Contagion (2011):

Starring:

Matt Damon - Mitch Emhoff

Gwyneth Paltrow - Beth Emhoff

Laurence Fishburne - Dr. Ellis Cheever

Jude Law - Alan Krumwiede

Marion Cotillard - Dr. Leonora Orantes

Kate Winslet - Dr. Erin Mears

Elliott Gould - Dr. Ian Sussman

Bryan Cranston - Lyle Haggerty

John Hawkes - Roger

Chin Han - Sun Feng

Synopsis:

A thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak. 

Review:  When I first saw a preview for this film I was very excited to see it. The movie gave off a very Outbreak (1995) vibe but without the silliness of monkeys. I didn't get around to seeing it in theaters so I had to wait for it to be released on Blu-Ray. The movie starts off very quickly with what you think might be "Patient 0". From there you learn of more cases around the world of people mysteriously having seizures & becoming ill. Once the world starts to learn of the epidemic they believe that they are be mislead & uniformed about the truth from their governments & the C.D.C. Along comes freelance journalist & Internet blogger Alan Krumwiede (Law) to bring the truth to the world. Throughout the film he is constantly bringing a different voice to the world against C.D.C. Dr. Ellis Cheever (Fishburne)'s attempts to prevent chaos & to find a solution or antidote to the world before it overtakes the world's population. This movie was a big let down for me. I found the acting of people who i have been a huge fan of for years (Damon & Law) to be underwhelming & lackluster. At points when Damon (playing a man who's lost his wife & step son) who is protecting his daughter from the chaos in the world, almost had no emotion to his voice or mannerisms especially for a man who is taking care of a teen aged daughter. Law's performance was very slow & also underwhelming it didn't bring the level of acting that Law has brought to his other roles. Even the performances of Winslet & Fishburne were less than stellar. Paltrow & Cotillard, although in smaller roles were the only ones who gives good performances. The ending just seemed very anticlimactic & very rushed. The film is also shot in many different backdrops including Japan, Hong Kong, America & Europe.

S.P.R.: B-/41

Acting: 8/10

Plot: 8/10

Cinematography: 9/10

Intrigue: 9/10

Extra: 7/10