Unlike most films this year Contagion brings an almost cautionary tale of what fear can really do to people at the worst of times. Following several people's lives other a course of time as a deadly virus begins to spread across the planet ranging from America to Hong Kong and everywhere between, while some use it as a way to make money, others are frantically trying to find a cure and everyone else is about to get caught up in a wave of panic that has an effect in society similar to the damage of it's corresponding virus. As fear ripples across the world things begin to crumble leaving those in charge the task of finding a cure before time runs out.
No one actor holds up the torch as a protagonist yet out of the roster of big names and screen time the emotional story comes from Matt Damon's character (Mitch Emhoff) who loses both wife(Gwyneth Paltrow) and step son as the virus kicks off and finds desperation in making sure his daughter is safe, and as far as emotion goes most of it in Contagion is brought to light by Matt. Laurence Fishburne (Dr Elliott Cheeves) works for the center of disease control in America who is thrown head first into the situation as the government suspect the virus is a bio-weapon, he plays the character with the serious and official like qualities to make his character believable. He's also responsible for sending Kate Winslett (Dr Erin Mears) to find out for herself about the virus in it's capabilities, effect and origins, though the character fits it's essentially just to add another officials view but her time on screen is fairly short for a big name(The same goes for Marion Collitard who's role is so unneeded i'll just put note her appearance here) The last big name comes in the form of Jude Law (Alan Krumwiede) a journalist who ends up making a name for himself and profiting from information on the virus, other than the strange Australian accent his character other than Matt Damon's is the only character who's story really has a focus and drive.
This film in itself is rather a strange one, it plays out looking at people's lives as a disastrous event occurs and begins to cripple humanity, you can imagine seeing a documentary/re-imaging like this if something similar ever did happen. Which is why it feels to odd to watch as it you have that uncomfortable sense as if you were watching these events unfold as if real, which in a way credits those behind it. It does feel exactly right for the outbreak idea and how easily panic can spread, however for entertainment values apart from the occasionally up beat moments of salvation, the film holds a large amount of darker tones and highlights the idea of fear gripping peoples lives and throwing them upside down not really portraying things in a great light. If your in it for the big named starts and want a good flick with some real entertainment and value i'd say probably not the best choice of film, but if your after an intriguing story and a not to well versed film territory give it a shot.
6 / 10
FIN.
No one actor holds up the torch as a protagonist yet out of the roster of big names and screen time the emotional story comes from Matt Damon's character (Mitch Emhoff) who loses both wife(Gwyneth Paltrow) and step son as the virus kicks off and finds desperation in making sure his daughter is safe, and as far as emotion goes most of it in Contagion is brought to light by Matt. Laurence Fishburne (Dr Elliott Cheeves) works for the center of disease control in America who is thrown head first into the situation as the government suspect the virus is a bio-weapon, he plays the character with the serious and official like qualities to make his character believable. He's also responsible for sending Kate Winslett (Dr Erin Mears) to find out for herself about the virus in it's capabilities, effect and origins, though the character fits it's essentially just to add another officials view but her time on screen is fairly short for a big name(The same goes for Marion Collitard who's role is so unneeded i'll just put note her appearance here) The last big name comes in the form of Jude Law (Alan Krumwiede) a journalist who ends up making a name for himself and profiting from information on the virus, other than the strange Australian accent his character other than Matt Damon's is the only character who's story really has a focus and drive.
This film in itself is rather a strange one, it plays out looking at people's lives as a disastrous event occurs and begins to cripple humanity, you can imagine seeing a documentary/re-imaging like this if something similar ever did happen. Which is why it feels to odd to watch as it you have that uncomfortable sense as if you were watching these events unfold as if real, which in a way credits those behind it. It does feel exactly right for the outbreak idea and how easily panic can spread, however for entertainment values apart from the occasionally up beat moments of salvation, the film holds a large amount of darker tones and highlights the idea of fear gripping peoples lives and throwing them upside down not really portraying things in a great light. If your in it for the big named starts and want a good flick with some real entertainment and value i'd say probably not the best choice of film, but if your after an intriguing story and a not to well versed film territory give it a shot.
6 / 10
FIN.
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