Jude Law and Catherine Zeta-Jone in “Side Effects

SIDE EFFECTS (***)

After tackling the possibility of a global spreading, contaminating virus in “Contagion”, director Steven Soderbergh and writer Scott Z. Burns starts out taking on another phobic concern. But then shifts itself into a twisty murder mystery melodrama that takes away some of the social sting that was achieved over the virus epidemic.

For part of this film, we are a dependent society of pill poppers for any sign of instability to our mind and/or body. Representing this notion, Rooney Mara plays Emily Taylor, a woman with a mounting anxiety problem over the release of her imprisoned husband, Martin (Channing Tatum) who served four years for “insider trading”.

On the first night of his release, the couple had sex in bed; Emily’s facial reactions indicated she wasn’t into the moment as her husband. But she felt the pressure of being the couple’s only employed provider between them.

To this point after work in the public garage, Emily tries to commit suicide by purposely driving her car into the wall. The incident results in Emily becoming a head trauma patient to psychiatrist Dr. Jonathan Banks (Jude Law) who begins therapy sessions three times a week. And naturally, the doctor offers a prescription that begins Emily’s drug cycle to initially control her depression.

Dr. Banks learns her issues with depression were first diagnosed by her former psychiatrist, Dr. Erica Siebert (Catherine Zeta Jones) that he meets with for consultation and further insight into Emily’s history and learned Dr. Siebert suggested the medication known as Zoloft that was short-lived.

Later Emily reluctantly goes to a social party with Martin who is trying to re-establish his connections. Prior, Martin told his wife of his plan to begin a new business venture with another former inmate that would correct his past mistakes.

While Dr. Banks joined by other physicians has a lunch meeting with a pharmaceutical  company representative who gains Banks’ support to be paid for testing their latest drug on his patients.

Now with a thriving practice and the additional income from this drug company, Dr. Banks and his recently unemployed wife can manage their fiancial affair for their family.

Then during another session with Emily discloses to Dr. Banks her displeasure over her current medication.  Banks decides to offer her the experimental drug called “abliva”. But the new drug delivers a calming effect but with an alternative outcome noticed by Martin. In which Emily is sleepwalking during a kitchen chore.

Now Emily is facing a murder charge for apparently what the drug made her do. But a greater concern grows beyond whether or not Emily is a murderer.  Could the physician be held responsible and be targeted for a medical lawsuit for his prescription.

This angle in the film is every doctor’s nightmare. And in some case, why man doctors fail to do enough for their patients out of fear that something they do or recommendation  could lead to a malpractice suit.

It’s also mentioned early on in the film that Dr. Banks had a previous incident, in which he was accused of sexually assaulting a patient during his residence.

But meanwhile in court, a plea bargain is made that Emily is sent for a lengthy evaluation treatment at a mental institution that would be based on Dr. Banks’ findings that would help avoid jail time and proclaim her innocent.

Then Dr. Banks begins to wise up when he’s notified about a letter from his residence that could damage his career and cause his wife to walk out on him that leads Dr. Banks to travel to Virginia to meet with Dr. Siebert for some information that later would bring into play whether or not Emily was sane or not in committing murder or a crime of passion?

Director Steven Soderbergh delivers a crafty melodrama emerging from a topical issue on the medical profession and the drug manufacturers that makes these designer drugs we get TV ads that mention their effectiveness along with potential ill effects from their usage that should give moviegoers some moment to pause like they did over Soderbergh’s “Contagion”.

Easily, “Side Effects” starts out as a thought provoking, part- cautionary tale like “Contagion” that takes a few pot shots at money hungry pharmaceutical companies. But this is a movie that goes one step further.

Soderbergh’s”Side Effects” delivers its own potency, being topical enough to leave its story into the drama with an edge that manages to show concern within the text of a compelling and evolving situation with its share of twists and turns that intrigues as much as this movie fascinates into an ingenious psychological thriller.

R; 106min. An Open Road Pictures release – Presented at selected theaters