I am ready for the weekend.
What's up? It's been a long week. I don't know exactly what did it, but I'm spent after the work week. Maybe it's the weather; it's so hard to get up in the morning when it's this dark out. Fall just peeks around the corner and suddenly there's no sun from 8pm to 7am. Not even October and already the ratio is dangerously close to more night than day. I've got to stay alert and ambitious if I'm to avoid a malaise.
So I took in a movie with my better half. Been a while since that's happened. I love horror flicks, she loves documentaries. While it would seem like there's little overlap, we find a common bond in the micro genre of outbreak/virus movies. I have no idea why but she gets such a thrill from society's collapse at the hands of a deadly disease. Okay, maybe I totally get it. Either way, we had a mini date night and saw Steven Soderbergh's latest offering: Contagion. It was...interesting. We might have done better taking in some popcorn flair, but it was thought provoking.
Allow me to clarify. Contagion was a well made, sobering hypothesis of what could certainly happen in the face of an unprecedented viral outbreak on a global scale. It has a cast littered with Academy Awards, from Matt Damon to Marion Cottilard to Jude Law. It has a scientifically plausible basis in reality. It also makes for a depressing Friday night, if I do say so. To summarize what trailers can break down in digestible fashion, Gwyneth Paltrow dies in the first ten minutes. I'm okay with that. She serves as a Typhoid Mary for an unidentified virus that spreads rapidly and has a high fatality rate. The CDC beings piecing things together, but not fast enough, sadly. Before the end of the movie you witness a steady and relentless breakdown of society. People's worst fears begin to come true as millions drop off, the government soon resorting to quarantines and mass graves. People panic, rioting and looting become the norm, social norms are abandoned. It's intense and unpleasant in every way possible.
It's also a very well made film. Soderbergh has a steady and static approach that establishes scenes as reality. The writing is grounded and based in truth. Easily the best aspect to the film, though, is the cast. A number of top stars turn in great performances. Jude Law is wonderfully unbearable as a blogger who's reputation goes to his head. Matt Damon is a believable family man. Kate Winslet is passionate and throws herself into her role as a woman devoted to her career - made all the more impressive knowing her entire performance for the movie was shot in just ten days. Of particular note was Laurence Fishburne, who turns in a performance of strength and humanity I'd not seen of his previously. His role as a high ranking member of the Department of Homeland Security. He's tops in the film, a real notable performance.
As good as the movie is, there are flaws. Dramatic beats are lost to a bigger picture. Some massive gaps in logic persist. Hey, some of the riots and public reaction to the government's actions would (sadly) involve more of the (ugh) Tea Party than the movie depicted. It's not much of a fun Friday night; I came away from it thinking I need a conceal and carry permit and a better dry storage room. It might not be Soderbergh at the height of his game, but it's still a fascinating watch. Maybe you check it out on a more low key night. Just cover your mouth if you have to cough.
What's up? It's been a long week. I don't know exactly what did it, but I'm spent after the work week. Maybe it's the weather; it's so hard to get up in the morning when it's this dark out. Fall just peeks around the corner and suddenly there's no sun from 8pm to 7am. Not even October and already the ratio is dangerously close to more night than day. I've got to stay alert and ambitious if I'm to avoid a malaise.
So I took in a movie with my better half. Been a while since that's happened. I love horror flicks, she loves documentaries. While it would seem like there's little overlap, we find a common bond in the micro genre of outbreak/virus movies. I have no idea why but she gets such a thrill from society's collapse at the hands of a deadly disease. Okay, maybe I totally get it. Either way, we had a mini date night and saw Steven Soderbergh's latest offering: Contagion. It was...interesting. We might have done better taking in some popcorn flair, but it was thought provoking.
