Side Effects

And so it seems that Steven Soderbergh is disillusioned with Hollywood and the film making process and is taking a sabbatical/retirement. Let's hope it's a sabbatical and he gets his mojo back, after all he gave us amongst others 'Erin Brokovich', The 'Ocean's' franchise, 'Sex Lies and Videotape', 'Traffic', 'Magic Mike' and the underestimated and ridiculously sexy 'Out of Sight'. If it's a retirement, we're losing a really wonderful and inspired director and for that we who love movies should all feel a great loss. For his grande finale, he has chosen to direct a little gem of a thriller, Side Effects. Jude Law plays Dr Jon Banks a psychiatrist who treats a suicidally depressed woman named Emily Taylor (Rooney Mara) whose husband Martin (Channing Tatum) has just been released from prison after four years for insider trading. Dr Banks is up to his sea green/aqua blue eyeballs in work and takes on a paid role to trial a new anti-depressant ablixa which Emily eventually ends up taking after the incompatibility of other anti-depressants. After a shocking turn of events, Jon finds himself under the magnifying glass and turns to Emily's former psychiatrist Dr Victoria Siebert (a frail looking Catherine Zeta-Jones) for some answers. Emily ends up in court and Jon's ethics are questioned when an incident involving a former female patient is uncovered. Nothing however is quite as it seems and as he digs deeper, Dr Banks uncovers a dark world which threatens to ruin his career and his marriage. Jude Law is very convincing in his portrayal of an initially relaxed professional at the top of his game who slowly unravels as events take over. He is a somewhat overlooked actor, dismissed as a 'pretty boy' but he's very accomplished and without vanity, not a hint of botox or indeed weave in sight, which makes him all the more attractive and I haven't seen a man look as good in a cardi since Daniel Craig in 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', something about English men and woollens evidently...Rooney Mara is also good as the isolated and confused Emily, she's not a million miles away from her role as Lisbeth in the aforementioned movie, but she shows promise, though appears much younger than her character's age of 28. It's refreshing to see the likeable Tatum as something more than beefcake, again, he has a promising career ahead if he sticks to these meatier (pun intended) roles that he seems to be able to cope with. Whilst we're on the subject of Channing, is it just me or does he have a face that is most unusual? It's also a delight to see Catherine Zeta-Jones back on form as the spiky secretive Dr Seiber, though her make up artist would do well to steer clear of the darker lipsticks and Malificent-like eyebrows, we're not in the nineties now and it's quite distracting. It was a thrilling surprise to be transported to a rip roaring thriller, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This wouldn't be a review without a few little gripes though would it? I felt that all of the guilt was unrealistically shifted on Dr Banks, I really don't think, in fact I know that in real life this wouldn't have happened. The series of events wasn't his fault, and his partners turned on him quicker than you can say psychoanalysis. Also, in some nicely played scenes, his marriage is depicted as happy, he's a thoughtful and kind husband and stepfather, a little too hard working and distracted but better that than a jobless loser. I do think Jude Law has, for want of a better analogy mellowed like a fine wine, a very fine wine so I may be biased. Call me old fashioned but when you are lucky, oh so lucky enough to marry a handsome, kind, funny and smart man that fancies the pants off you and loves your son, don't you own him the benefit of the doubt rather than pissing off at the first sign of trouble? If I'd been him, I would have thought twice about whether I would want a faithless wife back after that, maybe pick myself a nice single nurse who shares the same curious phenomenon as he of a right pointed ear to dote on or something..... The message of the film, if there is one seems to be the compulsion that the modern world has on fixing things, the relentless pursuit of happiness which leads to so many anti-depressants being plied onto the masses. Also that if a colleague/partner/loved one messes up or is in trouble, finger point, leave them to flounder and look after yourself without a backward glance, which a jaded cynic may say seems to sum up the twenty first century. Anyway apart from these small issues, it's a great film, exciting and fun with some Hitchcockian twists and turns. It seems that they do make them like they used to, or they did before Mr Soderbergh retired/sabatted. SIDE EFFECTS: The Law of Attraction 7/10

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

In the interest of public disclosure, I feel that I should declare that I find Daniel Craig insanely attractive. I will try to give a professional objective review despite this fact. This is a much more difficult review than I initially anticipated. I will begin by saying that I was a "Larsson virgin" when I saw the first, Swedish version of Dragon Tattoo. I enjoyed it thoroughly and it inspired me to read the trilogy, and watch the subsequent films. There is much controversy about this English language remake. Unfortunately, there will be comparisons throughout this review, due to the fact that the movies were made only two years apart. The plot of the first film is quite a web and very complicated, but I will endeavor to give a brief overview. Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is a disgraced journalist who used to work on an independent magazine' who dished the dirt on a high powered businessman without enough proof. He is hired by multi millionaire Henrik Vanger ( a regal Christopher Plummer) to investigate the death of his niece decades ago under the guise of writing his biography. Lisbeth Salander is the computer hacking genius who was initially hired by Vanger to investigate Blomkvist but then becomes his assistant as the plot thickens and they are drawn into a tale of serial murders and abduction. Compounded by this is the fact that Lisbeth is a ward of the state and classified psychopath and her benevolent ward suffers a stroke, throwing her to the mercy of a new ward, who has no morals whatsoever. So how does this movie stand up to the incredible scrutiny of the original? Very well actually, if not better. "What?!" I hear you shriek in disgust. Yes, you read it right, if not better. David Fincher (Se7en, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Fight Club) is a master story teller, and it shows. The look of it is pristine, from the hard core titles, to the interiors of the rooms, to the bleak Swedish countryside. The editing and script is tight, and the music enhances but never invades. So far so good. The acting is superb. It has to be said that in the Swedish version, apart from the Dragon lady herself, the acting was somewhat wooden. Daniel Craig totally embodies Blomkvist, in the books he's quite the lady's man and is much more believable than Nyqvist in the original. There is also a depth to him and an almost bumbling quality which makes him very human. He also looks hot in glasses and plaid pajamas, but that's beside the point. What of THOSE scenes? If you have read or seen the movie, you will know what I mean, If you don't, you're in for a shock. They are not quite as confronting as the Swedish film, but they still pack a huge punch, as they are intended to. So to the big question. Is Rooney Mara any good as the legendary Lisbeth Salander? Well, she cleverly plays it differently, this is no impersonation of Noomi Rapace. Mara's Salander is far more fragile and androgynous. You have far more sympathy for her, rather than admiration. Lisbeth has been through a huge amount in her life, and her vulnerability along with her courage is palpable. Yes, the ending is different form the original but then that nding was different again from the book, and in a lot of ways this ending is more in tune with the book. Fincher focuses more on relationships and humanity, there is much more from Blomkvist's long term married love and partner in the magazine, played by Robin Wright, in her usual classy style. There is a sadness that envelopes this film and the characters, and I feel that this film benefits from it. It is a stand alone film, thrilling, stylish, very dark and with surprising warmth. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO: It's written in ink, this film will become a permanent classic. 8/10.