Movie: Side Effects

Side Effects: what starts out as a better living through chemistry evolves to a reality that is not what it appeared to be when the movie commenced.   The female lead, Emily, played by Rooney Mara, has a complexity that is not readily apparent in the opening movie scenes.    We learn that her husband, Martin (Channing Tatum), is about to be released from a four year prison term for insider trading.   We then are told that Emily has mental health issues and shortly after Martin is released, a vehicle suicide attempt is presented.   Emily survives and at the hospital she meets a psychiatrist, Dr. Jonathan Banks, played by Jude Law.  Dr. Banks dispenses drugs and there is extensive mental health dialogue about various treatment drugs.   Dr. Banks is British and is asked why he came to America.   The answer given is that in Britain when you are placed in a psychiatric facility, it is assumed you will get sicker but In America, the assumption is you are getting better.  There is also a constant tension in the film created by the pace, music and cinematography pointing you toward another suicide attempt.    You are thinking this film is either going to be a bashing of drug companies (Dr. Banks is signed up to do a drug study) or the family/professional  consequences from a successful suicide.  As the story develops, we learn that prior to Emily’s husband going to jail she had engaged another psychiatrist, Dr. Victoria Seibert (Catherine Zeta-Jones) but stopped seeing her when her husband was imprisoned because she no longer had medical coverage.  To state much more will take away the joy of watching this most engaging and interesting film directed by Steven Soderbergh.   He is also the cinematographer although for reasons unknown to me, a pseudonym is listed in the film credits.   Soderbergh has publicly stated that this is his last movie.  Hope that is not the case.  There is only one short violence scene despite the opening sequence of blood on a residential floor indicating otherwise.   The ending is most curious but to state why would spoil the fun.   There are gaps in the storyline but to detail them would also spoil your fun.  The score for the movie is similar to the background on drug commercials: a little early to reference Oscar nominations for 2013 movies but Thomas Newman could be a candidate.   I look forward to your comments, particularly about the ending of this 115 minute movie.   Rooney Mara’s performance is excellent.   Her performance in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was no fluke.  This is definitely a film worth seeing.