Side Effects: It’s on Netflix & You Should See It!

Side Effects opens with Emily (Rooney Mara) as she is greeting her husband, Martin (Channing Tatum). Martin has been freshly released from a lengthy prison sentence for SEC violations and insider trade. The couple, reunited, now tries to rebuild their lives together. This is the first layer; soon Martin begins trying to reestablish his business connections, meanwhile Emily’s struggles with depression begin to resurface. Layer two. As the movie progresses more layers are peeled back, and we learn more of the history and lives of Emily, Martin, and eventually Emily’s Doctor, Jonathan Banks (Jude Law), nothing is as it appears. These descriptions only scratch the surface of what Side Effects becomes. Layer upon layer reveals more of the story, and motives of our subjects, like watching a painting being produced on screen. Predictability is thrown askew by subtle turns and revelations in plot. All done so carefully, and woven so intricately, the viewer is left unable to guess what may come next. The artist here is Steven Soderbergh, who has delivered critically acclaimed films such as:

•Sex, Lies, and Videotape
•Out of Sight
•Erin Brokovich
•Traffic
•The Ocean’s Eleven series (the 2001-2004 remakes)
•Ché
•The Girlfriend Experience
•Haywire
•Magic Mike

A noteworthy element throughout Soderbergh’s career is the variation in the type of film he is willing to pursue; from action, drama, mystery, even as far as more independent styled art films, like The Girlfriend Experience in 2009. A film created only with the thinnest of scripts; purportedly most dialogue was improvised during the actual filming of The Girlfriend Experience.

A Bitter Pill

I thoroughly enjoyed Side Effects, not only because of the multi-layered storytelling; but the presentation was also visually striking. Focus and out-of-focus cinematography are utilized to offset the rich, oversaturated surroundings of the upper east side of Manhattan. A deep fog of blurred depression surrounds Emily, she walks in and out of this miasma, as if she were coming on and off stage. Later, this same tactic is utilized to frame attention on the screen (like drawing the eye to a section of computer screen, or window frame). These advanced effects given to the visual element further enhance the production on screen, and give the entire film a very modern feel.

Also of note were the exemplary performances found within. Rooney Mara, fresh off of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, delivers a standout performance of depression and self-doubt, nuanced and introspective. Jude Law, who has been long celebrated (whose past performances leave me with a mixed opinion) has a powerful showing as the persecuted Dr. Banks; struggling to keep his life in order, and learn the true nature of his situation, right along with the audience. The only complaints I had with the cast were with Channing Tatum. Tatum feels stiff, and uncommitted to his role, his performance is completely eclipsed by his co-stars, without his connection to Soderbergh from past films like (Magic Mike), in my opinion another actor would have been a better fit. Side Effects starring Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Channing Tatum was released to US audiences Friday, February 8th, 2013. Already having been met with positive reviews from critics and filmgoers alike, a good way to go out. Steven Soderbergh has recently announced that Side Effects would be his last feature film.