Side Effects

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. (2013-04-22)

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)

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)

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)

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)