Month: July 2021

Today’s quick review: Contagion. While on a business trip to Hong Kong, Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow) contracts a virus that kicks off a global epidemic, spreading within days to the world’s major cities. As doctors around the world (Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet, and Marion Cotillard) work to contain the virus, trace its origins, and develop a cure, Beth’s husband Mitch (Matt Damon) tries to care for his family in a world gone mad.

Contagion is a thriller with an ensemble cast from director Steven Soderbergh. Contagion charts the course of a global epidemic, from its inception to its spread to the race for a cure. The movie offers a realistic look at a terrifying scenario, examining the societal and personal consequences of a widespread disease. Its high stakes and comprehensive scope make Contagion a strong pick for viewers interested in real-world drama.

Contagion does its homework and isn’t shy about showing it. The movie touches on nearly every facet of disease response: quarantine procedures, the lab tests used to study the virus, the reaction of the public, and the personal toll on the infected and their loved ones. The emphasis on realism does undercut the story in a few places, where the movie stops to dish out more technical terminology or debunk a myth, but on the whole it pays dividends.

The consequence of this broad approach to storytelling is that no single character gets the spotlight. There are arcs for the characters, but they tend to be fragmentary, parts of a larger mosaic rather than pictures in their own right. The distributed nature of the plot also means that Contagion has to work to keep the viewer’s interest. The movie relies heavily on its soundtrack and sense of paranoia, rather than its plot, to maintain tension.

How much you get out of Contagion will depend on what you’re looking for. Those interested in a detailed portrait of a modern-day epidemic should look no farther, as the film’s broad scope and solid execution make it a full treatment of its premise. Those looking for a tidier story with conventional thrills will want to look elsewhere. Contagion has plenty to offer in terms of plot and atmosphere, but its drama won’t resonate with everyone.

For a more fanciful, action-oriented take on a similar premise, try Outbreak. For a similarly grounded look at the drug trade, try Traffic. For a somewhat similar look at a financial crisis, try Margin Call or The Big Short.

6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for comprehensive scope and attention to detail.

Today’s quick review: Outbreak. Colonel Sam Daniels (Dustin Hoffman), an Army virologist, faces a doomsday scenario when an outbreak of a deadly new virus reaches the United States. With the help of his ex-wife Robby (Rene Russo), a doctor at the CDC, Sam attempts to find a cure for the virus before it escapes containment. But their efforts are hindered from above as General Billy Ford (Morgan Freeman) tries to keep a decades-old Army secret.

Outbreak is an action thriller about a viral epidemic and the doctors working to stop it. Dustin Hoffman stars as Sam Daniels, a doctor whose devotion to his work has led to his greatest successes and his greatest failures. Outbreak takes a potentially dry premise and spins it into a solid thriller with a race-against-time plot and surprisingly passionate performances from its cast. The result is a tidy watch that keeps its promises.

Outbreak’s best feature is its plot progression. The outbreak of the disease, tracking it to its origins, and coming up with a cure are all hooks that the film takes advantage of. The added pressures of dying patients, overworked doctors, and an Army cover-up round out the plot nicely. The supporting cast is another draw, with roles for Kevin Spacey, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Patrick Dempsey, and Donald Sutherland.

While Outbreak skews more dramatic than the typical action thriller, it’s still a few steps away from realism. The movie pays lip service to the issues involved in a real-world epidemic without feeling bound by them. Lab work and quarantine procedures share space in the film with helicopter chases and contrived twists. Outbreak actually does a good job of balancing realism and fantasy, but viewers hoping for a straight drama will be disappointed.

Outbreak is a solid pick for those who want some excitement without diving into full-blown action. Although parts of the film are predictable, and the liberties it takes will rub some viewers the wrong way, Outbreak makes good on its premise. Its plot and its acting make it a full, satisfying watch. For a more factual take on the same subject matter, try Contagion. For a sci-fi action movie with similar elements, try Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for solid plot progression and a strong cast.