Side Effects

Side Effects

Rated R and Released 2/15/13

Reviewed 2/17/13 at Celebration North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary

3 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Back at home for one day and back at our theatre. Phew, what a relief!

Side Effects director Steven Soderbergh claims this is his last picture. While he pumps out quality flicks, this one is no different. Initially, it's a very troubling story about dissing beta blockers and prescription drugs; this may be justified, but give it time as there is much more to this clever story.

Rooney Mara was special in The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo and does another fine performance as young long-suffering wife Emily married to Martin (Channing Tatum), recently on parole for his white collar crime. Together they both seem to be on the same page trying to put their life back together. Emily has struggled with depression during her husband's four years in prison and has dipped to new lows since his release. Her half-hearted attempt at suicide brings her to Jude Law's character Dr. Jonathan Banks, which is Law's best performance in quite a few movies. Prescriptions are flying around so fast that it is hard to keep up with which substance they're referring to. Very deliberately the story shows the many side effects the drugs list, including Emily's sleepwalking. A spiral ensues and it would be an injustice to divulge too much as the mystery only begins at this part. Catherine Zeta Jones has a sub-par part playing a past professional resurfacing in all of their lives. The movie is smart down to the end as it's almost a relief as to what happens and what doesn't actually occur. It almost makes you feel a little guilty about the relief on the latter. This is almost a 4 J rating as it is so well acted and directed that it barely misses the mark. A little education in anti-depressants and a little patience through the stressful part of the film, and you may feel the same as me about the payoff in the end.

QUIET Rating system: 3 1/2

Quality: JJJJ

Understood story:  JJJj

Interest: JJJj

Entertainment:  JJJj

Time:  JJJ