SIDE EFFECTS

Crime thriller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Rooney Mara: 28-year-old Emily “Em” Taylor

Channing Tatum: her husband Martin

Ann Dowd: Martin’s mother

Jude Law: psychiatrist Dr. Jonathan “John” Banks

Catherine Zeta-Jones: psychiatrist Dr. Victoria Siebert

Vinessa Shaw: Jonathan’s wife Dierdre

REVIEW

Too often new drugs for old problems have unfortunate side effects that can result in some very serious consequences. Given that premise, the first half of the movie unfolds pretty much in a straightforward manner. The acting by Mara and Law is particularly noteworthy although the musical score too often intrudes and makes it difficult to catch all of the dialogue.

Like any good thriller there are twists and turns but at one point (about three-quarters of the way through) there is too much rapid-fire exposition to easily grasp what has transpired.

At the risk of giving anything just let me say you should really pay attention when Emily and Jonathan are alone in the institution and she tells “her side of the story”. Miss that and you’ll exit the theatre like many people did when I saw the film asking their companion “What was that all about?” or saying things like “I don’t know what happened, do you?”

CLASSIFICATION

 for violence, profanity, sexual content and brief nudity.