Contagion is not your typical outbreak-type movie and I'm glad. Contagion is a thriller with all-star cast about a deadly virus that kills within days, about those struggling to survive, and the ones combating the disease.
Some people looked at the previews and thought, this film looks like Outbreak. Outbreak was more of a thriller action piece where Contagion is a thriller drama and is more character focused. Among the characters are everyday man, Mitch Emhoff (Matt Damon) whose wife is one of the early victims from the disease. Dr. Ellis Cheever (Laurence Fishburne), who directs the battle against the virus from the Center of Disease Control in Atlanta. Field agent Dr. Erin Mears (Kate Winslet), combating the disease from the front lines. Dr. Ally Hextall (Jennifer Ehle), trying to find a cure in the lab.
The one problem with having so many actors in a film is not all of them will get enough screen time and some characters might be more interesting than other. Some characters may even detract from the story. There are many characters in this film but if there is anyone that masters multiple character stories, it's Stephen Soderbergh. Stephen Soderbergh brought us Traffic and Ocean's Eleven (those happen to be the last films he's made that have stuck with me after viewing). The screen time with the characters in Contagion might be a little limited, but every character has depth to them because of the flaws that they have (and it helps to have an Oscar-nominated actor portraying them).
Contagion is a haunting film. It's a realistic and unnerving look at contagious deadly virus. And at one point it almost seemed apocalyptic. For the impressionable mind, it can probably leave you a little paranoid and a little scared to touch anything without a glove. It's best not to worry about such things. People interact with other people everyday. As far as I know, a deadly virus doesn't break out everyday.
You'll probably enjoy this film if:
1. You like character dramas.
2. You like Stephen Soderbergh films.
You probably won't like this film if:
1. You're expecting something like Outbreak.
2. You find it hard to follow multiple characters.
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