Side Effects

Trying to explain Side Effects and all of the events that occur would be like trying to accurately describe a hallucination to someone. It's bizzare, at times it steers in about 10,000 directions, there's a twist every 5 minutes. You would swear you're watching the newest episode of The Twilight Zone in the last half. And that's a big part of its' strange as fuck appeal, Side Effects is a cinematic theme park.

Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) stars as Emily, a depressed young woman whose life was shattered when her husband Martin (Channing Tatum) was arrested after their wedding. He's now being released and based on her decision to drive her car into a brick wall, it's safe to say that she's not taking this well. Once admitted into a mental hospital, she meets Dr. Jonathan Banks (Jude Law), a psychiatrist who after discussing her situation with her former doctor played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, decides to give her a new type of drug called Ablixa. This pill gives off all the normal side effects of common medication; happiness, raise in energy, sex drive, and murder. Someone must be held responsible for the murder, and the rest of the movie delves into the case of who is to blame.

None of this would have worked if the cast wasn't fair game, luckily all are putting their best foot forward. Jude Law and Catherine Zeta-Jones excude a calm, confident demeanor as the doctors with everything to lose in the case. Channing Tatum is solid in his very, very limited role as Emily's concerned and clearly oblivious husband. Rooney Mara is a powerhouse as Emily, this is her movie. Every scene with her captivates your attention, you never know what's going on in her mind, to the credit of Mara, she always captures your intrigue and attention.

I was quite impressed by the look of Side Effects as well. Earlier, I compared Side Effects to an episode of The Twilight Zone, and I feel that could be attributed to the visual style. There's something very unreal about the way Side Effects was filmed, it almost feels like someone's trippy nightmare at times. It really adds to the tone and the mystery going on from beginning to end.

Many seem to have been disappointed with the way Side Effects ended, count me as a fan for this one. There's about 10,000 twists that you won't see coming, I feel that this is the type of movie you will get something different out of it the more times you watch it. I love how Steven Soderbergh decided to hell with just one surprise towards the end, instead you get 50.

Side Effects is a bizzare and surprising movie. It's one that is easily love it/hate it without much middle ground. If you choose to jump on board, you'll love the direction, the entertaining performances and the pace that definitely picks up and keeps momentum from beginning to end. I say go for it and embrace the cinematic high for all you can.

3/4