Side Effects (2013)
Steven Soderbergh, the director who specializes in unsettling movies, adds another fitting film to his collection with the heavy drama Side Effects. There’s a very specific group of people who shouldn’t watch this movie, lest they be scarred forever: Channing Tatum fans. Yes, you’ll be tempted to watch every movie he’s ever made, and you’ll be excited to see him show off his acting chops in a drama, but trust me. I love him just as much as you do, and I’m terribly sorry I watched this movie.
Rooney Mara is the luckiest lady alive but doesn’t know it. She’s married to Channing Tatum, but for reasons unknown to her or the audience, she’s enormously depressed. She’s unhappy in her life, can’t enjoy herself in bed, and is suicidal. What’s a girl to do—maybe try therapy? Well, her psychiatrist Jude Law doesn’t know what to do with her either, so he prescribes some unapproved pills. They just might have some pretty nasty side effects.
I’m not a Rooney Mara fan, and this film did nothing to raise my opinion of her. I don’t think she’s a very good actress, and her character in this film is so despicable, I doubt if I’ll ever see her in another light. Catherine Zeta-Jones plays another psychiatrist, but she isn’t very convincing in all the aspects of her character. Donning glasses and a bun doesn’t necessarily make someone look smarter.
Side Effects is extremely upsetting to watch, unless you dislike Channing Tatum, in which case you probably have bad taste and stand a chance at enjoying this movie. I saw this film with my brother, a Steven Soderbergh fan because of Traffic, and he didn’t even like it. From a man’s point of view, he also found it unsettling because of Rooney Mara’s character.
Kiddy warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to violence and sex scenes, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
More Jude Law movies here!
More Catherine Zeta-Jones movies here!
Rooney Mara is the luckiest lady alive but doesn’t know it. She’s married to Channing Tatum, but for reasons unknown to her or the audience, she’s enormously depressed. She’s unhappy in her life, can’t enjoy herself in bed, and is suicidal. What’s a girl to do—maybe try therapy? Well, her psychiatrist Jude Law doesn’t know what to do with her either, so he prescribes some unapproved pills. They just might have some pretty nasty side effects.
I’m not a Rooney Mara fan, and this film did nothing to raise my opinion of her. I don’t think she’s a very good actress, and her character in this film is so despicable, I doubt if I’ll ever see her in another light. Catherine Zeta-Jones plays another psychiatrist, but she isn’t very convincing in all the aspects of her character. Donning glasses and a bun doesn’t necessarily make someone look smarter.
Side Effects is extremely upsetting to watch, unless you dislike Channing Tatum, in which case you probably have bad taste and stand a chance at enjoying this movie. I saw this film with my brother, a Steven Soderbergh fan because of Traffic, and he didn’t even like it. From a man’s point of view, he also found it unsettling because of Rooney Mara’s character.
Kiddy warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to violence and sex scenes, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
More Jude Law movies here!
More Catherine Zeta-Jones movies here!