KEA Productions: DVD Movie Reviews
from the archives ofNuReel.com, The Berkeley Daily Planet, and Alameda Sun- written byKamala Appel
ratings: Plus(highest)-Neutral (okay)-Negatives (pass & omitted from archive)
T: Traffic, Training Day
U: Unbreakable
V: Vanilla Sky
TRAFFIC (Plus)
"Traffic" is not a story about the congestion many of us face onHighway 101, but rather about drug trafficking from Mexico to theUnited States. Initially, I thought this film would be a glossyHollywood blockbuster with a lot of negative stereotypes and gratuitousviolence. Much to my surprise and delight, "Traffic" is one of the mostthorough, impressive, and captivating films that I have seen on thetopic of drugs and the Americas. Steven Soderbergh ("sex, lies, andvideotape", "Kafka", "The Limey", and "Erin Brockovich") proves onceagain that it is possible to be innovative and intelligent. In commonwith many of Soderbergh's other films, "Traffic" has an untraditionallook and feel (in terms of Hollywood). Along with Cinematographer,Peter Andrews, Soderbergh uses colors (most likely lens gels) toconnote and contrast the different characters' worlds. At first, Ifound the color contrast somewhat distracting; however, as the filmprogressed, I realized how the varying color schemes help the audiencekeep track of the multiple storylines and characters. If the film hadbeen shot without the visual variation, the complex storyline wouldhave been too complicated to follow.
"Traffic" argues many points from many different perspectives withoutpreaching; as a result the arguments made are more persuasive. The filmworks because all of the elements are perfectly balanced and measured.Some of the dialogue may have seemed contrived, if the overall scripthad not presented such a variety of perspectives on the topic of drugtrafficking. Some of the characters may have seemed simplistic, if theactors had not brought depth to their roles. I would attribute theproper balance to director Soderbergh, writer Stephen Gaghan (ABC's THEPRACTICE and NYPD BLUE), and his long list of producers who include: EdZwick ("Shakespeare in Love", "Glory", "Courage Under Fire", "Legendsof the Fall", "The Siege", and television's THIRTYSOMETHING and ONCEAND AGAIN), Marshall Herskovitz (THIRTYSOMETHING, MY SO-CALLED LIFE,ONCE AND AGAIN, and "Legends of the Fall"), Laura Bickford (CITIZEN X),Richard Solomon (ONCE AND AGAIN, "Shakespeare in Love", and "TheSiege"), Mike Newell ("The Awakening", "Enchanted April", "HighFidelity", "Donnie Brasco" and "Four Weddings and a Funeral"), GrahamKing ("Gangs of New York" and "Savior" starring Dennis Quaid), AndreasKlein ("Gangs of New York"), and Cameron Jones.
Even though the entire cast play their parts effectively, Benecio DelToro brings a level of depth and compassion to the role of JavierRodriguez, a somewhat corrupt but also courageous Mexican Cop, makinghis character the most sympathetic in my opinion. Del Toro has starredin "The Usual Suspects", "Basquiat", "Fearless", "Swimming withSharks", "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", and "The Way of the Gun".Michael Douglas ("Basic Instinct", "Disclosure", "Romancing the Stone","The American President" and "Wonder Boys") also does a fine job ofevolving with his character in the role of Robert Wakefield, thebourgeois Drug Czar of the DEA. Along with Del Toro and MichaelDouglas, the all-star cast includes: Amy Irving ("Carrie", "The Fury","Honeysuckle Rose", and "Yentl") as Barbara Wakefield, the disgruntledwife of Michael Douglas; Don Cheadle ("Boogie Nights", "The MeteorMan", "Hamburger Hill" and television's FAME, PICKET FENCES, and THEFRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR) as Montel Gordon, a DEA officer; his DEApartner, Ray Castro, is played by Luis Guzman ("The Limey", "BoogieNights","Magnolia", and "True Believer"); Dennis Quaid plays, ArnieMetzger, the attorney friend of Catherine Zeta-Jones' drug lordhusband, and Catherine Zeta-Jones ("The Haunting" and "Entrapment")stars as Helena Ayala, the seemingly naive pregnant wife of a druglord, Carlos Ayala played by Steven Bauer ("Scareface", "Raising Cain"and television's WISEGUY).
Many other films have provided insight into the political and economicrepercussions of illegal drug importing and exporting. Distinguishingitself from other films, the powerful impact "Traffic" had on mestemmed from its ability to shed light on the emotions that surroundthe entire drug trafficking process. "Traffic" puts forth the argumentthat no one is above corruption nor below redemption; drug traffickinghas become a virus that has spread throughout the Americas. In manyways, "Traffic" provides a cross section of the drug trafficking worldthat enables audiences to watch the system in action like medicalstudents attending a surgery or autopsy.
I would not be surprised to see Soderbergh receive an Oscar nominationfor directing, especially with the success of "Erin Brockovich" duringthe same year. I also think that the members of the Academy willconsider nominating Benicio Del Toro for Best Supporting Actor.
"Traffic" is definitely a film worth seeing for its educational andaesthetic value. I would strongly recommend that you watch the filmwhen you are able to pay attention, since the multiple storylines maybe difficult to follow if you are tired or tune out for even a moment.Surprisingly, the film does not contain a lot of graphic violence,however there are some disturbing scenes involving child endangerment,drug consumption, and prisoner interrogation that would take this filmoff my list of family pictures. "Traffic" opens wide Friday, January12th. This film would be enjoyable on video, but I think it is worthseeing on thebig screen to fully appreciate the visual aesthetics.
TRAINING DAY (NEUTRAL/PLUS)
Denzel Washington plays a jaded narcotics detective who gives anidealistic rookie cop, played by Ethan Hawke, a rude awakening inTRAINING DAY. Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke generate potenton-screen energy together. At times I found it a little difficult tobuy Hawke as young (early twenties) naive, wide-eyed bordering boyscout rookie; however he did an excellent job of bringing depth to hischaracter. Washington gives a performance that is almost as powerful ashis performance in THE HURRICANE; but I do not think the overall filmis strong enough to harvest an Oscar nomination for his role.
TRAINING DAY suffers from somewhat of a slow pace and an uneven tone;these short comings would be forgivable, if the writer, David Ayer, hadnot created such a violent, apocalyptic ending (similar to manyindependent films in the 1970s by such directors as Scorsese andCassavettes). The closure at the film's conclusion seems forced; thefilm probably would have had a greater emotional impact, if the writerhad left the ending some narrative questions unanswered. By contrast,the unresolved aspects of the character development make the charactersmore sympathetic, complicated and intriguing. Just as no one ever knowseverything about someone else in real life, the characters never get toknow everything about each other, nor does the audience. The charactersand the audience become educated at the same time, creating afascinating character study. The audience and the other narrativecharacters never truly know who is good or bad, who was good or bad,and who will become good or bad.
A hybrid of genres, TRAINING DAY is somewhat of a buddy film, howeverthe primary characters have clashing philosophies; somewhat of a roadtrip since each stop in various regions of Los Angeles County holds anew lesson for the rookie cop; somewhat of a coming of age film; eventhough the maturity has more to do with psychological growth thanphysical. The writer effectively communicates how much can happen in asingle day and how drastically one's life can change in just a matterof moments, by using the full two hours to represent the passing of atwenty-four hour time period.
Although the film is a bit melodramatic at times, especially at thefilm's conclusion, the performances by Washington and Hawke make thefilm worth seeing. Scott Glenn, Tom Berenger, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, MacyGrey, and have supporting roles. I would not recommend TRAINING DAY tofamilies due to the elements of graphic violence and adult situations.TRAINING DAY opens wide starting October 5th.
Unbreakable (neutral/plus)
"Unbreakable" is the much anticipated feature by writer/director M.Night Shyamalan ("The Sixth Sense"). This film stars Bruce Willis as anordinary guy who is thrown into a situation he tries desperately toavoid, a character type that has made him famous (especially in the"Die Hard" trilogy); and Samuel L. Jackson as a strong-willedindividual who struggles to overcome a desperate situation, a charactertype that has also made him famous (in films like "The Negotiator" and"A Time to Kill"). The two cross paths after Willis' character, DavidDunn the apparently "unbreakable" Ishmael, miraculously survives atragic train accident. Samuel L. Jackson plays Elijah Prince, whosesurvival despite his fragile, very breakable, body, appears equallymiraculous. Throughout most of "Unbreakable", Elijah persistentlypursues David, in efforts to grasp his survival (both Willis andJackson).
Shyamalan writes a lot of witty dialogue and creates a lot of scenesthat are funny because of the genuineness of the characters' reactions(after all, how would you react if you found out that an ordinary Joewas a supernatural hero?) In addition to Willis and Jackson, RobinWright Penn ("She's So Lovely", "Message in a Bottle" and "ForrestGump") who plays Audrey Dunn, Willis' depressed and protective wife andSpencer Treat Clark ("Double Jeopardy" and "Gladiator") who playsJoseph Dunn, Willis' wide-eyed son, all give convincing performances asif they were indeed living through the strange experience in real life.
Although "Unbreakable" has many strong points, I fear that it will notmeet audience expectations. The first three-quarters of the film movesslowly but effectively builds the suspense. The sound design reinforcesthe eerie drama and furthers the audience's desire to find out whatwill happen next. Yet despite the initial smooth ride, the film crashesat the end. Shyamalan does a tremendous job of creating anticipation,however, the ending he creates is abrupt and made me feel as though Ihad crashed into a brick wall.
If you enjoy films that explore the paranormal, then you will enjoymuch of what "Unbreakable" has to offer. If you can see the humor inextraordinary explanations of ordinary events, then you will appreciatethe humor "Unbreakable" has to offer. However, if you are looking for asurprise ending that wraps up all the loose elements of the storylinelike "The Sixth Sense", do not hold your breath because you will havethe wind punched out of you. "Unbreakable" opens wide Thanksgiving2000. This film would probably be more enjoyable on the big screen forthe full thriller effect.
VANILLA SKY (NEUTRAL)
Did you ever notice that European filmmakers seem to take more riskswith filmmaking in terms of untraditional story and characters? Did youever wonder why more American filmmakers seem to stick to traditionalHollywood ClassicalCinema style (sympathetic lead character, audienceas omniscient, linear presentation of events, closure at the end)?Well, as much as I like American films, it seems that the Europeans arebetter at capturing the bizarre without creating a film that is justbizarre.
VANILLA SKY is the American version of the 1997/1999 Spanish film, ABRELOS OJOS (OPEN YOUR EYES). Penelope Cruz appears in both films in thesame role (the leading man's love interest). Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz,Kurt Russell, and Jason Lee join her in the American version, directedby Cameron Crowe. I am not sure why Cruz is so incapable of generatingany semblance of on-screen chemistry with some of Hollywood's hottestleading men including Nicolas Cage, Johnny Depp, and in this case, TomCruise. I would never believe that the Cruz and Cruise were an itemfrom this film, even though Cruise does do his part of heating up thescreen. Tom Cruise does bring a level of sympathy and complexity to hischaracter that proves him to be more than a mere pretty boy.Unfortunately, the convoluted story over-shadows the characterdevelopment and acting.
It would be very difficult to describe the film or relay the storywithout giving away key elements of the film and ruining the elementsof suspense. I would describe VANILLA SKY as MEMENTO crosses paths withFATAL ATTRACTION. Tom Cruise plays a rich playboy who relies on hisgood looks to control the company he inherited from his wealthy father,as well as everyone else he encounters, until he suffers a disfiguringinjury. For the majority of the film, he along with the audience,attempt to figure out what really happened and what his true currentreality is. VANILLA SKY is suspenseful and visually innovative, but itis also convoluted, fragmented, and somewhat contrived.
The film is a lot heavier than people may expect and a lot moredisjointed than any of the stars, or director's earlier works. UnlikeCameron Crowe's other works (SAY ANYTHING, FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONTHIGH, SINGLES, JERRY MCGUIRE, and ALMOST FAMOUS), VANILLA SKY does nottouch your heart with sophisticated characters and poignant humor. Hedoes do a fine job of giving VANILLA SKY an unusual, dreamy look andfeel that resembles a painting. VANILLA SKY is an interesting film, butI am not sure how many people will find it entertaining. VANILLA SKYopens wide on December 14th. This film would be equally enjoyable onvideo.
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