Director: Steven Soderbergh
Screenplay: Scott Z Burns
Starring: Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Channing Tatum, Catherine Zeta Jones
Synopsis is here
If the rumours are true (and the interviews point
towards yes), it seems that Side Effects will be Steven Soderbergh's
final theatrical feature. Threatened once before but now looking much
more definite, the announcement is an intriguing one. At age 50; the
chameleon-like director still looked like he had a lot more in him. This said,
the film maker has stated he is tired of the format and would rather spend his
time painting.
This is
not necessarily a bad thing. A television interview on CBS with Quentin
Tarantino had the motor mouth director mention his worry of becoming "out
of touch" as he got older. Some could say that he may have a point.
There's nothing wrong with going out on a high, and while others may
draw attention to some elder statesmen who have placed some
decent turns in their career "twilights". I doubt many would pick
those later films over the likes of Taxi Driver, Manhattan, One Flew over the
Cukoo's Nest, M.A.S.H and the list goes on.
So Soderbergh has
decided to end the career here. Not with a bombastic, mega multi dollar
showcase (imagine Ocean's 14), but with a tightly controlled psycho thriller
which highlights not only the assured direction of the director, but the themes
that have followed him throughout an industrious career. I'm pretty
sure I'm not the only one who noticed that a few of the films revelations rely
on sex, lies and videotape.
Sharply
placed against the backdrop of big pharmacy and insider trading,
Sodenbergh carefully blends topical issues to create
near plausible horrors. Before
the outrageous mechanics of the final third take hold, we are
exposed a nightmare of dubious after effects, presumed wrong doings
and shady double takes. Framed in a dreamy soft focused haze, nearly every shot
in Side Effects (Sodenbergh lenses' the film under the name Peter Andrews)
layers a tinge of self doubt within a viewer. You notice that much like a drug
addled mind, the world around these characters are blurred and obscured.
Sometimes only the character is in focus. Yet even so, their words bring no
clarity.
Soderbergh's
tricky thriller does much to prime us correctly so even the films more lurid
moments later on have a feeling of plausibility. This has much to do with
the films two leads as well as its smart direction and scripting. Jude Law
hasn't been this watchable for years, getting the subtle ruthlessness of his
character down to a tee. Yes, he comes to the aid of an ill woman, but like a
Coen's movie, notice just how quickly he's willing to snap at the dangling
carrot. Rooney Mara is even better. Showing her display in The Girl with the
Dragon Tattoo wasn't a fluke, she acing every scene with the ability to
managing to be scared and scare at the same time.
Whether or not
Soderbergh leaves the cinematic world, he has undoubtedly made
a sizable dent in it. Side Effects shows the work of a craftsman:
assured, accomplished and solidly built. He could be tired of the format; he
could hold the same fears as Quentin. Either way his swan song makes sure
he goes out flying.
