Release Date: Feb 08, 2013
Runtime: 1 hr. 45 min.
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Channing Tatum.
The rules to a psychological thriller are discerningly simple: keep the mind engaged and the suspense on high. Some 'side effects' may include excessive thinking, feelings of disillusionment, or an accelerated heart rate. At least, that's the intention of Soderbergh's latest endeavor, a poignant braintwister and allegedly last, directorial feature. While finales are generally extravagant by any means necessary, his inclination towards subtlety is anything but that. Starring Jude Law and Rooney Mara in dramatically-charged performances, "Side Effects" delves deep into the extremities of doctor and patient relations. Much like "Contagion," the film thrives on self-inflicted paranoia, shifting its focus to the often controversial pharma industry where risks are neglected. Here, Mara as the drug-induced Emily Taylor plays victimization at its best, and she does it so effortlessly in her state of delusion. Law, correspondingly, is just as effectual, earning empathy in his role of misinterpreted guidance. But in spite of the perplexities that shroud the elusive plot line, the tension feels flaccid once the twist is ultimately revealed. It may be due to the pace that inadvertently dulls it down, as it's certainly not predictable at any given moment. Even so, Soderbergh still administers another thriller that leaves a lingering numbness. If what he says is true, the effect may be permanent.
Rating: 3½ stars
Release Date: Feb 01, 2013
Runtime: 1 hr. 38 min.
Director: Jonathan Levine
Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry, John Malkovich, Dave Franco.
Boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, boy comes back to life. In a bizarre twist on a traditional love story, "Warm Bodies" is not your typical zombie movie. But then again, this is not your typical zombie. Based on the creatively-infused novel by Isaac Marion, comes a reimagined apocalypse that is far from dreary. Nicholas Hoult plays "R," a recluse residing amongst the fellow undead in an abandoned airport. After a routine trip to the city to feed on the living, he meets Julie, a strong-willed girl with a loaded gun, and is instantly enamored. As oddities would have it, R gradually starts to transform in ways assumed impossible and in return, offers a quirky introspection from the view of the undead. For a film that heavily involves a lot of grunting and inner narratives, it's endearingly funny when it needs to be. Hoult as the awkward teenager, and a dead one at that, is charmingly sincere in his attempts at affection, and oftentimes it's his vacant gestures that speak louder than words. Similarly, Rob Corddry gets a lot of comedic attention with his one or two-worded phrases, spoken as whispers but effective nonetheless. While books usually have the upper-hand in thoroughly cultivating a story, Levine does a balanced job in translating to film. The steady insight of R and his portrayal of humanity are what really bring a fresh approach to a tired genre, giving depth to something so unexpectedly new. In a way, this may be a drawback for those who are gung-ho about flesh-eating zombies, as there is some but not a whole lot of rigorous feeding. In addition, it's not like "Zombieland" as many perceive it to be, less focused on action-comedy than it is on romance. Regardless, "Warm Bodies" finds a happy medium between the two, comfortably funny and heart-warming as well. Though we've had our share of vampires and werewolves pining for love, it's the lone zombie that determinedly trumps them all. Go figure.
Rating: 4 stars
