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ERA
Did you know
29 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Gridlock'd
"Life is a traffic jam."
1997 1h 31m EN
👍
6.6
SOLID
★6.6TMDB · 258
ComedyCrimeDrama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
After a friend overdoses, Spoon and Stretch decide to kick their drug habits and attempt to enroll in a government detox program. Their efforts are hampered by seemingly endless red tape, as they are shuffled from one office to another while being chased by drug dealers and the police.
“Life is a traffic jam.”
Cast
Tim Roth
Stretch
Tupac Shakur
Spoon
Thandiwe Newton
Cookie
Charles Fleischer
Mr. Woodson
Vondie Curtis-Hall
D-Reper
Howard Hesseman
Blind Man
James Pickens Jr.
Supervisor
Tom Towles
D-Reper's Henchman
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Vondie Curtis-Hall
- Writers
- Vondie Curtis-Hall
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Vondie Curtis-Hall, shot by Bill Pope. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Stewart Copeland. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Christopher Koefoed shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 7
CAST
Did you know
Tim Roth and Tupac Shakur and Thandiwe Newton carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 7
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "Life is a traffic jam.".
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 7
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0119225 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Vondie Curtis-Hall directs. Bill Pope behind the camera. Stewart Copeland scores. Christopher Koefoed cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 129 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 2Directed by Vondie Curtis-Hall, shot by Bill Pope. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 3Original score by Stewart Copeland. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 4Editor Christopher Koefoed shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 5Tim Roth and Tupac Shakur and Thandiwe Newton carry the top of the cast.
- 6Marketing tagline: "Life is a traffic jam.".
- 7IMDB entry: tt0119225 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Bill Pope
- Original score
- Stewart Copeland
- Editing
- Christopher Koefoed
- Production design
- Dan Bishop
- Runtime
- 91 min · 1h 31m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $5,000,000
- Box office
- $5,600,000
- Return
- 112% of budget
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
Also by
Vondie Curtis-Hall
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
US
- DE
Def Pictures
- DR
Dragon Pictures
Interscope Communications
US
Gramercy Pictures
US
Key crew
- ProducerErica Huggins
- Executive ProducerScott Kroopf
- ProducerPaul Webster
- ProducerDamian Jones
- Executive ProducerRussell Simmons
- Executive ProducerTed Field
- EditorChristopher Koefoed
- Production DesignDan Bishop
- Title DesignerDan Perri
- Additional MusicThe Angel
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- escape
- police
- aids
- drug addiction
- suspicion of murder
- withdrawal
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1997-01-29R
