What Soderbergh and writer Scott Z. Burns have come up with here will set hypochondriacs running for the hills. When Mears dives into the explanation of R-Naughts (viral reproduction rates) and fomites, one can’t help but feel their skin really start to crawl.
Soderbergh’s cast brings their A-game, of course, but with this ensemble you would expect nothing less. A few minor quibbles are that Cliff Martinez’ score feels slightly out of place. Although most of the time it is what feeds the film’s pacing so for the most part it does its job well. And Cotillard’s storyline adds nothing to the proceedings aside from getting to look at her, and it seems like they didn’t quite know when to end the film or on what note. It’s nice to see a film not reliant upon nausea inducing shaky-cam. Although maybe Soderbergh figured that would be just a little too much considering the plot. In the end, fall has officially arrived and not a moment too soon before winter brings along its never ending cold and flu season. And if Contagion has its way, you’ll think twice before you touch that door handle on your way out of the theater.
Photos courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
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Article comments
1 - Contagion was terrible
This movie was terrible. I am so disappointed in myself and my friends who are now no longer my friends, for making me watch this terrible movie. It was filled with side plots and more side plots and had no main character. It was terrible. There was no conflict, except the contagion. And Matt Damon was in the movie and he was immune, but that doesn't matter, because he doesn't do anything. There were chinese people, but the americans screwed them over, except one girl, she left an airport. We don't know her name but thats ok. There was a black dude in charge of the CDC, but he didn't really do anything, then people got mad at him and robbed his house and his wife cried. Then he helped a little boy. Oh and by the way, 15 minutes into the movie we find out that the disease is from a pig-bat clusterfuck. It changes, but it doesn't matter because they only ever made one vaccine. It would have been better if everyone died but Matt Damon. He didn't even care that his wife died, but thats ok because she was a whore. Maybe if the movie had Will Smith and he was like the last alive or something and fighting zombies with a dog it would have been better. There were people in a grocery store that robbed it. They were mad. But nothing happened because of it. Oh did I mention that it was caused by a pig and a bat? Yeah it would have been better if the last seen was a pig fucking a bat and that caused the epidemic. But it was a bat eating a banana, then a pig eating a banana, then a person eating a pig, and Matt Damon's whore wife died. There was terrible, unsuspenseful, lame movie with terrible orchestral arrangements. WTF mate? save your money and don't ever see this movie.
2 - Jordan Richardson
Actually, that comment makes the movie sound awesome.