3. Gladiator
The award for Best Picture went to "Gladiator." But Steven Soderbergh beat Ridley Scott for the Best Director award for his work on "Traffic." He was also nominated for directing "Erin Brockovich." "Gladiator" is an epic film of epic proportions. A general who became a slave. A slave who became a gladiator. A gladiator who rose against the tyranny of a jealous, power-thirsty emperor. Maximus gets the city behind him in hopes of trying to restore the dream of Rome. He has no fear of possibly becoming a martyr. "Traffic" is rawer than Bessie leaving the slaughterhouse. The cinematography by Peter Andrews (Steven Soderbergh) shows how gritty the drug war is, both literally and figuratively. We are given a portrayal of the drug war as close to a first hand observation as possible. The script was presented to the United States' Drug Enforcement Agency merely to point out inaccuracies. Soderbergh wanted to present a story as detailed and accurate as possible. Even cinematography and a script as accurate as it can be doesn't give the full raw power. Steven Soderbergh sent letters out to every US Senator in office at the time, no partisanship on the filmmakers' part. In all, six senators appeared in the film. Current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) didn't like what was written for him to say in his scene at a cocktail party with Robert Wakefield (Michael Douglas). So Douglas stayed in character and stuck to his lines in the script while Reid gave his authentic political opinion on the questions posed to him. Douglas also got access to customs at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on the San Diego-Tijuana border. Douglas, again staying in character, converses with customs agent Rudy Machado about the seizing of drugs. As they are conversing, customs officers are searching cars inside-and-out for concealed narcotics. What we see are genuine officers confiscating heroin from real smugglers. The movie's reflection of the drug war gives an accurate insight into what can and can't be done. A dealer is arrested by the DEA and is given immunity for testifying against his drug lord boss. Corrupt politicians are affiliated with cartels, and assassinations are attempted by rival cartels. It is a war that is corrupt, ongoing, and possibly even endless. It is a war that will never be 100% won by the government. Dealers and users will always find a way around and through the system.