It truly is refreshing when a film not only expects it's audience to be smart, it requires it. It would be nice however if the movie was as entertaining as it is informative. Contagion, the new film about the rise and fall of a global pandemic, does an expert job of informing us about the true natural horrors of disease in the modern world. Not only does it do a good job of informing us about the disease, it does so without talking down to the audience. While it doesn't expect you to be an expert epidemiologist, if you pay attention you will likely learn many common CDC phrases like R0 (pronounced R-naught), Index Patient, not to mention finding out what an MRE really is.
Contagion is a rare movie in that it decidedly revels in its own realism. It encourages us to fear what exists. Germs surround us. They co-exist peacefully, and invisibly around us. If you didn't already know how germs and viruses are spread this movie will definitely inform you, and you will undoubtedly be vigilant in your avoidance of door knobs, handrails and of course touching your face for a few days post viewing. It wants to instill a panic in people so that if this incident ever actually occurred, or rather actually occurred again, we will be prepared for it. The best way to think of this movie is to think of it as a PSA headlined by A-list actors that wants to give you nothing other than its message to deliver. Sure there are entertaining moments, moments that give you a laugh or disturb you, but all these moments are in service to the message.
Contagion is a rare movie in that it decidedly revels in its own realism. It encourages us to fear what exists. Germs surround us. They co-exist peacefully, and invisibly around us. If you didn't already know how germs and viruses are spread this movie will definitely inform you, and you will undoubtedly be vigilant in your avoidance of door knobs, handrails and of course touching your face for a few days post viewing. It wants to instill a panic in people so that if this incident ever actually occurred, or rather actually occurred again, we will be prepared for it. The best way to think of this movie is to think of it as a PSA headlined by A-list actors that wants to give you nothing other than its message to deliver. Sure there are entertaining moments, moments that give you a laugh or disturb you, but all these moments are in service to the message.
Similar to Soderbergh's much better message film Traffic, Contagion follows a group of individuals affected personally, professionally and emotionally by a pandemic of unknown type and origin. Each character is well acted, well written and for the most part fully formed. Despite most of these characters being very interesting, once these characters serve the realistic purpose for which they are intended they literally disappear from the film never to be heard or seen from again. That is frustrating because so many of these people would make a fine film in their own right, but because they are a part of the larger scale picture they get lost in the shuffle.
The movie had significant issues most of which I felt were due to over editing. Something tells me there is a four hour film that was forcibly chopped to just a bit over two. While I could be wrong, expect a longer directors cut to appear at some point in the near future. I do encourage you to see the movie, I think we should all see most movies, but I know time is valuable and so is your hard earned money. Because of that I have included the video below. This short film will allow you to have the same experience in less than five minutes, and is just as informative and enjoyable as the full film.
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