ELECTRIFYING GLIMPSE OF THE DRUG WAR

Kinetic cast, direction plus engaging plots power 'Traffic' Don
Cheadle, center, plays DEA Agent Montel Gordon in "Traffic"

Dec. 26 - In his latest film, the gripping drug-war drama "Traffic,"
Steven Soderbergh accomplishes something few directors can today - he
juggles several complex story lines and a huge, big-name cast and
makes it all look effortless. The film at first seems like one long,
beautifully shot public service announcement for the "Just Say No"
movement.

But it eventually reveals itself as an indictment of the war on drugs.

SODERBERGH, also the film's cinematographer, explores the
pervasiveness of drugs - and the futility of current efforts to stop
them - through a hyperreality, one that's raw and edgy at times,
dreamy and almost hallucinatory at others. Nevertheless, he and
screenwriter Stephen Gaghan make it all achingly real. Not one moment
of this 147-minute film feels forced or fake. They put a face on the
drug war by following richly detailed characters in three intertwined
plots: Tijuana cops Javier Rodriguez (Benicio Del Toro) and Manolo
Sanchez (Jacob Vargas) work the U.S.-Mexico border, where the
authorities are as dirty as the drug sellers themselves. Ohio Supreme
Court Justice Robert Wakefield (Michael Douglas) is tapped as the new
U.S. drug czar, but he's clueless that his 16-year-old daughter
Caroline (Erika Christensen) has a serious habit of her own. Drug
Enforcement Administration agents Montel Gordon (Don Cheadle) and Ray
Castro (Luis Guzman) try to bring down San Diego drug kingpin Carlos
Ayala (Steven Bauer), whose very pregnant wife, Helena (Catherine
Zeta-Jones), has no idea what her husband does for a living.

RUNNING ALONG THE BORDER The film's sheer enormity is impressive. Add
to that Soderbergh's enthralling visual style.

He shot the film as if it were a documentary, hurtling us to the
front lines of the drug war using handheld cameras.

We are running around with the drug agents along the border.

There's a tangible sense of immediacy. 'Traffic' at a glance

. Starring Don Cheadle, Michael Douglas, Dennis Quaid, Catherine Zeta-Jones

. Rated R for pervasive drug content, strong language, violence, some sexuality

. Runs 2 hours, 27 minutes

He differentiates between plots beautifully using bleached, brownish
tones along the Mexican border; bluish hues for the Washington
bureaucrats pushing the anti-drug message; and bright spring colors
for the DEA agents. "Traffic," based on the British 1980s miniseries
"Traffik," also works in the small details.

Cameos from U.S. Sens. Orrin Hatch and Barbara Boxer contribute to
the film's authenticity.

CAST WITH CLASS But the performances make the film's emotional effect complete.

All are uniformly excellent, but a few stand out. Michael Douglas in
"Traffic" Douglas surprises again in another low-key role - different
from the hopeless English professor he played earlier this year in
the excellent "Wonder Boys" and a far cry from the smarmy arrogance
his characters usually exude. Del Toro is outstanding as always.

There is something in his eyes, a been-there, done-that attitude that
oozes strength and confidence.

Topher Grace, as Caroline's smart-mouthed boyfriend who gets her
hooked on drugs, from "That '70s Show" is a sporadic and too
infrequent bright spot. And who is this Erika Christensen? She's done
some television work here and there, but her insightful, raw
performance should make her a rising star. While the whole film packs
a punch, Caroline's story of deterioration is the most devastating. A
side note: if you're looking for sparks between real-life husband and
wife Douglas and Zeta-Jones, forget it. They're not even in the same
story line and never share the screen. No matter.

There's enough here to keep anyone in awe.