splooner Reviews

Traffik (1989)

Perhaps the most emotionally gripping television ever

[10/10 · 28 April 2006]

It is hard to put the devastating beauty of Traffik to words, partly because I am still grasping to comprehend it myself, several hours after my second viewing. First, it must be said that Traffik contains some of the most incomparably and unforgettably haunting scenes I have seen in a film or television production. The acting is excellent, particularly that of Bill Paterson as a British minister grappling with his heroin-addicted daughter and an aid deal to Pakistan that hinges on drug issues. Another plot line describes these drug issues at a ground level in Pakistan, and revolves around a struggling opium poppy farmer and his interaction with a successful heroin smuggler. The third main storyline involves the prosecution of a Hamburg drug importer, and the conflicting efforts of his wife and two German detectives while he is under trial. It is a profound accomplishment that the interaction between these stories feels natural, transcending the forced plot entanglement often found in Hollywood movies. It is an even greater accomplishment that a work spread over three countries and half a dozen main characters can be so focused and enthralling, without having to oversimplify. It is devastating--bleak and brutal but never apathetic. In short, Traffik is a rare work of film that handles challenging subjects with unmatched compassion and clarity.

The Long Good Friday (1980)

One of my top favorite movies

[10/10 · 2 January 2006]

The Long Good Friday deserves a more prominent role in the canon of great films. It draws some comparisons to classic and contemporary gangster movies, especially Get Carter with Michael Caine, but Bob Hoskins' performance takes it beyond others in its genre. He plays Harold Shand, a London mob boss on the brink of completing a huge waterfront development deal which will bring him into the legitimate business world. But a series of attacks on his organization by an unknown enemy puts his plans in danger, and we see the man and his empire collapsing over the course of a few days. Hoskins brilliantly portrays a man clinging desperately to his crumbling power. Meeting this new threat with old methods, Shand manages to be both despairing and defiant. John Mackenzie's direction is at times confusing, but otherwise excellent. Enhanced by a catchy if dated soundtrack and a strong supporting cast led by a young Helen Mirren, the direction gives Hoskins ample support for his incredible performance. The final scene is deservedly famous, but the boat scene with Jeff and its aftermath come close to the tension and brilliance of the ending. The film is gritty and brutal, but immensely absorbing.