Side Effects

It's almost as if this Soderbergh guy has something against the pharmaceutical industry. He follows Contagion with the more intimate Side Effects, whose tone once again casts the very principle of pharmacy in a less than favorable light. The problem isn't just with the pharmaceutical industry, of course (which makes it all the worse); indeed, where there's opportunity, there's a human being. I loved the initially slow, almost unnerving pace, which builds up brutally, and perhaps a little forcefully, in the last act, only to have the great Steven eventually convince you that some things really may not be as they first appear. Brilliant camerawork that perfectly underscores the main character's feelings *SPOILER ALERT* (it does gets a bit ridiculous with those feelings, and anyone who's seen it knows what I mean:)) *END SPOILER*, Soderbergh's focused and once again very evocative direction combined with the unsettling soundtrack for me made this one of Soderbergh's best films in recent years. (20/12/2013)

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)

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)

Steven Soderbergh delivers an excellent commentary on contemporary society, on how we are unable to cope with crises and how we collapse, but he wraps it all up in such a package that it's not so easy to overlook the film as a social critique. The film is thrilling, it holds your attention, it entertains, but at the same time, you will be able to reflect on it. No other Soderbergh film has affected me as much as this one, and for that reason, I think it is his best so far. He had his camera at hand, but also a great screenplay, which wasn't always the case in his films, and then there were great actors, which is usually true for most of his films. People want to work with Soderbergh and it's for the best, because he allows them to shine. This time, the film stands out as a whole and it functions excellently as a whole. 90% well-deserved. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2013/04/vedlejsi-ucinky-2013-90.html (29/04/2013)

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)