Side Effects

Soderbergh, Newman, Law, Zeta-Jones, Tatum... These are names that together on one poster are as appealing to a film fan as a postman is to a watchdog, and although it’s far from being a rule, this time we have to admit that the stars knew well where to shine. A masterfully filmed, well-acted and excellently written story that may be reminiscent of the golden era of the 90s, but thanks to the careful and creative direction manages to be original and interesting in every sense. Mara and Law stand out from the cast, their characters clearly have the most psychological dimension, but it's also nice to see that Catherine still has it in her and looks fantastic despite her advanced age. Proper craftsmanship that returns Soderbergh to the first league of directors. 80% (2013-07-25)

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)

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. (2013-04-27)

Soderbergh rocks. The brilliant genre change in the middle of the picture is just the type of hacking I approve of. The untraditional development of the plot and the characters that really work - awesome Law and Rooney Mara confirms his status as one of the best young actors in the branch. And then there’s Newman’s chillingly captivating music. A delicacy that shouldn’t be overlooked and that is better not to know too much about in advance. (2013-04-23)

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)