The Godfather Of The War On Drugs. Review on Traffic Movie

Everyone loses in the end-Old Proverb

Each year the government of the United States throws millions of dollars into the war on drugs. Millions of dollars that may produce some results that are only short term and utterly insignificant in the long run.

We all know or at least we've been told that drugs are bad. But does that apply to all drugs? Illegal drugs like heroin and cocaine will eventually kill us. But what about Marijuana which can be put to good use in the medical field? Then there is the over-the-counter and prescription drugs we buy at pharmacies. And what about some other things that technically aren't drugs. But in a way are. Like cigarettes, beer or fast food that's very fattening and high in cholesterol. In one sense we all have our bad habits that will all eventually kill us.

The war on Drugs is a war on the American people. And that is the message of Steven Soderbergh's Traffic.

First off, I'd better put a disclaimer here. This movie is not full of Liberal pro-legalization messages or conservative anti-drug messages. It looks at the war on drugs as being ultimately futile. But does not hesitate to show the consequences of drug use.

The movie features a series of stories that are told over the course of the film. First off, there is the story of Ohio judge Robert Wakefield (Michael Douglas), his wife Barbara (Amy Irving) and their daughter Caroline. Wakefield is being appointed the United States' new Drug Czar as the movie opens. But this is not a good time to be appointed Drug Czar as her boyfriend Seth has turned on his own daughter to drugs. Also his marriage is rather rocky and it is also hinted that he has a slight drinking problem.

In California we follow the efforts of two DEA agents (Don Cheadle and Luis Guzman) to bring down a local drug lord. First they nab one of his lieutenants and then with evidence he turned, nab the main kingpin. The arrest shocks the kingpin’s wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) who apparently had no idea what he did for a living. This is shown clearly in a scene where she visits him in a jail cell. At first she can't believe he is a drug dealer. But then she starts to move into his place and slowly becomes more controlling later in the film.

And finally down Mexico way we have two Mexican cops. These cops bust some Tijuana drug dealers. But on their way to taking them into custody they are stopped by a Mexican general who takes the prisoner and one of the cops Javier (Benicio Del Toro) with him.

Now from what I've been saying, you might surmise that this is all headed for a major showdown with guns and explosions? Not here. Traffic does not give us easy answers to this problem. This movie (like 1991's New Jack City) is out to show us what the drug war is really like. And it succeeds. All the while proving that in this war there are no real winners and losers.

Keeping the story on track are the performances. Michael Douglas and Amy Irving give great performances as Robert and Barbara Wakefield. In a traditional story Robert Wakefield would be a squeaky clean hero. Not in this one. Wakefield is clearly alcoholic and he is also rather rough toward his wife and daughter at times.

Douglas's wife Catherine Zeta-Jones is superb as the California kingpin's wife. She starts off in the beginning playing a shocked and scared woman. But as the film progresses becomes more forceful and one key scene toward the end where she takes command of the cartel in her husband's absence and orders a hit on a potential witness is stunning. Don Cheadle is also great as the DEA agent who is beginning to slowly give up little by little. But is still fighting to keep it together. And then there is Del Toro as the Mexican cop who is flawed, but fundamentally decent, a good man trapped in a situation that is turning him bad.

Now regarding the Godfather comparison I made in this reviews title. I referenced that movie because Traffic in a way is to the war on Drugs what that 1972 classic and its sequels were to organized crime. The Godfather showed how organized crime could make one wealthy. But destroy them at the same time. Traffic shows the drug war as it affects both sides. What it makes perfectly clear is that as the tagline says, ''No one comes away clean''. This was one of 2000's best movies.