Contagion

Steven Soderbergh and Scott Z. Burns’ procedural film follows the a deadly outbreak of a disease that travels from human to human, country to country, and threatens to throw the world into panic and anarchy.  The film unfolds as if Robert Altman made a disaster movie; it is filled with many likable actors that, for the most part, do quite a lot with their small roles, but the director keeps them all at an emotional distance from us.  In the case of Contagion, that stylistic choice is quite effective.  Since we don’t really experience the fear, dread, love or compassion of the characters, the only feeling we are really able to access while watching this is one of helplessness.  The film is not as rich or multi-dimensional as Soderbergh’s 2000 Oscar winner Traffic, but it comes across as far more authentic.  It is not a fun night at the movies but it is an effective piece of cinema.  Anyone who is genuinely afraid that it may only be a matter of time before this type of outbreak actually happens should probably skip Contagion, or take the risk of increasing their paranoia.  For those of us who are more concerned with whether or not a film works, Contagion does.