The other side consists of drug runners, Mexican cartels, army officials, cops and Tijuana dealers. Michael Douglas plays Robert Wakefield, a fairly clueless Ohio judge who's appointed to be the next drug czar. The U.S. is given a dense blue shade while border towns and Mexico are coated in khaki dust. The use of color is not only innovative but also makes you more aware of the locales. Although there is a constant flux between the two sides, the movie has a decidedly un-MTV quality to it.
Traffic is slow moving and dialogue heavy.
This is not a brainless action flick with explosions and car chases every five minutes. There is a lot of talking in this movie but it is orchestrated in a way that is clear and concise. Soderbergh acts like a conductor, cueing and guiding the numerous characters and stories through an opus of epic proportions. The film raises several complicated problems regarding the drug economy that makes for good conversation. Traffic will make you think and might take a little time to completely digest.