contagion 2011

contagion 2011

I was caught off guard when I saw the trailer of infection. It looked like a crazy, off the rails-thriller looked really scary in his portrayal of something close to reality. When I went to a checkpoint last week, I had to contain my excitement. With Steven Soderbergh at the helm of a plethora of talent Oscar-winning/nominated, how could you go wrong?

A new deadly virus was detected from the surface after the death of most of the world. While some members of the CDC and WHO travel to find a cure, the world stands on the brink of an increase in the epidemic. While some are safe, the other must do everything possible to avoid contamination, or risk dire consequences.

It may seem vague, but with so many characters and stories going at once, it's hard to set up a summary without giving away too much. The film takes the approach that provides a structure in the day to day events, which shows how quickly spread and destructive and dumb. The characters come and go help us different perspectives on the effects of the virus, if a citizen almost at random, a zero permanent ground medical, or scientists in the laboratory. We learn early on that no one is safe, and the film does everything to let you know that feeling again and again.

Even though I was a little 'stunned almost ridiculous number of montages at the beginning of the film, it became clear that a smooth appearance to the image Soderbergh intended. Depending on the location, color change, and he invents himself. Some scenes look simply stunning in their production values, makes the big-budget Hollywood project looks down and dirty, gritty indie amateur. Soderbergh has never been classified as easy, and this film, his first major film since Ocean Thirteen, he maintains and promotes its enigmatic character. Pounding synth score in 1980 was a nice touch, and confused, but I would expect nothing less.

contagion 2011


Despite what the trailers and some of my early praise would have you believe is Contagion is a slow and meticulous film, which is only partially interesting. Yes, there is a tone of panic that the film is a good deal - which often Veers in claustrophobia, as it rises on the characters and the audience themselves how widespread and destructive viruses are - but the tone never seems law. Jumps and swings, almost disappears in some cases and overstate in others. It seems completely unable to settle on an ideal, and therefore all feel much place on-. It saddens me to say, given what a master filmmaker Steven Soderbergh is really, but the film starts unraveling when it starts and never seems to be able to find its balance.

As I entered the contagion of excitement, I left more than a little betrayed. The short film was made for him, it just seems like everything has gone to waste (including death absolutely shocking that is destroyed by the trailers). It would be a paranoid thriller focuses, a not so subtle satire, or simply an exercise in fear contagion winner in all respects. It is too slow, and the worst of times, incredibly boring. You better watch the trailer loop and see how much better the film is more like it really is.