Formal Film Study: Steven Soderbergh

 


One of the movies I have seen recently that really made me think was Side Effects, a movie about the pharmaceutical drug business. This movie, although I wasn't a huge fan, had a huge political message and was done in such an interesting way that I began to take interest in Steven Soderbergh, the director. So, I chose to watch three more films directed by him: Erin Brockovich (2000), Ocean's Eleven (2001), and Contagion (2011). All of these films, at first glance, are completely different and at first I would not have guessed they were done by the same director.

The first thing I noticed about all of these movies was the editing. There are plenty of scenes that have voiceovers in order to make it more fast paced or montages that will show more plot in a less amount of time. Usually I am not a fan of either of those things, but Soderbergh presents it in a way that makes you pay attention to every detail and follow the story rather than get lost. For example, taking the story of a woman like Erin Brockovich was no easy task, and it was a rather complicated storyline; but, through his editing he keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat rather than falling asleep before anything exciting happens. Then, you have a movie like Ocean's 11 which is, essentially, all action and momentum, but he is able to weave in a few backstories, nevertheless keeping up the continuation of his style.

I think what Soderbergh aims for the most is that we understand the messages behind all of his films. My initial confusion about his variation in stories, studios, and topics, was settled when, after watching all three films, it was obvious they had one thing in common: a message. They are all very political and contain controversies that are still relevant in our culture and that cause problems for anyone in America. Erin Brocovich shows you the struggle of being a single mom and how we can't always trust everything we are told. Contagion is related to that in the sense that our "perfect government" fails to help millions of Americans when they need it the most. Finally, Ocean's Eleven really spoke to me because I understood where he was going with the ex-convict taking on this casino robbery. It truly shows that you don't always know where people have been or why they make the actions they do. Nevertheless, Soderbergh is a director who chooses his movies based on what others will take out of them and in the hopes that they will shed some light on the reality we live in, no matter if the story is real or not.

In fact, Soderbergh states in an interview with Mary Kate Schilling of Vulture that "I can’t spend two years on a project without being totally excited about it. Any movie I’ve made has been because of the challenge it offered me as a director, because it provides a new canvas. Even the big-budget stuff like the Ocean’s films" ("Steven Soderbergh on Quitting Hollywood"). So, he doesn't take on anything that he isn't invested in emotionally. To me, that's what directing should be about. Not about the money or the studios it's affiliated to, but to what you're getting out of it and what you're giving to others.

When it comes to casting, it is clear that he likes to stick with the familiar. Julia Roberts starts as Erin Brockovich, and is George Clooney's wife in Ocean's Eleven. Similarly, Matt Damon, an accomplice to Clooney and Brad Pitt in that film, and is the star of Contagion. Upon making these decisions, Soderbergh is able to work with stars he knows and is comfortable with, and can create his vision based on the acting skills he knows they have. Roberts won an oscar for her performance as Brockovich, which she is completely deserving of. Soderbergh was also nominated as Best Director for that movie. It is because of his ability to bring Brockovich and her story to life that it was recognized by others and seen in a unique way. 

The same can be said for Contagion. With so many epidemic-type films that have been made, it is difficult to create one that is unique and original. But, Soderbergh takes on the more emotional side by portraying Damon's character as immune to the disease and highly protective of his daughter. He shows the lengths he will go to in order to protect her. And, even though we find out the cause of the disease at the end, that isn't what resonates with us. What the viewers are left with is the love a man can have and the will to survive this, rather than focusing on how it started. Soderbergh presents this by abruptly ending the movie after the cause is "revealed." He does this in order to show that it really isn't what is important, which is why it is kind of thrown in there as an after thought. 

He also has an abrupt ending to Ocean's Eleven as Pitt and Clooney are being followed by an unknown vehicle. I was extremely upset when the credits started to roll, but then I thought about it more and realized that may have been Soderbergh's point. With a movie like that with those types of characters, they are never really safe and there is always someone out to get them. Their identity doesn't matter as much as the concept behind it does. 

With these endings, and the editing, and the message, Soderbergh has created a name for himself. And, even though, in the interview he says he has no idea what people think of when they hear "Soderbergh," he has created films that have touched people, entertained people, and made statements that spark curiosity. I thoroughly enjoyed all of these films and am looking forward to seeing the rest. 


Interview with Vulture: http://www.vulture.com/2013/01/steven-soderbergh-in-conversation.html