A conservative judge is appointed by the President to spearhead America's escalating war against drugs, only to discover that his teenage daughter is a crack addict. Two DEA agents protect an informant. A jailed drug baron's wife attempts to carry on the family business.
An intertwined drama about the United States' war on drugs, seen through the eyes of a once conservative judge, now newly-appointed drug czar, his heroin-addicted daughter, two DEA agents, a jailed drug kingpin's wife, and a Mexican cop who begins to question his boss's motives.
The hotel that Eduardo Ruiz was being kept at, The Hotel San Diego, was imploded in 2006 to make way for the expansion of the Federal Courthouse in San Diego. See more »
Goofs
[33:00]Javier Rodriguez Rodriguez is in a bar in San Diego and he offers a cigarette to a man who then lights it. Smoking in bars has been illegal in California since 1998. See more »
Master of the 4-string Electric Bassius O' Phellius - Flea See more »
Alternate Versions
The European DVD features 24 deleted scenes, including:
A scene at Manolo's house. Manolo is paranoid that the Cartel is after him
An extended scene between Manolo and Javier in the car, where Javier asks Manolo to keep his mouth shut about the Cartel
The assassin buying some hi-tech gadgets, including a cell-phone that can not be tapped (probably the one he later uses to communicate with Helena during his assassination attempt)
A scene where Judge Wakefield and Carlos Ayala's defence attorney meet at the congress party, showing that the two are old friends
A sequence of Helena going to a fancy party
An extended scene between Helena and Arnie Metzger
Two short scenes involving Manolo and Javier bringing Salma Hayek to the drug lord
An alternate scene of Helena visiting Carlos in prison
A scene where Helena tries to pawn her paintings
A scene where Helena discusses something over her cell-phone
An alternate sequence of Judge Wakefield looking for Caroline, involving Seth.
A scene where Helena asks Arnie to introduce her to the Obregón Cartel
A scene where Helena visits the factory where the cocaine dolls are made
A scene where Judge Wakefield searches Caroline's room for drugs, finding some in her diary
Three scenes involving Helena having to smuggle drugs into the US, as a test for the Obregón Cartel. She ends up not doing it.
Helena meeting the Obregón assassin at the playground
Judge Wakefield taking a stoned Caroline home after he found her. She tells him that she did it all because of a 'school assignment'.
Javier meeting Judge Wakefield after the drug bust
Javier meeting with Obregón, asking him for lights at baseball fields. He agrees.
Gordon sitting in the surveillance van in front of the Ayala residence with his new partner, listening to Carlos telling someone over the phone that they are 'back in business' and 'completely untouchable'
Yep, I'm on a full Sodebergh binge. I've been crazy about him ever since "King of The Hill" and he, very rarely, lets me down. I couldn't say that about many people including siblings and lovers. "Traffic" is not a departure for Sodebergh, all of his films are. He is an artist with a golden touch. He can travel through opposing universes with amazing ease. In "Traffic" the universe is uncomfortable, muddy, almost ugly and yet, it fascinates and attracts with the power of a magic magnet. Benicio del Toro and Erika Christensen are the two inhabitants of this peculiar universe that get under your skin and carry with you as if they were part of a personal experience. No, not if. They do, they are, they become part of a personal experience. The film allows you that. It makes you learn without preaching. How many films today manage that?
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Yep, I'm on a full Sodebergh binge. I've been crazy about him ever since "King of The Hill" and he, very rarely, lets me down. I couldn't say that about many people including siblings and lovers. "Traffic" is not a departure for Sodebergh, all of his films are. He is an artist with a golden touch. He can travel through opposing universes with amazing ease. In "Traffic" the universe is uncomfortable, muddy, almost ugly and yet, it fascinates and attracts with the power of a magic magnet. Benicio del Toro and Erika Christensen are the two inhabitants of this peculiar universe that get under your skin and carry with you as if they were part of a personal experience. No, not if. They do, they are, they become part of a personal experience. The film allows you that. It makes you learn without preaching. How many films today manage that?