With the actual 2012 nearing, it seems that apocalyptic films are becoming less far-fetched and more relatable, as demonstrated in Soderbergh’s latest. The villain in Contagion is not a Martian, but a rapidly spreading virus, one that will leave any impressionable audience member using Purell religiously for weeks.
Contagion introduces Beth Emhoff (Paltrow) as a suburban wife and mother who keeps up an extramarital affair while on business trips in Asia. None of the rapidly introduced drama of her character comes to its supposed fruition due to a larger factor, a mild–seeming sickness that leads to her untimely death within the first 10 minutes of the film. The remainder of the plot spirals as Beth’s husband Mitch (Damon) is left struggling to protect his daughter from infection in a world turning to anarchy. This personal account parallels the developments of the CDC doctors and investigators looking to control the spread of what turns out to be a deathly contagious pandemic.
With a true ensemble cast, all spectrums of emotional reactions are pictured, creating a hyper–realistic feel to an otherwise exaggerated plot. There is the doctor putting herself in harms way (Winslet), the political blogger and conspiracy theorist set on finding the root of the problem (Law), the government official balancing his family and country (Fishburne), the unassuming researcher risking herself for a cure (Ehle), and the investigator held hostage by a concerned village (Cotillard). The stoicism of each character increases the emotional attachment of the audience as tension builds until the final reactionary release in the film's final moments.
The scattered plotlines that Soderbergh is known for add a constructive chaos to the order of the film and leave the audience with the same horror and tension that is exhibited on screen. Meanwhile, regular transitions and inserted statistics such as the population of every major city infected keep the entire film in the perspective of an international investigation. With just as much mystery as thriller, Soderbergh lures the audience in by keeping viewers as informed as the top investigators, while investing them emotionally with the most torn families. Together, these techniques ground and engage the audience, complimenting the regular transitions that move the plot forward while masterfully avoiding confusion.
Contagion is sure to send any hypochondriac into a state of shock, while satiating the interest of anyone willing to stomach the concept and occasional gruesome images. Keep the soap and latex gloves handy — you won’t want to be shaking hands with strangers after this one.
Stars 4/5 Directed by: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Jude Law, Kate Winslet Rated PG-13, 105 min.
