to Court [1:48]
50. Frankie Stalks Ruiz [2:16]
51. Manolo in San Diego [3:15]
52. Two Graves [1:23]
53. Looking for Caroline (Night) [2:30]
54. Javier Comforts Ana [1:22]
55. Helena & Obreg?n Make a Deal [1:47]
56. Javier Goes on the Wire [2:32]
57. Monte At the Funeral [1:15]
58. Robert Is Told About Salazar [1:42]
59. "Field Trip" [1:21]
60. Caroline's Pusher [1:36]
61. Javier Talks To Ana [1:37]
62. Robert Follows Seth [1:27]
63. Ruiz's "Big Day" [2:06]
64. Another Desert Bust [3:10]
65. Press Conference [2:37]
66. Arnie Confronted: Monte Visits [4:19]
67. "We're Here": Night Baseball [3:07]
68. End Titles [4:28]
69. Color Bars [4:45]
Disc #2 -- Traffic [Special Edition]
1. Manolo's Anxiety Escalates [1:06]
1. Javier Warns Manolo [:34]
1. Surveillance [1:03]
1. Old Friends [1:34]
1. Legalization [:52]
1. Auction [:46]
1. Arnie Confronts Helena [:34]
1. Madrigal's Mistress & Manolo [:39]
1. Helena Wants to Help [:43]
1. Art Appraisal [1:01]
1. Helena Gets Involved [:49]
1. Robert's Lunch With Seth [2:43]
1. Helena Asks to Meet Obreg?n [1:28]
1. Factory [1:00]
1. Robert Finds Caroline's Drugs [:58]
1. Obreg?n Tests Helena [1:56]
1. Helena Searched At Border [1:40]
1. Arnie Comes Through [:49]
1. Helena's Meeting At Fun Zone [:52]
1. Robert Drives Caroline Home [:51]
1. Javier Makes Obreg?n An Offer [1:03]
1. Robert Meets Javier [1:42]
1. Madrigal's Mistress & Javier [:42]
1. Monte Continues Surveillance [:22]
1. Gag [:34]

Menu

Disc #1 -- Traffic [Special Edition]
Play the Movie
Chapters
Commentaries
Director/Writer
Producer/Consultants
Composer
Audio Options
Dolby Digital 2.0
Dolby Digital 5.1
Director/Writer Commentary
Producers/Consultants Commentary
Composer Commentary
Disc #2 -- Traffic [Special Edition]
Deleted Scenes
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Index
Demonstrations
Film Processing
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Step #1
Step #2
Step #3
Step #4
Step #5
Editing
Instructions
Scene 69: Overdose
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Layer 1
Layer 2
Layer 3
Layer 4
Layer 5
Scene 139: Caroline Is Caught
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Version 1
Version 2
Scene 144: Javier Meets the DEA
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Version 1
Version 2
Scene 252: Monte Visits the Ayalas
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Version 1
Version 2
Version 3
Dialogue Editing
Dialogue Editing 101
Dialogue for Traffic
Play All Scenes
Scene 19: The Radio in the Desert
Scene 32: Two Guys Running
Scene R62: ADR As a Cleanup Tool
Scene C135: ADR As a Plot Point Tool
Additional Footage
Epic
About This Scene
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Drug Warehouse
About This Scene
Play
Cocktail Party
About This Scene
Play
Cocktail Party Index
Governor William Weld (MA)
Senator Barbara Boxer (CA)
Chris Connelly
Senator Don Nickles (OK)
General Party
Jeff Podolsky (George Magazine) & Senator Harry Reid (NV)
Helen Thomas (Journalist)
Ethan Nadelmann (Lobbyist)
Prisons or Casinos
Senator Orrin Hatch (UT) & Charles Grassley (IA)
Prozac Vs. Ecstasy
Kids on Street
Take 1
Take 2
Take 3
Trailers
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U.S. Teaser Trailer
U.S. Trailer
T.V. Spot #1
T.V. Spot #2
T.V. Spot #3
T.V. Spot #4
T.V. Spot #5
Trading Cards
About the Canine Enforcement Program
K-9 Cards

Editorial Reviews

Steven Soderbergh's magnum opus on the drug war, Traffic offers yet another one of the director's efforts to take conventionally engrossing, Hollywood-formula material and imbue it with a sense of authenticity, unpredictability, and vitality, much as he did with his wildly successful Erin Brockovich earlier in the year. Some seams still show -- namely, the all-too-ironic script conceit that the country's new drug czar happens to have an addict for a daughter -- but by and large, Traffic is issue-oriented storytelling of the highest order. To call the film a tour de force would be misleading; it's an intimate epic, and Soderbergh seems determined to make all of the script's grand statements resonate on a personal level. To this end, he's helped by his stable of performers: Michael Douglas is appropriately stiff as the conservative Ohio judge who learns he's in over his head in his new position; Catharine Zeta-Jones makes a believable transformation from naïve, pampered housewife to hard-edged schemer; Erika Christensen takes the aforementioned addict-daughter character and makes it her own, suggesting that habitual abuse can arise from the most banal of circumstances; and Don Cheadle and Luis Guzman provide subtle shadings to what could have been a standard buddy-cop routine. Best of all is Benicio Del Toro, whose cunning, straight-arrow cop, Javier Rodriguez, provides the film's heart and soul. Soderbergh's cinematography (credited under the pseudonym Peter Andrews) complements the performers, eschewing establishing shots, grandiose camerawork, and traditional Hollywood framing in favor of simple shifts in color and film stock to indicate place, mood, and time. Steven Mirrone's editing also flatters the audience's ability to make connections on their own, halting scenes as soon as a point has been made, and allowing others to linger onscreen to create palpable atmosphere. Instead of favoring the loud, overbearing rhythms which accompany most hot-button "issue films," Soderbergh quietly and consistently tightens his vice grip on the audience, allowing a breather only in the film's semi-hopeful dénouement. Though it may provide all of the pleasures of conventionally grand melodrama, Traffic feels unlike any epic that has come before it.