Traffic

Resource Information

The work Traffic represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Evanston Public Library. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Moving Image, Visual Materials.

The Resource Traffic

Statement of responsibility: 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

Language

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?

Awards note: Winner, 2001 Academy Awards for Best director (Steven Soderbergh), Best supporting actor (Benicio Del Toro), Best writing-screenplay based on material previously produced or published (Stephen Gaghan), Best editing (Stephen Mirrione).

Credits note: Photographed by Peter Andrews ; edited by Stephen Mirrione ; music by Cliff Martinez ; consultant, Tim Golden

PerformerNote: Steven Bauer (Carlos Ayala), Benjamin Bratt (Juan Obreg?n), 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)

Context

Context of Traffic

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