Wow, what to say? If you liked "Clerks" or are deep
into the "rave" culture you'll no doubt enjoy this
wacky drugged out piece of video-cinema.
Unfortunately, the majority of the movie-going
population may think otherwise. Heavy on the "F"
word, focusing on illegal drug consumption and
expressed in a thick hyperactive and Welsh/British
tongue; "Human Traffic" nonetheless keeps an uncaring
chin up, proud as it is paranoid.
Subject matter aside, the production is a drain
trap, catching all the social and philosophic
ramblings of some excitable young UK talent, high,
coming down, and otherwise never at a loss for
words.
Almost entirely character driven, there is a faint
attempt to make a plot out of getting an extra ticket
so that this motley group of starburst mates can hit
the hottest dance/drug club in all of Cardiff. Oh,
and another smaller tension created by two best
friends of opposite sex wondering if there's more to
their relationship.
Besides, the occasional ecstasy-inspired gems that
spew from these nervous pals; the look and feel of
the production rattles with a juicy eye for the
screen. Though, sometimes overdone and/or mis-edited,
writer/director Justin Kerrigan interjects visuals
that picturize what his characters are merely
conceptualizing. It's a tactic that David E. Kelley
does so well with "Ally McBeal." Overall, it's energy
laden, cleanly-cut and looks good, and (like Kevin
Smith of "Clerks" that later did
"Dogma") full
of future picture promise.
Watching stoned people swear is not my idea of a
good time, but I did enjoy the production techniques
and the minor relationships between these main
characters and their parents.
In one scene, Muff's father chases him out of the
house yelling about getting a job or something. The
camera follows the two as they tear down the steps,
Muff rants on how everyone he knows that has a job
hates it and that he's just "not ready yet to be
miserable."
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