Side Effects

Steven Soderbergh's surgically precise direction dominates this cold, seemingly pharmaceutical fraud. A standard set-up, a brilliantly tangled in the middle and a worthy finale. A film with a plethora of perfectly cast roles, tight reins and an unpredictable plot. I wouldn't be afraid to call it one of the best thrillers of the year. It's not as atmospheric and emotionally charged like Prisoners, but here everyone is evil, which is a very interesting cinematic twist. Usually when Soderbergh makes movies, it's not about good and evil characters, it's about who knows how to walk the walk. (2016-06-02)

I expected a great show, and I got a great show. Soderbergh is already an experienced pro in his field and knows what can elicit a strong response from the audience. Side Effects starts off quite innocently, with the first few moments being rather dull, but after Tatum’s death, the wheels start spinning and don’t stop—the mechanism is already in motion. Rooney Mara delivered a fantastic performance. At first, she appears to be a fragile and broken woman, but as the story gradually unfolds, you realize that’s not quite the truth. Jude Law plays a psychiatrist, which interestingly suited him. Zeta-Jones didn’t have much screen time, but every moment she appeared, I knew something wasn’t right. Tatum felt more like a fifth wheel, probably because of his early death. The film’s ending with a breathtaking twist, where the supposed victim turns out to be the murderer who teamed up with the psychiatrist to take out poor Tatum’s character, nearly floored me. Soderbergh created a great, chilling thriller where you don’t know until the very end who the culprit is and who is just a mere victim. Still, I can’t give it five stars because some scenes felt unnecessary to me. 84%. (2017-07-10)

An outstanding and rather (very) subversive genre piece which stands and falls with its conclusion. And it‘s with that final explanatory and point making last ten minutes that there is a problem, and not just one. Not that it’s borderline stupid or that it doesn’t make any sense, but.. There simply are few absolutely crucial buts. Which makes you doubly sorry, especially with a movie that’s coherent as this one. (2013-04-26)

If you’ve seen Prisoners, congrats—you’ve watched two of the best Hollywood thrillers of 2013. Side Effects starts off feeling pretty grounded, but things quickly spiral into a full-blown writing frenzy that only the ending manages to reel back in. Luckily, it all works out in the end. What really got me, though, was Rooney Mara. At first, I saw her as this fragile, beaten-down girl, and it felt relatable—like someone going through the same struggles as many of us. But then the story takes a turn so wild, even we as a nation would have trouble digesting it. Still, without giving too much away, I think the struggles she faces in the film, much like the ones we face in our own lives, are like the crust of a sandwich—we might grumble, but we’ll eat it and move on. Side Effects is one of those rare thrillers that sticks with you and makes you think. You might not come up with any profound revelations, but you’ll feel a bit more satisfied, if only because you’ve just watched a solid, classic American thriller—something we don’t get enough of these days. (2013-12-28)

Side Effects is a very well made film that stands out especially for its sophisticated script and acting performances. As for the story, I didn't really know how it was all going to turn out until the end, and I kept asking myself questions - mainly, "Who's the biggest jerk on the set?". We're thrown an unspecified scene at the beginning, which reappears about a third of the way through the film, and from then on a very deep case study of a sick woman who is taken on by a renowned doctor, and it changes both of their lives (and more). Who is actually guilty! Jude Law impressed me the most with his role, but Rooney Mara and Catherine Zeta-Jones were also great and convincing. A film whose title is not necessarily related to antidepressants. (2013-06-27)