I usually don’t like those films that feature a huge ensemble cast – a la Valentine’s Day and New Years Eve (the latter of which seemingly features half of Hollywood). In Contagion, we have a film driven by a large ensemble cast, but is entirely different from the two aforementioned movies. I need to start by saying I am fairly neutral in the world of Man vs. Germ. I take one shower a day and wash my hands at all the key moments (such as before meals and after restroom stops). For the most part, I rely on @JennieBFit to tell me when I need some Purell hand sanitizer.
I do however have two friends – Coach and Chew – who are disciples of the David Puddy School of Germ Phobia complete with germ pendant dangling from the neck. If you fall into this segment of the population, Contagion is a film you must avoid. Like Paranormal Activity is to teenage kids (and my buddy Jeff), and Sex and the City 2 is to most men, Contagion will scare the heck out of those who fear a simple handshake or a game of Beer Pong.
A film that features a pandemic disease as its lead, is probably not the easiest sell - although Outbreak was fairly entertaining. But the film does a nice job of showing the global interconnectivity that exists and how easily a virus can travel across boarders. It also pokes a bit of fun at conspiracy theorists that constantly clamor against government agencies and their suspected top-secret machinations (including yours truly who still has some reservations about the first lunar landing).
I can’t say that I enjoyed the movie (I don’t know that one is supposed to enjoy it), but I was very interested in following it to its conclusion. The film does not always visually capture the magnitude of what is occurring in the context of the plot, but there are some great performances that ground all the gravitas in reality. Kate Winslet, Matt Damon, and Jennifer Ehle blended perfectly into their roles, while Bryan Cranston, Marion Cotillard, Elliot Gould, and Lawrence Fishburne deliver solid performances. Ultimately, it is the cast that differentiates this film from other ensemble vehicles, because in such films actors often are left to play caricatures – most likely the result of limited screen time. The only person of significance in Contagion who falls into this trap is the highly overrated Jude Law.
The movie is worth renting, just not on a date night, when you’re under the weather, or if you are in a good mood. When you do watch it, be sure to keep the hand sanitizer nearby and reserves of soap on hand. I guarantee you that by the end of the film you will start counting the number of times you touch your face in an hour. Germophobes, you have been warned.
Standout Performance: Matt Damon and Kate Winslet are particularly good.
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