Side Effects - Movie Review

Side Effects (2013)

106 min – Crime | Drama | Thriller

8 February 2013 (USA)

Ratings: 7.2/10 from 33,126 users (IMDb)

“A young woman’s world unravels when a drug prescribed by her psychiatrist has unexpected side effects.” (IMDb)

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Writer: Scott Z. Burns

Stars: Rooney Mara, Channing Tatum, Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones

The movie is not a thriller. It’s a drama with a murder scene.

I really liked it. It’ not a cheap plot (although at one point predictable for a versatile mind) and one gets to enjoy the situational twists and the constant reverse of good and bad. Rooney Mara is a fantastic actress in spite of her rich and famous upbringing (we know her from A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).

Channing Tatum has a partial role but hey, still good to see his sexy self.

Catherine Zeta-Jones seems to be stepping up a bit, her mediocrity sheltered by fewer lines and scenes.

Jude Law is at his usual best as a troubled busy intellectual.

The characters are meant to deceive, the director is constantly changing the perspective, and so you doubt everyone, which is exciting.

A few days later and I am still not sure if there was something bugging me about Side Effects. It’s intriguing enough to be worth seeing. Enjoy!