Unsane

The opening moments of Steven Soderbergh's Unsane provides an unsettling narration, one that waxes poetic over how the narrator adores Sawyer Valenti (Claire Foy) with all their heart and soul. In a different context, this would be viewed as a grand declaration of love. But this declaration is coming from her stalker.

Now settled in a new city, Sawyer tries to restore the fragmented parts of her life. In doing so, she finds a place nearby to get therapy where she unwittingly consents to be hospitalized. What horrors await Sawyer in the psych ward?

Thankfully Soderbergh's plans for retirement fell to the wayside as quickly they were announced, and cinema would've suffered considerably from his absence. Since his debut with sex, lies and videotapes back in 1989, he's been a consistent storyteller through various genres. And if we're lucky, his actual retirement will not be for a long time.

Now Foy has yet to break it big in films (though she's had immense success starring on The Crown) but hopefully casting directors will remember her work in Unsane for future reference. In stark contrast to playing Queen Elizabeth II, her Sawyer is regularly on pins and needles in her effort to be in control. But will she be able to carry on a normal life?

Unsane has a sense of unease that's reminiscent of Shock Corridor (another psych ward-set film), where it feels like the protagonist may very well go mad before they're believed. Yet the viewer will find themselves rooting for the hero even if the latter isn't particularly likable (some might see Sawyer as such). And Soderbergh and Foy ensure such a reaction.

My Rating: ****1/2

The Informant!

Steven Soderbergh's The Informant! is decidedly different from other films of a similar nature like Michael Clayton and A Few Good Men. Sure, it looks like them but its mood is clearly more upbeat as the film wears on. Granted, in a dark way but still.

Indeed, the film is based on real events but it's not your average ripped from the headlines story. As the details begin to unfold, it becomes less about the crime a corporation is committing and more about the erratic behavior of the man trying to expose it. It swiftly becomes something that sounds like it's straight out of the tabloids.

The man in question is Mark Whitacre, played here by Matt Damon. He's a man who lives a rather regular life: good job, steady marriage, things like that. But as his involvement in trying to expose the scam further, it's clear that there's more to Mark than he's letting on. And Damon gives a performance with an air of odd curiosity.

There's an element in The Informant! that at first glance makes very little sense. The incoherent narration makes the viewer wonder why it's even there in the first place. But then there's a solid explanation much later on, and everything just clicks. It's a small detail but an effective one in Soderbergh's hands.

The Informant! is a mature comedy, something not frequently seen nowadays. (And considering the many comedic actors amongst the supporting cast, that's saying something.) And knowing how bleak Soderbergh's other films can get, it's nice to see something with some humor.

My Rating: ****1/2

The Limey

"You tell him...you tell him I'm coming. Tell him I'm fuckin' coming!" This threat from Wilson (Terence Stamp) pretty much sets the mood for Steven Soderbergh's The Limey. And boy, the film is a hell of a doozy too.

How so? Well, for starters, the film isn't exactly told in proper order. By that, I mean the editing by Sarah Flack presents the film in a different way than you would expect with the standard film. (Okay, not in the same way as, say, Memento.)

I'm not overly familiar with Soderbergh's films but I know what his style is like. (One thing I know of is that he's fond of yellow and blue lighting.) Anyway, his style is very much all over The Limey.

There's also something very subtle in The Limey that I really liked. Pay attention to the flashback scenes. Those are actually scenes from a film of Stamp's from way back when. It's a nice touch by Soderbergh.

The Limey isn't my favorite of Soderbergh's films I've seen, but I did very much like it. The best parts were definitely Stamp and Peter Fonda. So if you're a fan of Soderbergh or you want a throwback to films of the 1960s, The Limey is for you.

My Rating: ****

Magic Mike

This must have had a number of people going, "What?" Steven Soderbergh, the man responsible for Traffic and Sex, Lies and Videotape, would be making a film revolving around...um, male strippers. It sounds like an extremely strange idea yet it somehow works.

With a concept like that, Magic Mike could have fallen flat on its face at any point. But I think because Soderbergh was the director, he made sure such a thing doesn't happen. (Otherwise it probably would've ended up like Showgirls or something.)

If you're wondering what I thought about the men shown, I did like what I saw. That said, I wasn't that attracted to them all. (I'll take a man in a well-tailored suit over a shirtless man with a six-pack any day.)

Before I deviate any further from this review, I should probably talk about some of the actors. (And I don't mean their bodies.) It shouldn't come as a surprise now that Matthew McConaughey is the MVP among them. (Finally! He's in a film where being constantly shirtless is relevant to the plot.)

Anyway, I was...amused by Magic Mike. The plot loses its way frequently but it's still an amusing watch. Not sure if Soderbergh was trying to do the film along the lines of Boogie Nights or not, but it sure felt like it. Basically, ladies (or guys), if you want some eye candy, this is the film for you.

My Rating: ****

Side Effects

Sad. Quiet. Anxious. These are a few words that could easily describe Emily Taylor (Rooney Mara) upon first seeing her in Steven Soderbergh's Side Effects. Those moods could be explained by her husband Martin (Channing Tatum) being released from prison, but there might be something more deep-rooted.

At least that's what her psychiatrist Jonathan Banks (Jude Law) thinks. He sees Emily as initially as a woman on the verge of self-destruction. (After all, they first meet after Emily tried to kill herself.) It's not until much later on that he finds out what she's capable of.

Mara is absolutely great here. It takes real skill for an actor to switch emotions in the blink of an eye. Mara does that very thing here and boy, is she good at it. I can tell her Hollywood career will be long and plentiful.

I can't go on without talking about Law's work. Possibly one of the more underappreciated actors working today, Law showcases that he's more than just a pretty face. You can just see how horrified he slowly becomes as the film progresses. (Seriously, how does he not have better roles now?)

Side Effects is really great. Just when you think you've gotten everything, it pulls a new stunt. It's practically a shame that Soderbergh is retiring. He definitely has a few more films in him. (Oh, and Catherine Zeta-Jones is all sorts of bewitching femme fatale material.)

My Rating: ****1/2

Sex, Lies, and Videotape

As Ann (Andie MacDowell) talks to her therapist about her lack of interest in sex during the opening moments of Steven Soderbergh's Sex, Lies, and Videotape, her husband John (Peter Gallagher) has a rendezvous with her sister Cynthia (Laura San Giacomo). This scene captures what the film wants to portray: how sex affects people differently.

Enter Graham (James Spader), John's friend. He reveals to Ann that he's impotent, which intrigues her. Here is someone she barely knows and he tells her something deeply personal. Is it possible that he's somewhat attracted to her?

Graham also reveals to Ann that he's working on a video project featuring women talking about their intimate secrets. Is there a reason for this project? Is it so Graham could get off on them or is it for some other personal reason? In a way, it makes Graham all the more curious to watch and try to understand.

The way Spader plays Graham is truly something. He shows Graham as merely a quiet person when in the company of other people but when he's alone, Graham is a deeply troubled man. The look of sadness on his face as he watches Cynthia's tape is striking. It's as if he wants to be attracted to her and other women, but he can't physically show it.

Soderbergh provides a very mature examination of a mature subject. All of the actors, especially Spader, play their parts very well. Sex, Lies, and Videotape is dubbed the driving force behind independent film's popularity and honestly, I can see why.

My Rating: *****

Haywire

I have mixed feelings towards Steven Soderbergh. On the one hand, I was very much impressed by Traffic (though it rubbed me the wrong way in parts). On the other hand, Contagion, which was more than effective in the first two acts, completely fell apart in the third act. (And don't get me started on that ending. Ugh.)

His newest movie Haywire falls somewhere in between those two. It possesses a plot where government conspiracy and covering the truth are involved. However, Soderbergh doesn't focus on those topics of interest long enough. It appears he's much more interested in guns going off and necks being damn near broken.

Of the three Soderbergh movies I saw, it's clear he likes working with an ensemble. Many of the actors he has worked with range from popular stars to award winners. The cast for the mostly male-dominant Haywire includes Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Bill Paxton and Michael Fassbender.

The star is Gina Carano, who is nothing more than a plot device. Indeed she kicks serious ass, but she isn't given much else to do. Then again, that is usually the case with most action movie leads.

All in all, Haywire is an okay movie. My opinion would probably be different had it been a little longer. The performances sans Carano and Channing Tatum are good. The only thing that really stuck with me was David Holmes' music. Oh, and it ended on a much more interesting note than Contagion.

My Rating: ****

Contagion

The "virus outbreak" movie isn't generally a new concept. (28 Days Later, anyone?) By most counts, they don't always work but a few do.

With Contagion, it works. I give Steven Soderbergh points for giving his movie a Hitchcock feel to it, especially during the early scenes of the virus' spread. However, he loses points for the not-so-good ending (which shows what caused the virus).

The cast is quite good. The notable names include Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law (all we need is Cate Blanchett and Philip Seymour Hoffman, and then we got a reunion for The Talented Mr. Ripley), Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard and Laurence Fishburne. Of the actors, I particularly like Law who tries to make a quick buck off the virus scare.

Contagion is really quite effective. Seriously, more than once as I was watching it, I had an urge to reach in my purse and get out my hand sanitizer. But the ending cost the movie considerably.

My Rating: ****

Traffic

Steven Soderbergh has to be one of the most prolific directors of the last thirty years. His first movie sex, lies and videotape revived independent film, Out of Sight is considered the sexiest movie ever made, and he managed to maintain a collaboration with George Clooney. Not bad, man. Not bad.

Traffic follows the events of several individuals: Javier Rodriguez (Benicio Del Toro), a Mexican police officer who unwittingly becomes a drug lord's employee; Eduaro Ruiz (Miguel Ferrer), a major dealer targeted by DEA agents Montel Gordon (Don Cheadle) and Ray Castro (Luis Guzman); Helena Ayala (Catherine Zeta-Jones), the wife of distributor Carlos Ayala (Steven Bauer); and Robert Wakefield (Michael Douglas), a judge whose views on drugs are challenged upon learning his daughter Caroline (Erika Christensen) is an addict.

Ah, the gritty and painful truth of reality. Soderbergh shows just that from his work and clearly shows how he got the Oscar for this. Del Toro won the Oscar, but I believe Douglas gave the best performance. His character is the one most affected by drugs since they have manifested his family. Overall, Traffic is well-acted, excellently shot and painfully real.

My Rating: ****1/2