Contagion

Contagion is a tightly knit film that successfully intertwines multiple story lines involving a rapidly spreading pandemic. The story takes you everywhere from Atlanta to Hong Kong, and features 37% of all the A-list actors on the planet.

The movie starts with Gwyneth Paltrow contracting the disease while visiting Hong Kong. She unwittingly brings it back to Minnesota, and is dead within days. Luckily, her husband Matt Damon is immune to the disease and we’re able to see the chaos through his eyes. I liked his story the most because his character is allowed to travel freely throughout the chaos ridden world.

The rest of the movie follows Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Brian Cranston, Elliot Gould and Enrico Colantoni as they search for a cure, or try to slow down the spreading of the pandemic.

Director Steven Soderbergh is a master of the ensemble cast. He’s conquered the heist film (Ocean’s 11) and brought every walk of life together for Traffic. In less capable hands, this could have been a detached debacle of wandering celebrities spouting scientific dialogue or preaching about what humanity should do in a crisis.

I like Contagion because It has a detached nature that looks at an immense crisis with calm and intelligent eyes. If you like 37% of all the A-listers using big words, you will appreciate this film.

Check out John’s review here.