Side Effects is cinematic sleight of hand. It’s a beguiling performance from the movie magician; the great Steven Soderbergh. It feints at being a story about the questionable practices of the pharmaceutical industry; it’s not. Early scenes drift elliptically through Emily (Rooney Mara)’s life; she seems depressed, and she seems to be the film’s protagonist. She isn’t.
Side Effects is built on deception, but it always plays fair; anyone paying attention shouldn’t be surprised by the narrative twists and turns that dominate the film’s last half as dark secrets are uncovered. The opening shots are a significant hint, panning across an ordinary-looking apartment building before venturing inside to reveal the bloodstains within.
Later, a woman complains at a prison guard’s insistence on opening her gift’s wrapping to examine it. Soderbergh isn’t content to let you unwrap the present. He’ll unwrap it for you. It’s for the best. He knows what he’s doing.
This film –best described as a thriller, though it’s more seductive than thrilling – works because of the details. The careful, soft cinematography, ominous score and brief lines of dialogue – “a poisonous gas cloud” – are observed with the deftness of a true showman. Pay close attention.
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I really need to check this out, been putting it off for too long. Plus, I think I might be in love with Rooney Mara. Great post!
Thanks! It certainly comes recommended – I didn’t go in with particularly high expectations but was very much impressed by the film; though it’s hard to talk about what I liked in too much detail without spoiling things. Rooney is great in this (as is Jude Law, who doesn’t generally do much for me as an actor)
This is on my watch list. Hoping to get to it soon.
Hope you like it! Thanks for the comment.
Everyone is giving it pretty positive reviews! Can’t wait to check it out 🙂
It’s much better than the marketing made it look. It’s one of those films with an okay screenplay that’s lifted by its director and cast members.
I saw zero marketing for this movie then the movie was released…haha
It’s a hard film to advertise, since it pretends it’s something it’s not… There were quite a few ads for it on TV here, though I still didn’t go to see it in the cinema.
For me, Soderbergh’s films all come down to the details. I think he’s a master craftsman in every regard. Love what you said about the “careful, soft cinematography…” so very true.
Thanks – I really think this a great example of a script that would be just okay in others’ hands, but Soderbergh elevates it to greatness.
I enjoyed this one. Not one of my very favorites of the year but far from the bottom of my list. 🙂
Yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if this sneaks onto my end-of-year list either!
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