CONTAGION (2011)
"Don't touch anyone, don't talk to anyone" is basically what Contagion warns you of once you are done watching this movie, it does and it will do to you what "Jaws" did to people especially swimmers and beach lovers back in 1975. This is a gripping medical thriller in the likes of Outbreak (1995) and The Andromeda Strain (1971). The plot revolves around a lethal epidemic and the fear it spreads among doctors and people alike.
A solid directorial effort by Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's Thirteen, Traffic, The Informant) where most of his movies have this sort of realism in the way they are shot and directed that brings the audience more into the stories and makes them more credible and the list of stars keep coming, joined by a stellar cast and superb performances, Gwenyth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Lawrence Fishburne, Jude Law, and Kate Winslet.
After watching this, I felt that the title Contagion is not only relevant to the disease the film talks about but more the contagion and spread of fear amongst people all around the world because of this disease and how it affects their behavior, judgment, and ethics. A father (Damon) who has just lost his wife and son to the disease becomes protective and aggressive around his daughter, a doctor (Fishburne) tries to do what's good and right and ends up being investigated, a cunning journalist (Law) tries to deceive the people and make money off this epidemic while falsely prophesizing a conspiracy by the government and the medical officials to cover up this matter for financial and military means. Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum, The Informant) did a beautiful job writing the script for this where he not only tapped into our instinctual fears but also brought out the worst in some people, showing how this disease makes us not only physically sick but also sick with greed, selfishness, and lust for power. Complementing the sense of fear, thriller, and suspense is the amazing soundtrack or score by Randy Miller that echoes of electronic sounds and ominous and mysterious beats so creepy that it brings you more into the horror of the situation.
If you want to take a break from all the slew of supernatural thrillers and horror movies with no genuine story and essence and watch a real serious thriller treat, get infected and watch Contagion.
"Don't touch anyone, don't talk to anyone" is basically what Contagion warns you of once you are done watching this movie, it does and it will do to you what "Jaws" did to people especially swimmers and beach lovers back in 1975. This is a gripping medical thriller in the likes of Outbreak (1995) and The Andromeda Strain (1971). The plot revolves around a lethal epidemic and the fear it spreads among doctors and people alike.
A solid directorial effort by Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's Thirteen, Traffic, The Informant) where most of his movies have this sort of realism in the way they are shot and directed that brings the audience more into the stories and makes them more credible and the list of stars keep coming, joined by a stellar cast and superb performances, Gwenyth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Lawrence Fishburne, Jude Law, and Kate Winslet.
After watching this, I felt that the title Contagion is not only relevant to the disease the film talks about but more the contagion and spread of fear amongst people all around the world because of this disease and how it affects their behavior, judgment, and ethics. A father (Damon) who has just lost his wife and son to the disease becomes protective and aggressive around his daughter, a doctor (Fishburne) tries to do what's good and right and ends up being investigated, a cunning journalist (Law) tries to deceive the people and make money off this epidemic while falsely prophesizing a conspiracy by the government and the medical officials to cover up this matter for financial and military means. Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum, The Informant) did a beautiful job writing the script for this where he not only tapped into our instinctual fears but also brought out the worst in some people, showing how this disease makes us not only physically sick but also sick with greed, selfishness, and lust for power. Complementing the sense of fear, thriller, and suspense is the amazing soundtrack or score by Randy Miller that echoes of electronic sounds and ominous and mysterious beats so creepy that it brings you more into the horror of the situation.
If you want to take a break from all the slew of supernatural thrillers and horror movies with no genuine story and essence and watch a real serious thriller treat, get infected and watch Contagion.