An exploration of the United States of America's war on drugs from multiple perspectives. For the new head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the war becomes personal when he discovers his well-educated daughter is abusing cocaine within their comfortable suburban home. In Mexico, a flawed, but noble policeman agrees to testify against a powerful general in league with a cartel, and in San Diego, a drug kingpin's sheltered trophy wife must learn her husband's ruthless business after he is arrested, endangering her luxurious lifestyle.
Direction
Three color palettes, three countries, zero mercy.
Acting
Del Toro's silent suffering speaks louder than speeches.
Writing
Gaghan's tapestry refuses easy villains or heroes.
Director
Steven Soderbergh
Michael Douglas
Robert Wakefield
Benicio del Toro
Javier Rodriguez
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Helena Ayala
Erika Christensen
Caroline Wakefield
Don Cheadle
Montel Gordon
Jacob Vargas
Manolo Sanchez
Miguel Ferrer
Eduardo Ruiz
Luis Guzmán
Ray Castro
Topher Grace
Seth Abrahms
Tomas Milian
Gen. Arturo Salazar
Clifton Collins Jr.
Francisco Flores
Amy Irving
Barbara Wakefield
Dennis Quaid
Arnie Metzger
D.W. Moffett
Jeff Sheridan
Steven Bauer
Carlos Ayala
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Soderbergh shot the Mexico sequences himself under a pseudonym because no DP could match his specific visual plan for the yellow filter.
The film killed the 'war on drugs' as viable blockbuster subject; studios realized audiences didn't want this level of systemic hopelessness with their popcorn.
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Reactions from the web
why is the movie either yellow or blue Jesus
@caidee 2
Do the subtitles during the Spanish language sections work? I’ve read a review which says that rather than the translations, the words “Speaking Spanish” appears instead. Can you verify either way?
@oliraceking
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