My first officiall 2013 film…. Side Effects.
This movie twists and turns at such a rate that careful attention to all the details is a must, lest you miss the “how” or the “when” by the “who” of the “what.” What I thought going in based on the trailer was debunked. What I thought later as the movie began to piece together the story was debunked. And what I thought going into the home stretch, well, as you can imagine—-it was debunked.
Jude Law was great and had me interested, invested, and intrigued. Catherine Zeta-Jones, though, rarely to me anymore seems to stretch herself to be someone else. I am not familiar with Rooney Mara, but I appreciated what she brought to the screen. Channing Tatum, alas, was more of a prop. (I’m not sure if that was due to his role or his acting.)
In it all, I thought the story was smart and interesting. In this day when it seems too many mysteries are too predictable, this one holds back just enough—-to deliver just enough as needed. And even if you hate the players, this portrays the game in a way you still must cheer for one. I suppose this means that it’s not as much about the law and ethics as it is about revenge and, more pointedly, those “just desserts.”