Side Effects

Having nine features released in the past four years, it’s a no brainer that Steven Soderbergh is one of the hardest working directors out there right now. Coming off his widely successful “Magic Mike”, where women could go to see male strippers without feeling the shame of walking into a strip club, Soderbergh goes back to his roots with the less six-packy (sorry ladies) and more psychological-thrillery “Side Effects” (I’m not above making up words).

“Side Effects” showcases an All-Star cast with the likes of Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Channing Tatum. It tells the story of a woman named Emily, played by Rooney Mara, who is struggling with depression. When she attempts to kill herself shortly after her husband (Tatum) is released from prison, her family just believes it is her long past with depression and thinks nothing of it. However, they decide to have her see a psychiatrist, played by Jude Law.

The psychiatrist prescribes her several medications, attempting to see which one works best for her. Eventually, he prescribes her a new drug, for which he is being paid by the company that produces it to test on his patients, called Ablixa. The medication works wonders for her with the exception of one of the side effects, sleepwalking. Her sleepwalking leads to her being the number one suspect in a murder trial. And as her psychiatrist tries to prove her innocence, his dark past is unearthed. As his life begins to fall apart, he rushes to discover the truth.

I went into the theatre not expecting anything great. I usually find myself pleasantly surprised in these situations, and “Side Effects” is no exception. Soderbergh proves himself as a great psychological thriller director. His best films (in my opinion) are always the ones that fly under the radar. While it is not the most mind-blowing thriller, the story flows and keeps you interested in the characters and the situations they are put in. Complimented by a great soundtrack, fine cinematography and wonderful performances, “Side Effects” is a well-hidden gem in a month jam packed with sub-par comedies, Nicholas Sparks’ “The Notebook 19”, and mediocre animated films.

My Grade: B