I liked Contagion. It was reasonably entertaining if this subject matter can be so. It had an outstanding ensemble cast although no character spent a lot of time on screen which is how they got so many of them I am sure. Ultimately this was an hour and a half give or take of a “More You Know” commercial where celebrities tell you what could happen if a virus like this ravaged the country. Its poignant in many ways and it is really a realistic look which can leave you feeling a little afraid more than anything but the characters and the actors are good enough that its worth seeing and perhaps will at least be thought provoking enough. Another IMDb reviewer really nailed this on the head when they said that it focuses on the pandemic and the characters are not fleshed out. That is exactly what the film is. There really is no hero to the story, or even a main character, just some whose story is focused on more than others.

You can just look at the cast list to see how many great actors are in this. Its a virtual whose who of Hollywood. The people that spend more time on screen are Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, and Jude Law. Damon is terrific as the doting father, and husband who discovers more about his wife than he wants to know in the wake of her horrifying death. He really does a great job in this film considering how little depth the characters are given. Laurence Fishburne is good in his role though I don’t think its much of a stretch for him to play a scientist looking for answers. He’s very straightforward. Jude Law is also great as a very popular internet blogger looking for the truth. If there was any character that could have drawn out the story it would have been Law’s character. I also have to give kudos to Hollywood heavyweights Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Winslet who have small but vital roles and give away their beauty to make themselves look absolutely ravaged by disease.

The film director is no newcomer either. Steven Soderbergh is well known his stylish story telling. Truth be told I’m not a huge fan of his work. I find his style sporadic and jumpy but for this type of film it almost works. If you’re a person who is afraid of germs this film could outright terrify you. Its probably worth seeing for its ensemble cast but it really isn’t the type of movie that is watched again and again for entertainment value. Its light on story and character depth but heavy on reality and the pandemic that is truly on the world’s mind every day.