Samuel LoveOne of Steven Soderbergh’s finest films, ensemble crime epic Traffic has shockingly never been released on Blu-ray in the UK until now. Whilst it’s a bit of a shame that the film hasn’t gotten the 4K HDR treatment it so richly deserves thanks to its varied visual styles and colour palettes, it’s great to finally be able to own this film in HD without having to import. 25 years on, the film has lost none of its raw, gritty power in its unapologetic snapshot of corruption in the war on drugs. With an all-star cast including Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro and Catherine Zeta Jones, Traffic is the sort of grown-up crime epic we just don’t get anymore.
Synopsis
Traffic interweaves multiple perspectives on the U.S. – Mexico drug trade: a Mexican police officer battling cartel corruption; a newly appointed U.S. drug czar grappling with his daughter’s addiction; and a San Diego DEA agent striving to bring down an American kingpin.
Through potent handheld cinematography and distinct visual palettes for each storyline, the film explores systemic failures, moral ambiguity, and the personal consequences of a “War on Drugs.” The judge’s speech underscores the tragedy of losing the war at the expense of families. Featuring both English and Spanish dialogue, Traffic illustrates how drug policy, corruption, law enforcement, and addiction are deeply interconnected — and ultimately, that no single approach will triumph.
Traffic is available on DVD and Blu-ray from Dazzler Media
