Contagion (2011) [Steven Soderbergh]

Contagion

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh

Written by: Scott Z. Burns

Starring: Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Bryan Cranston

Score by: Cliff Martinez

Release:

2011.09.09 - US Theatrical

2012.01.03 - US DVD/Blu-Ray

Plot: Contagion begins with the sound of a cough, and text on the screen that says Day 2. The cough belongs to Gwyneth Paltrow, and in a brief exchange we find out she had an affair while in Hong Kong for business. Several characters from around the world are seen, all of whom are in various stages of illness, including death.

We continue to jump from place to place at the days progress, including the CDC, a newsroom at a newspaper and finally, exactly 10 minutes after that first fateful cough is the conclusion of the scene where Matt Damon learns that his wife, Gwyneth Paltrow has died mysteriously after he brings her to the emergency room while she suffers a seizure and foaming at the mouth.

My thoughts: I enjoyed the quick pace of the film so far. Given the fact I already knew what the film was about (and who wouldn't, given it's title), it's nice that it moved straight into the story.

It has a typical Soderbergh feel, with naturalistic dialogue and cinematography (handled, as usual, by Soderbergh himself.

It is kind of hilarious that Paltrow dies in the first 10 minutes. I guess they didn't have to make too difficult a decision when deciding what picture of her to put on the box. I'm curious, after seeing that Scott Z. Burns is the writer on this, why they couldn't maintain this disjointed, multi-character/multi-group arc style of storytelling for World War Z.

Verdict: Will definitely be watching, ASAP.