User Reviews

"Traffic" is a 4 hour TV miniseries which begins as an exposé of international narcotrafficking with stories developed on both the supply side (Afghanistan) and the demand side (Seattle). As the film spins its web of intrigues which include a DEA agent on a smuggling mission in Afghanistan, human trafficking, and even a possible terrorist attack on the US it develops side plots involving the DEA agent's family, the Seattle DEA office ops, an immigrant in search of family, corrupt traffickers at both ends of the smuggling corridor, and more. The result is a convoluted drama which continually cycles through it's many stories providing convenient mini flashbacks as audience reminders as it pulls it's separate parts together to show their interconnectedness and provide a sort of global overview of the problem of contraband smuggling and its effects on people. Overall the miniseries is well directed with good performances by a nominal cast, good production value, and a post 9/11 story with a terrorism angle. However, it is somewhat scattered, lacking cogency, fraught with loose ends and plot holes, and occasionally tests believability. Realists interested in narcotrafficking should check out "Traffik (1998)" first. (B)

A drug bust goes bad in US occupied Afghanistan, a merchant marine boat is scuttled while smuggling illegal immigrants, and the bank forecloses on a Wharton MBA's insolvent real estate deal -- the first 50 pages of a new Clancy novel? No, these 3 completely nonsequitur events happen in the first half hour of Traffic: The Miniseries.

Aside from the common theme of drugs, Traffic bears very little resemblance to Michael Douglas movie of the same name. That said, I was surprised by how engrossed I became in the plot. The miniseris is purely plot driven, with skin-deep characters provided to push the plot along. With 3 separate plot threads running concurrently, Traffic adeptly navigates the viewer through the labryinthine story with little confusion and much suspense.

Noteworthy performances are Elias Koteas and Martin Donovan as 2 DEA agents charged with the sisyphean task of de-stabilizing the same Taliban drug operation they helped organize in the 80s. Koteas displays the same subdued heroism here as he did in Thin Red Line opposite Nick Nolte. Mary McCormack also shines as Koteas wife, not your typical damsel in distress.

In the end, Traffic: the Miniseries is just a cool story, weaving narco-terrorism with Homeland Security. I would have enjoyed seeing this writ large a la HBO, bigger budget, better locales (Vancouver, BC doubles for everything from Seattle to Afghanistan), and stark dialogue. On HBO, Traffic would have been a true epic. On USA, it's a just a long stanza (Damn you, Barry Diller, spend some $$$!)

This three-night mini-series, which is derivative of the Steven Soderbergh movie Traffic, which in turn was adapted from a British mini-series Traffik, is entertaining, although it left a lot of loose ends fluttering in the wind, unless there is a Part II in production. While not a remake, the mini-series does use the same multi-character multi-plot structure as the Oscar winning film, but it lacks the star wattage of the theatrical movie. However, the less familiar faces actually work for the film and add to its gritty realistic quality. Also, while the theatrical film focused on drugs and Mexico, the mini-series is focused on drugs, illegals, terrorism, and Afghanistan. The first part sets up a series of seemingly unconnected story lines that grab the interest and carry the viewer into part two. The core of the plot emerges in part two and carries the multiple stories to resolution in part three, although several characters and their plot-lines seemed to fade away or drift off without a clear idea of their fates. Time should not have been a problem since there appeared to be some padding here and there as scenes were repeated unnecessarily to remind the viewer of what they had already seen. Tighter editing would have provided some additional running time to wrap up the plot and provide a more satisfying conclusion without cutting into advertising revenues. But, basically, Traffic: the Mini-Series is a good entertaining film, with some nice vistas of Canada standing in for Afghanistan, and some decent performances, although ultimately it will not result in a parade to the podium at the Emmys.

I really enjoyed the new made-for-TV miniseries "Traffic". It's important to note that this was roughly based on another miniseries called "Traffik" (spelled with a 'k'), made in 1989 by the BBC. I liked that one immensely, it is easily one of the best movies I've ever seen. But I would still rate this new effort as way above average.

The story is compelling viewing, mainly because it hits so close to home - literally and figuratively. The movie is roughly organized around two main scenarios: one involves the illegal smuggling into the United States - by way of the commercial seaport of Seattle, Washington - of cargos of illegal immigrants; the other deals with a terrorist-organized shipment of smallpox, meant to wipe out huge masses of population in the U.S. In a post 9-11 world it's the kind of story that ought to make one sit up and take note.

Both stories grab your attention: both are dark and tragic enough to really make you feel empathy towards all involved. I found myself really caring about the fates of each of the main characters, I anxiously awaited the following episodes, and was willing to tune in for three nights consecutively - something I don't often do with made-for-TV stuff nowadays.

I couldn't help but note a few flaws, probably because I was subconsciously comparing this film with the aforementioned "Traffik", the BBC miniseries of 1989, which was generally a superior film. I felt this current miniseries got a bit too melodramatic and sensationalistic here and there, and it seemed that characters were doing things that seemed too contrived for reality. (Made-for-TV says it all!). Another distraction was the fact that the seaport in the story was purportedly supposed to be Seattle, Washington. Well, it turns out the whole thing was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Since I'm from Seattle and know what my city looks like, I had a good chuckle out of watching the film trying to pass off Vancouver as Seattle.

But these flaws are minor and largely cosmetic compared to the real gist of the film, which is essentially the dark and seamy nature of the "trafficking" which the movie addresses: the smuggling of illegal immigrants is a reality, as is the threat of terrorists using shipping containers to smuggle in WMD's. (A couple of years ago here in Seattle, customs inspectors found a freight van on board a cargo ship that had about 15 dead Chinese illegals in it. Seems they didn't survive the trip across the Pacific. So the human smuggling that is depicted in the movie is a real issue and is based on actual events.)

If you get a chance, watch this miniseries (hopefully it will be out on DVD or videocassette someday). I also heartily recommend that you find a copy of the aforementioned BBC miniseries "Traffik". Both films cover serious issues that, in this day and age - especially post 9-11 - are impossible to ignore.

Traffic looks at the issue of smuggling in drugs, people and of course weapons of mass destruction. It ties the issues in distant lands, the war terrorism to things such as your children and your home.

Unfortunately it does it with that sort of 1980s cop show drama feel, though taking itself far more seriously. What is more, the simplistic anti-drug and anti-terrorism messages are not that interesting.

All in all, it is an OK series, it is well made. The plot may be cheap, but the plot twists are enough to keep it going.

What is more, the acting is superb and the realism of characters lifts this out of morass.

I can say, without exaggerating, that this is the best miniseries I have ever seen.

And I was really surprised. Traffic, has the one ingredient I have found to be common to all excellent movies: it starts quite simple, and then, gradually, gets better and better and better and better.

Third part has such a suspense and thrill, that I might not be able to recall five other films that even it.

Resuming:

A must see. It's the first time I comment on a miniseries, and this one has the height of great films.

I did enjoy most of the mini-series, though the overseas "DEA Cowboy" seQuences were just the usual Hollywood schlock, bearing no resemblance to overseas drug or other covert ops. I expect a bit of hokiness, but this was definitely in extremis and could have benefited from at least come consultant who had been there. At least then these characters could tell the difference between heroin and raw opium: the product they keep calling "heroin" in Afghanistan is obviously opium, which is indeed grown there but NEVER processed into heroin there.

I'd probably have given this flick a good solid 8 as a pure action-adventure flick if it weren't for the abominable hack job obviously done to fit it into some magical six-hour block. Story arcs flew, and ended, at random, leaving bizarre loose ends all over the place. Obviously the junkie and the Tongs have some tie-in (as leverage for the DEA guy) that disappears entirely. And what really happens to "Ronnie?" Balthazar Getty obviously doesn't know, yet the Chechen basically kidnaps him, which will get him zilch, and then .....?? Ambiguity in endings is often fine, and this could have stood some, but this move just suddenly ended for no apparent reason. Obviously this was not for some artistic reason, it was just hacked to death by some idiot in one Hell of a hurry to make things fit. I think it's the most incompetent job of cutting I've ever seen anywhere, and it truly p***ed me off. This could have been a very good series if they'd given it the extra half hour it needed to sort out the subplots.

In short, good stories; and their presentations never die. And in acceptance of this, despite the "sure deals" and "assumed audience" that USA had working for them, they have managed to develop a brilliant scheme that played out. "Traffic", in it's own right, is a beautifuly executed miniseries of it's own. And should be allowed to stand on those legs, despite it's legacy. For this is an issue that man has left unfounded,; and to be so humanistlicly illustrated, quite possibly more than it's predecesor. For this is a story about our own legacy's, our own weaknesses - which has managed to play it self out in of all places: Our Televisions.

This film was a take on the original. There are several stories going on here. One includes a Chechyen illegal immigrant taxi driver who is awaiting the arrival of his wife and daughter aboard an illegal ship. When the ship sinks with all the illegals on board, he is determined to learn the truth about the events. The second is a young man who has failed in real estate but takes over his father's clothing business with some shady ties to Ronny Chow. He suddenly realizes that his father was involved in transporting illegal immigrants. The third is a DEA agent with a devoted loving wife and son who just moved to Seattle. All of this takes place in Seattle. Anyway, he goes AWOL during his time in Afghanistan and there's more. Anyway, Mary McCormack delivered a great performance as the wife, Carol McKay. The other cast members are also quite good especially the Chechyen man. The film is weak in it's explanation of what actually happened to make it believable.

I don't know why everyone doesn't like this miniseries so much. I have never seen the movie or any other story about this topic and I am enjoying it immensely. Since it is only 2/3 over I can't say much more but so far the story is progressing nicely and I am always entertained.

I own and have watched the Euro (not the HBO) mini-series numerous times. I originally saw Traffic (the Movie) at the theater when it was released. I own that video as well and have also watched it numerous times. I would give the mini-series a 7.5/10. Even for the time, some of the dialog is cheesy and some of the characters actions are less then believable. Both films require serious suspension of disbelief to swallow the ignorance of the main drug trafficker's (German/La Jolla) wife. Anybody with that kind of dough would have set up legitimate, working businesses to launder money and to create layers of cover. What bother me most is that somebody can come along and give the film a 1 star rating because it didn't have a "message". That puts this film in the category of the worst pix of all time and draws down user rating unfairly. That is a pet peeve of mine and made me register here just to defend this film. Maybe IMDb adjusts for this in there stats. I don't know. But I judge a movie based on how it holds up after repeated viewings. And, even knowing the story through and through, I get drawn in by the first scene and Del Toro's on-screen presence. From the on it's like sliding into an easy chair... If you haven't seen either version then I envy you. Don't pass up this or the original mini-series. They are both worth your time.

First, let me start off by saying that Traffic (the movie) w/Michael Douglas, Benecio del Toro, etc. is one of my favorite movies of all time. It truely captures the seedy underworld that IS drug trafficing.

This mini-series is NOTHING like the movie. The plot is VERY weak, the character development is almost non-existant, and I'm left with no feelings whatsoever for any of the characters. I caught myself falling asleep at least a half-dozen times on the first night...not due to lack of action, but due to the fact that I just don't CARE about any of the characters and their situations.

Secondly, the locations for parts of the story are supposed to take place in Seattle and 'Northwest Washington'. I *LIVE* in Seattle, and I can't for the life of me picture any of the areas depicted there as actually being in Washington State. The scene on the first night in the convienence store had an RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) ATM machine, and the lottery sign at the counter is consistent with the B.C. Lottery, not Washington State lottery. It is quite obvious to me that it was filmed in British Columbia, Canada. For goodness sake....if they're going to make a convincing story that takes place in a well-known urban area, they might as well film at least a few scenes there to convince the locals!!

Do yourself a favor and rent the movie instead.

PLEASE!!! Is it not possible to make a show anymore that does NOT have the "amateur" camera movement. In my heart, I KNOW the anti-jiggle technology built into cameras now would enable a 5 year old to shoot steady shots.

They probably offer "Jiggly Camera 101" in film school now.

And why, please why, do we need 7-10 different camera shots of someone's face in rapid succession for a scene in which 1 or 2 would do nicely? Editor/splicers need the work, I guess.

I did not care for the movie, so I expected just about what I got from the mini series. Very little.

Glad they are repeating Dennis Miller's new show, which is running against this. Wifey wanted Traffic. She pays the bill, so guess what we watched.