Contagion

[lorin]

I am fascinated by this movie and very surprised it has never been discussed here. The whole approach to this film was different than anything I've ever seen. It has a good ensemble cast including Matt Damon, Lawrence Fishburn, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Bryan Cranston and Elliot Gould.

It is a slow, methodical look at the spread of a deadly flu and the quicker deterioration of society. It looks at the techniques used to trace the source, the differences of how the poor and the wealthy are treated during the outbreak, the scammers with false cures. Jude Law is amazing as an internet guru proclaiming that governments around the world are concealing the cure.

The film plays with timelines, where you see the first few people with the flu and then step back to see how they caught it.

The quiet, almost documentary like approach to this film adds to the tension. There are no magic cures, no quick solutions and no dramatic ending. Very very scary but really worth watching. I had to watch it several times to get the full impact.

[peter]

Yes - I've seen the movie Lorin. It was extremely well done; as you say the 'documentary' feel gives it a realism that cannot be ignored and drives home the point that in all likelyhood a pandemic of this proportion will occur in our lifetimes. As a piece of film making however, I did feel that to a certain degree the cow of entertainment was [to a degree at least] sacrificed on the alter of realism. Yes - this is how it would be; yes - it was tense and very frightening.......but was I entertained, jury's out on this one.

[As an aside, the film 'World War Z' applies the same 'realist' tecniques to the spread of a virus that produces zombie-like symptoms, and to a degree suffers with the same problems as Contagion by virtue of it. It's serious adult viewing, carefully thought out and reasoned - but it looses the 'spark' of magic that film's should have in the process.]

[lorin]

The loss of magic is what I liked most about the film. The methodical drudgery of the film, the lack of any miracles is what brought it home for me. In fact the only 'magic' in the film was when

Spoiler

the doctor injected herself with the antivirus and lived.

That was a stupid fantasy addition that, IMO, hurt the film.

[peter]

Ah Lorin! With an Avatar like that you can rejoice in the loss of Magic? Go and watch 'Pans Labrynth' immediately!

[lorin]

Ah Lorin! With an Avatar like that you can rejoice in the loss of Magic? Go and watch 'Pans Labrynth' immediately!

That is my artwork. Do you like it?

I think there is a place in this world for magic, and a place for stark reality. Fighting pandemics requires reality. (This is the Tank in me)

[peter]

Ah Lorin! With an Avatar like that you can rejoice in the loss of Magic? Go and watch 'Pans Labrynth' immediately!

That is my artwork. Do you like it?

I think there is a place in this world for magic, and a place for stark reality. Fighting pandemics requires reality. (This is the Tank in me)

Like it? Wow Lorin - you are a talented lady!

[lorin]

Ah Lorin! With an Avatar like that you can rejoice in the loss of Magic? Go and watch 'Pans Labrynth' immediately!

That is my artwork. Do you like it?

I think there is a place in this world for magic, and a place for stark reality. Fighting pandemics requires reality. (This is the Tank in me)

Like it? Wow Lorin - you are a talented lady!

Thank you , Peter!!! Most of the avatars I put up are my own creation.

[lorin]

bump 'cause it's very timely.

[peter]

Yes; It seems that people are just beginning to get the idea that if something really nasty comes along our 'advanced' medical service just may not be able to cope with it. It's been a big realisation in medical/health circles for a fairly long time but never to date seemed to filter down to the level of actual public awareness. I don't think ebola is 'the one' - but with an increasing population and overcrowding/nutritional issues on the increase it can only be a matter of time.