Movie Review: "Side Effects"

Director Steven Soderbergh's Side Effects is a film that starts off with promise, but devolves into a standard conspiracy thriller before end.  The concept of a woman murdering her husband due to the side effects of a drug, and the ensuing nightmare that follows the doctor that prescribed it, is a concept that is fresh and invigorating, but unfortunately that's only the first half of the film.  About midway through the film, Soderbergh wants to deconstruct the idea that it was the drug that caused the murder, and in fact makes the movie more preposterous by making it a grand conspiracy cooked up by a shrink and this woman.  The shining light of Side Effects are the performances from the actors, in particular Jude Law as the doctor who finds himself under scrutiny.  If you are an admirer of a great actor turning in a great performance, then this film is worth watching, but be forewarned, Side Effects has little else that's good.

I give Side Effects a D!