Side
Effects
Review by Nick Devin
Spoiler alert
Today’s age can be
arguably the biggest era for advancements in human life. Not only are new technological advancements
made each year, but medical advancements becoming more prominent. Drugs can be prescribed for almost any
condition now, creating an age of addicts and drug abusers, and at what cost
does a doctor prescribe a new trial drug?
All a doctor has to do now is write a script, and depression can be
reduced with Zoloft, ADHD can be contained with Ritalin and Schizophrenia can
be treated with Clozaril. It is this
idea that is explored within Steven Soderbergh’s new movie: Side Effects.
Soderbergh has a number of highly regarded films under his belt stretching from one genre to the next whether it is his first big hit ‘Traffic’ or to his highly successful ‘Ocean’ series or his two bio-pics following the adult life of Che Guevara. With Soderbergh announcing his retirement from film recently, it is fitting to see a send-off worth remembering and his latest film ‘Side Effects’ comes very close to the mark. Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta -Jones and Channing Tatum star in the psychological thriller. Surprisingly enough George Clooney does not make an appearance in the movie, as he stars in many of Soderbergh’s films. The cast of the film do a good job in creating a suspenseful and engaging plot which easily has one of the best concepts in a long time for a modern thriller. The technical level of concept for designing the plot is a breath of fresh air for the genre coming from Scott Z. Burns who often works with Soderbergh.
The movie opens with a slow panning shot of a blood trailed floor in a high class apartment leaving the audience to wonder what led to this and who has been hurt in the process. Already the movie has caught my attention, as it gives off almost a Hitchcock reminiscence. Following this scene the story jumps backwards three months to Emily (Mara) who is visiting her husband Martin (Tatum) in jail who was sentenced for four years due to insider trading on Wall Street. It is the end of his sentence so it wasn’t long until Martin is out of jail and trying to start his life up again with his wife. Martin is giving it his all but for Emily it is a struggle as she is clinically depressed and attempts to commit suicide in the garage of her work. At the hospital she comes under the care of Dr Jonathan Banks (Law), a physician. Under an agreement that Emily is to visit him each week, he allows her to discharge herself from the hospital. As many of her prescribed drugs aren’t working for her, Jonathan then prescribes a new drug, which he is marketing in his practice for a large sum of money from a pharmaceutical company. It almost seems as if all their lives are powered by drugs with the patients as well as the doctors taking uppers or downers or anything to keep them moving through their busy days. Things seem to be getting better until a sudden turn of events leaves the audience with the answer of whose blood was on the floor at the beginning of the film. Although shocking within the movie, this sudden twist was predictable but made very effective through the smart use of music. Eerie chimes play a childish melody whenever Emily is under the effect of her prescribed medicine, which gives an uncomfortable feeling when watching.
With the police now involved, Jonathan’s world soon comes crashing down as his integrity is on the line. Under immense pressure and looking for help, Jonathan asks for the aid of Emily’s previous psychiatrist Dr Siebert (Jones). It was realised then that Emily was in a similar state when her husband was sentenced to jail. The movie then turns into a mystery as Jonathan turns from doctor to semi-detective as he tries to piece together why his career and his life were destroyed. As the movie progresses, the characters delve deep into each other’s history and at the same time, question their own morals as to whether they leave chaos at bay or try to get what they desire.
Jonathan’s transformation from the respected clean shaven doctor into a gritty ordinary man with rough stubble adds another dimension to the plot and further develops the need for Jonathan to turn into a detective of sorts. Jude Law pulls off both these rolls well and you can’t help but think at times that maybe his character should be on the meds as well.
The inclusion of Rooney Mara as the almost psychotic Emily Taylor was cast as she brings back many of the same mannerisms she used when playing Lisbeth Salander in the English remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. She uses the blank expressions to her advantage with this character and alongside with the eerie chimes that play in the background you can’t help but feel uneasy.
The other characters within the movie are a bit hit and miss. Channing Tatum seems to be cast in almost anything these days, and does act well, but compared to the other characters he feels quite bland. It is hard to see him as a Wall Street broker within the movie after seeing him as other roles in the past. Catherine Zeta-Jones’ character, although adds something to the plot with her sex appeal, does not meet the standards that the Law and Mara set within the movie.
The cinematography is often quite captivating within Soderbergh’s films, which is highlighted in the stunning two part Che Guevara movies, and in Side Effects it doesn’t disappoint. The director uses smart camera angles to evoke certain moods and feelings within the movie. In one scene, the camera changes from one angle to the next in quick succession almost as if the viewer is taking the pill.
More could be said about this pharmaceutical psych-thriller, but that would be cruel to spoil the further twists laid out within the story. This is a true thriller and leaves behind many clichés that are often seen today in this genre. If this is Soderbergh’s last true film, then it is listed with one of his greats.
4 out of 5 stars
+Jude Law and Rooney Mara
+Twists
-Channing Tatum
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