In the fast paced world we live in, where a person can pick up influenza in Beijing, be sick by the time they’re over Europe, and start spreading disease when they get off the plane in New York, it’s nearly impossible to stop a new virus in its tracks. When a newly mutated virus that kills one in four it infects begins breaking out across the globe, the world finds itself in a race against time, or face death tolls in the millions.
This is Contagion, starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Lawrence Fishburn, and several others.
It was…okay.
After the credits rolled, I wasn’t really sure whether I had seen something I liked, or disliked. Essentially, it’s a story about how different people deal with a very dangerous, very contagious virus. It spreads by touch, and proves fatal to a huge majority of the people it infects.
Matt Damon is a father whose wife is one of the first to be infected and start spreading this disease.
Jude Law is a conspiracy theorist who believe the virus is manufactured and being used as an excuse to allow governments to make money.
Lawrence Fishburn is one of the top dogs at the CDC (Centre for Disease Control) and tries to implement strategies and controls to stem the flow of the virus.
There are others on top of that, but you get the idea.
It’s a good story, very realistic, and although it’s slowly paced it isn’t boring. The movie uses a lot of real-world events like SARS and Swine Flu as reference points, with a solid shake of technical jargon for good measure. It really adds to the tone of the film, which is quite bleak and desperate.
It certainly puts the reality of dealing with a contagious epidemic in perspective.
But, my big issue is that I felt like most of the characters didn’t develop very far, or get very thorough conclusions. There are a LOT of characters, so I understand why this turned out the way it did, and in hindsight everything seemed like it had a place and importance to the storyline.
Overall:
6/10
The Pros: Excellent pacing, consistent tone and theme, I liked the sub-plots and characters, it’s all good.
The Bad: I’m just left a little vacant afterwards. I feel like the ending was lacking. Plus, after the half-way mark, it felt like they were just pushing the movie along. Problems from earlier in the film suddenly weren’t such big problems later on.
Should you see it?
Nope. I really won’t recommend this one. I don’t think the film had an overarching message that everyone needs to see to realize. If you’re intrigued by it, by all means see it. It’s certainly a smarter film that some I’ve seen lately, but this wasn’t a film I’ll ever think back upon and say “They did that really well.”
But, my big issue is that I felt like most of the characters didn’t develop very far, or get very thorough conclusions. There are a LOT of characters, so I understand why this turned out the way it did, and in hindsight everything seemed like it had a place and importance to the storyline.
Overall:
6/10
The Pros: Excellent pacing, consistent tone and theme, I liked the sub-plots and characters, it’s all good.
The Bad: I’m just left a little vacant afterwards. I feel like the ending was lacking. Plus, after the half-way mark, it felt like they were just pushing the movie along. Problems from earlier in the film suddenly weren’t such big problems later on.
Should you see it?
Nope. I really won’t recommend this one. I don’t think the film had an overarching message that everyone needs to see to realize. If you’re intrigued by it, by all means see it. It’s certainly a smarter film that some I’ve seen lately, but this wasn’t a film I’ll ever think back upon and say “They did that really well.”
In summary, it's like watching an hour and a half long video about the benefits of washing your hands.
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