Review 242: Side Effects

 

Side Effect's is a brilliant Psychological thriller and one of the most original and thought-provoking thrillers in recent years.

Emily Taylor (Ronney Mara), despite being reunited with her husband Martin Taylor (Channing Tatum) from prison, becomes severely depressed with emotional episodes and suicide attempts. Her psychiatrist, Jonathan Banks (Jude Law), after conferring with her previous doctor Dr. Victoria Siebert (Catherine Zeta-Jones), eventually prescribes an experimental new medication called Ablixa. The plot thickens when the side effects of the drug lead to Emily killing her husband in a "sleepwalking" state. With Emily plea-bargained into mental hospital confinement and Dr. Banks' practice crumbling around him, the case seems closed. However, Dr. Banks cannot accept full responsibility and investigates to clear his name. What follows is a dark quest that threatens to tear what's left of his life apart even as he discovers the diabolical truth of this tragedy.

The plot is great, it deals with real life subjects such as depression and drugs and it's constantly throwing you off the scent and it shows that nothing is always what it appears to be in a situation and Jude Law's character is at the center of the whole scene trying franticly to figure out what is what, he's in his own private hell e.g. trying to keep his overall life together as well as trying to solve the murder.
The film also asks some pretty interesting questions: Was it the pills that killed Martin, or was it Emily? Who will Dr. Jonathan Banks protect: Emily, or hie reputation? And you'll also find that it's a story about greed.

Director Steven Soderbergh's direction is stylish, the cinematography is gorgeous, the production design is crafty, the score by Thomas Newman is majestic, the costumes are authentic, the make up is rich and beautifully detailed, the props are great and the ending was superb.

The acting is fantastic, Ronney Mara, Channing Tatum, Jude Law and Catherine Zeta-Jones deliver outstanding performances and the rest of the cast is fantastic.

Side Effects is a sensationally effective, smart, clever thriller filled with plenty twists and turns and another assured effort from director Steven Soderbergh, 4/5.

The Anonymous Critic.