Some movies dazzle audiences with the quality of performance, others with wit and strong writing. But occasionally a movie comes along that showcases the talents of its director.
Few directors dominate a picture and make their presence felt from beginning to end.
Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Mann and Fran ois Truffaut come to mind, but even their most intrusive moments pale in comparison to Steven Soderbergh s mastery over the terrain in Traffic. Traffic is a showcase of excellent performances that display Soderbergh s magic touch with performers. At least three actors in Traffic have similarly benefited from Soderbergh s leadership. It s the star-making turn critics have been predicting since The Usual Suspects. Yet Soderbergh s direction of actors is a minor talent compared to his technical brilliance.