Side Effects

Steven Soderbergh has become one of our rare interesting American filmmakers, so it’s disappointing that he’s pulling a retirement with this film. As such, Side Effects is kind of a disappointment as a career capstone, but still delivers plenty of pleasures and surprises. In some ways a throwback to the psychological thrillers of the ’90s, here we follow a woman (Rooney Mara) flipping out over the stress of the return of her husband (Channing Tatum) from prison and her flirtation with Big Pharma. Unfortunately, those li’l pills lead to the eponymous complications and plenty of twists and turns. Soderbergh respects his audience enough that he doesn’t turn the scenario into a screed and focuses instead on the inherent drama. Way more interesting (and way more to the story) than the premise implies. Cinemark 14, Feather River Cinemas and Paradise Cinema 7. Rated. R.