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Heavy Traffic

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Heavy Traffic

R

Released Aug 8, 1973

1h 16m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

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18 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Ralph Bakshi's semiautobiographical account of the life and times of a struggling inner-city cartoonist.

Keith Phipps

The Dissolve

It's a downbeat, dark fantasia of urban life from a filmmaker trying to understand the darkness of the moment before it slipped away.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 16, 2013

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Jay Cocks

TIME Magazine

Heavy Traffic not only has an authentic tenement toughness but the rough feeling of unassimilated autobiography, of experiences and fantasies still keenly felt.

Sep 4, 2008

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Variety Staff

Variety

There's something to offend everyone in this melange of crudely conceived, amateurishly animated stuff.

Sep 3, 2008

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Mike McGranaghan

Aisle Seat

Heavy Traffic may be a bit dated in terms of its distinct '70s tone, but that doesn't make it any less fascinating. If you're a fan of the animation genre, this certainly qualifies as essential viewing.

Jul 31, 2013

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TV Guide

Filled with autobiographical resonance and razor-edged humor, this is a cynical portrait of one young man's coming of age.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 3, 2008

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

A zesty abstract-jazz riff of a film.

Rated: A

Apr 9, 2007

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S R

A better than usual Bakshi. A semi-biographical movie that I don't need to see again. NYT 1000 movies list and SLC DVD.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/03/25

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Teddy B

Although still plagued by Ralph Bakshi's problem of spontaneity, 'Heavy Traffic' presents an interestingly sophisticated melancholia on city life much in the same vein as early Martin Scorsese or Sidney Lumet. That, along with some dramatically satisfying scenes and a nice autobiographical touch, makes this Bakshi's best film by far.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

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Noe G

Heavy traffic is a great Ralph Bakshi film I get this film same as Fritz, the cat 9/10

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/07/24

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Devon B

It was okay not as good as say Fritz The Cat or Coonskin but it was just okay. To be honest I didn't really come into this film with very high hopes; I saw the trailer and wasn't really impressed with what I saw. The movie includes filler scene like in every other one of his films and switches from live action to animation. This movies comes off sort of like an autobiographical film on Mr Bakshi's life instead of it being a satirical film. With that being said 3 out 5 stars for me.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/22/23

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Audience Member

The best Bakshi film, I just love how natural the film feels.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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william d

Only people who want to indulge in some 70s nostalgia should bother.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Synopsis

Ralph Bakshi's semiautobiographical account of the life and times of a struggling inner-city cartoonist.

Director: Ralph Bakshi
Producer: Samuel Z. Arkoff, Steve Krantz
Screenwriter: Ralph Bakshi
Production Co: Steve Krantz Productions, Cine Camera
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 8, 1973, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 30, 2017
Runtime: 1h 16m

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