On Soderbergh and Side Effects

As a film Side Effects is a very well crafted pharmaceutical thriller, with a slight third act dip that takes the narrative twists one step too far. Contextually, it is more important as Side Effects could potentially be Steven Soderbergh’s last feature length film.

Soderbergh has, since 1989 created a body of films that ranks him as a master of American cinema. The diversity in his films – Sex, Lies and Videotape (1989) Erin Brockovich (2000), Solaris (2002), Magic Mike (2012) – may separate him from auteurs like Scorsese or Malick, but he is undeniably a master of his craft. He has proven himself able to work in any genre and a real actors director, pulling human performances out of actors regardless of the seriousness of the story. Whether it is an utterly convincing Benicio Del Toro in Che Part 1 & 2 or a sympathetic stripper in Magic Mike.

Is Side Effects the film Soderbergh should leave on? It is certainly not his best film, but neither is it in any way superfluous. It is extremely well crafted and directed (as expected) and the story is relevant and gripping, being able to switch sub genres and character focus without losing pace. Admittedly it does lose some of that appeal towards the end, but this doesn’t detract from the overall enjoyment.

Should Soderbergh choose to leave the medium of film he will not solely be remembered for his last film, as his canon of work is too impressive. However, Side Effects will also leave audiences wanting more and welcoming him back anytime he decides to return.