Contagion (2011)
Certified: PG
Duration: 106 minutes
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Enrico Colantoni, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Ehle, Sanaa Lathan
KRS release
Steven Soderbergh brings an all star cast and a perfectly cold clinical approach to his latest film. Very realistic and detailed, Contagion lacks soul but more than makes up for it through its approach. This film is much more terror-inducing than any hack and slash film around, as the events could perhaps happen for real. This is Mr Soderbergh’s version of the Irwin Allen disaster movies but here he concentrates on bringing a realistic vision rather than one of death-defying spectacle.
Contagion kicks off on “Day 2” of a spread of a global pandemic that soon brings all the world’s nations to their knees. The film follows a series of individuals in varying sections of society and their reactions, roles, relationships and the changes they go through as they try to survive in a world in turmoil.
The virus kicks off in Asia and is brought to the US, with business executive Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow) being the prime carrier. Soon Thomas, her husband (Matt Damon) is quarantined while the virus in Asia starts spreading quickly. The outbreak spreads fast with every touch, sneeze, kiss and hug etc and Dr Ellis Cheever (Laurence Fishburne) who heads the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention tries to get a feel for this virus. He sends Dr Ellen Mears (Kate Winslet) into the field while he gets researcher Ally Hextrall (Jennifer Ehle) to work on the virus. On one occasion he divulges information to his fiancé (Sanaa Lathan) which results in the spreading of nationwide panic. Meanwhile, French scientist Dr Leonora Orantes (Marion Cotillard) is in Asia on behalf of the World Health Organisation to track the origin of the virus. She is kidnapped and held as ransom for a vaccine to the virus.
Meanwhile, Alan Krumwiede (Jude Law), a conspiracy theory internet blogger, starts spreading his own version of the news and his site rises from two to 12 million hits. He is soon in business as he uncovers insider information to delve into which companies will profit from the pandemic.
Viewers can never be sure who’s the next in line to be afflicted by the virus. The glamorous Gwyneth Paltrow is disposed of unceremoniously while Marion Cotillard seems to be reprising her serene screen presence from Inception. Laurence Fishburne brings gravitas to the film but it was with Matt Damon that I most connected with. His plight is an everyman’s plight, a father looking out for his daughter before himself.
It is through Jude Law’s character, the unscrupulous internet blogger, that the director really cuts deep into our senses.
The film gives us scenes of rioting, looting, schools being evacuated and deaths and yet we are never given the chance to feel sorry for the disposable humans as the film bulldozes over emotions and focuses on delivering a message. Compared to the disaster movies of volcanoes erupting and upturned cruise liners, Contagion’s scenario in this one world village that we seem to live in presents us with a much more terrifying experience.