Side Effects

Steven Soderbergh's surgically precise direction dominates this cold, seemingly pharmaceutical fraud. A standard set-up, a brilliantly tangled in the middle and a worthy finale. A film with a plethora of perfectly cast roles, tight reins and an unpredictable plot. I wouldn't be afraid to call it one of the best thrillers of the year. It's not as atmospheric and emotionally charged like Prisoners, but here everyone is evil, which is a very interesting cinematic twist. Usually when Soderbergh makes movies, it's not about good and evil characters, it's about who knows how to walk the walk. (02/06/2016)

SPOILER ALERT! – I don't really trust Steven Soderbergh in the long run, but a film with a reputation for a masterpiece, especially with such a packed cast, I was happy to roll with. And I got burned, even though it didn't seem like it at first. The deception (although at that moment unknown to the viewer) was intricate, thorough, and ultimately suspenseful, because it's not clear for a long time which piece of information is important. But once the topics started to overlap too much and the actions of pharmaceutical companies helped the main hero uncover the plot, I knew something was wrong. Moreover, as someone who works in the field of psychiatry, I can't escape the impression that Side Effects does a disservice to mentally ill people. And I'm also bothered by the final outcome of the Scott Z. Burns screenplay, in which women are unjustifiably punished. Combined with Catherine Zeta-Jones' paper-thin lines, clumsy paranoid twists, and a desperately lacking catharsis, I am officially giving up on Steven. (12/07/2016)

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. (22/04/2013)

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. (27/06/2013)

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% (25/07/2013)