Rent Contagion (2011)

Prophetic, and rivetting - Contagion review by Martyn

Topical amid coronavirus, this tells of a flu pandemic originating in China with a virus passing from bats to humans. Naturally, for dramatic effect the virus in the story is far more deadly than the one we face.

The science is real and well-explained. The film avoids the Hollywood stereotype of the maverick scientist up against the 'government'. Instead, the CDC get to work, risking themselves, unpicking the mystery and managing the spread. The charismatic YouTube influencer with 12 million followers is part of the problem, advocating his own quack treatment and preaching against the real vaccine, when it finally arrives.

The film depicts first panic buying, then looting and a partial breakdown of society, and a realistic depiction of human nature - selfishness, mistrust, excessive fear. Significant subplots take place in China, most the story is set in the US.

End of the world doom-fest virus movie, one of many, which does NOT predict the Covid19 pandemic - Contagion review by PV

This is one of those movies with quick-fire dialogue and everyone talking over each other. SO subtitles recommended maybe, and also rewinding and rewatching scenes. esp those discussing complex financial stuff (which even the moneymen and women do not understand when they sell them to the gullible). Written by Scott Z Burns. I liked the international aspect - ranging from Hong Kong to London and more.

Jude Law and other British actors excel here. The brilliant Bryan Cranston plays a general before Breaking Bad made him a superstar. 1970s Hollywood star Elliot Gould rocks up too!

Lots of rot has been written about how this movie somehow predicted the Covid pandemic.

Nope, it didn;t; it's just another viral epidemic movie (and ultimately an END OF THE WORLD fear story and they are as old as humanity). Many have been made. Flemish Belgian TV drama CORDON a decade ago; Brilliant British film THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS (the best virus film ever and predicts the Covid19 pandemic better in a way than this); 28 DAYS LATER; and in 1975 SURVIVORS was terrifying at the time (ignore the woke pc remake). THE MAD DEATH (1981) another British TV drama back when they were good and concerned more with drama than ticking diversity boxes and preaching pc propaganda. Even INFERNO from the Dan Brown book covers the same ground. It is ultimately jet fear of death on a micro and macro scale.

This movie just shows how quickly a pandemic can spread. which is always terrifying. Epidemics and pandemics can and do happen - it was never IF but WHEN. One could say the same re the coming resistance to antibiotics which will kill many this century, and of course overpopulation which means Nature will cull us, sadly after so much of Nature has been destroyed.

Watch the EXTRA little film first before watching as that sums up how a pandemic starts, and we are living it now (and yet again, as with this movie, China caused it). This movie even shows a vile wet market where most thing coronavirus started with the animal abuse there and Chinese demand for eating wildlife. This movie is more civilised - watch the very end to see how it started. More viruses will emerge from the wild the more certain amoral empires deforest them and demand wildlife to eat. Blame where blame is due. Make them pay.

Music's a bit dodgy and I am no Soderbergh fan. But this is a decent watch.

4 stars

Great Thriller - Contagion review by GI

Director Steven Soderbergh is adept at following multiple interlinking stories in one narrative and keeping them all interesting and balanced. Contagion is one such film and it is quite riveting following various characters and events as a new virulent disease spreads very quickly across the globe causing rapid deaths, social collapse and panic. The story starts with Beth (Gwyneth Paltrow) who whilst on a business trip in Hong Kong catches a flu type illness which she brings back to the USA where she infects her son albeit her husband (Matt Damon) appears to be immune. As the infection spreads health experts and disease control officials struggle with containing the spread and searching for the cause and a vaccine. Along the way a seedy conspiracy theory journalist (Jude Law) spreads misinformation about the disease and promotes a false cure. It's a riveting drama and quite frightening in places too and of course especially pertinent when viewed today during the Covid 19 pandemic. However that aside this is a film that is really good and it's power is increased at this unusual time making it well worth checking out if you've never seen it. The cast includes Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne, Marion Cotillard, John Hawkes, Bryan Cranston and Jennifer Ehle so some great talent on show too.