Review of Side Effects (2013) by Kenneth L — 10 Oct 2013

Unfortunately, I have five movies to review today, so I'm just going to write a short review of each. Side Effects is a coolly stylish thriller by Steve Soderbergh. It feels halfway between one of his big movies, like the Ocean's series, and one of his little indie movies - it uses big-name actors and has a thriller-y plotline, but doesn't seem to have required an especially high budget.

The story follows Dr. Jonathan Banks (Jude Law), a psychiatrist treating a dangerously depressed woman (Rooney Mara) whose husband (Channing Tatum) has just been released from prison. I don't want to give anything away, but suffice to say there are several plot twists throughout the movie that do genuinely keep you guessing.

The actors are all really effective - Rooney Mara's performance is fascinating, and I found Jude Law more appealing and identifiable here than I usually do with him. It's definitely an entertaining movie, and mixes some genuine paranoia about the pharmaceutical industry with movie-movie thrills.

I enjoyed it thoroughly.