Starring: Jude Law, Rooney Mara | Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh brilliantly weaves an old fashioned mystery with a modern day medical thriller in Side Effects.
Emily Taylor (Mara) welcomes her husband Martin (Channing Tatum) home after he is released from prison but she soon finds the anxiety of reconnecting is taking its toll. After being assigned to a successful psychiatrist (Law), Emily begins taking a trial drug that is supposed to help her cope, but she soon starts displaying some serious side effects (insert maniacal laugh).
Enlisting the help of screenwriter, and previous Contagion collaborator Scott Z. Burns, Soderbergh crafts a taught and sophisticated drama that unfolds with beautiful precision.The story takes relentless turns and, although some of the narrative veers slightly into the absurd, maintains an even tone.
Top notch acting elevates the films delivery thanks to several intense performances; Mara, in particular, proves once again to be one of the most dynamic young females working in Hollywood today.
However, the real star player here is Jude Law, who churns out one of his finest roles yet, mixing slick posturing with creeping dread in a seemingly effortless way.Tatum is also strong in a small but effective role and Catherine Zeta-Jones (her third film with Soderbergh) leaves you wondering where her allegiances really lie.
Side Effects is the first great movie of 2013, marking another triumph for a director who continues to create gripping films. It elegantly combines an intelligent script, strong acting, striking production design and confident execution Hitchcock would indeed be proud.
