"Side Effects" (2013)

Rating: R

Genre: Drama, Mystery & Suspense

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh

Written By: Scott Z. Burns

Released: February 8^th, 2013

Runtime: 106 minutes

Studio: Open Road Films

Summary:

For four years, Emily Taylor (Rooney Mara) has awaited the release of her husband, Martin (Channing Tatum), from being imprisoned for insider trading. Finally, Martin comes home, but Emily feels just as bad as she did when he was incarcerated, and she sinks into a deep depression. After her failed suicide attempt, psychiatrist Jonathan Banks (Jude Law) prescribes a series of medications. When those don't work, he gives Emily a new medication -- but the drug leads to ruined lives and death.

Review:

This is quite a gripping thriller with an excellent cast.

The film is structured well. Opening with what would turn out to be the pivotal scene of the film where everything changes for everyone but leaving so much to yet be revealed. Having seen a sliver of this moment, we think we can easily guess what’s coming when this scene eventually plays out fully, given what the film details thus far. However, it then throws a whole other spanner in the works that I personally did not see coming at all and was taken by complete surprise. With that shock in play, the film has yet a few more surprises and in store for us later. Never a dull moment, and always keeping us guessing.

The cast, including the talents of Jude Law and Rooney Mara at the helms, and Channing Tatum and Catherine Zeta-Jones right behind them, we can be fairly certain from the moment we sit down something good is ahead of us. This would have be my favourite of Rooney Mara’s performances that I’ve seen. Most of the roles I’ve seen her play tend to be dark and moody characters who rarely if ever smile, which she plays well. Whereas her role here seemed to give her more scope for variety. I find Jude Law has a calming presence in whatever role he seems to play. Their characters might not be entirely likable but they’re acted so well this goes almost unnoticed and as the plot unfolds we find ourselves routing for someone.

A well shot and well written film all round. I enjoyed it thoroughly.  

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