Contagion
Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburn, Jude Law, Gweneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Ehle, Elliott Gould, Chin Han, John Hawkes, Enrico Colantoni, Anna Jacoby-Heron.
Following an outbreak of a contagious virus, the CDC, and top doctors Cotillard, Fishburn and Winslet try to find the source of the outbreak, which they believe started with the first victim of the virus.
As the weeks and months go by, they must try to control not only the number of victims, but also members of the media, who spread false information, and those in the government.
Very different type of film to watch in 2011 when it was released, to ‘post 2020’ when the ficticious events within the film became a reality with ‘the c’ word we all experienced. While the film depicts the world believing the virus is the ‘end of the world’ and the almost ‘post apocalyptic’ demolition that occurs – nothing could have been further from the truth in real life… but this is not a political review.
The cast is huge, with five real ‘primary’ cast; Cotillard, who plays one of the doctors at WHO, who works alongside CDC doctors Fishburn and Winslet. Damon, plays against type here, with more dramatic moments of the film as he is the husband and father of some of the early victims of the disease. Law is the closest to the ‘human antagonist’ in the film as one of the media bloggers who downplay the severity of the disease, and provide false cures.
There are some big names in the supporting cast as well with the likes of Cranston, Ehle, Paltrow, Gould etc each with their own parts to play, and they all do well.
Soderbergh’s traditional fast cuts, as well as interesting camera angles are used here, but not as intense as he usually does. They are complemented well with a fast paced and ‘techie’ score.
Pretty decent film, and while some events that transpired on film did occur (the entire pandemic), some of what happened on film did not occur (nurses striking, and the complete lack of virus deniers). A solid film, with plenty of great performances.
4/5
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