Warner Bros. showed Steven Soderbergh’s “Contagion” to a handful of journalists a few weeks ago. I wasn’t on the cool-kids list for that, but I hear the film is a cross between “Traffic” and the first half of “The Stand,” or whatever happened before “The Road,” or some such. That’s basically the vibe we get from the trailer, which just landed at Apple. The film is set for a September 9 release and looks to be a commercial play more than anything else, but personally, I can’t get Wolfgang Peterson’s “Outbreak” out of my head every time I think of it. Anyway, check out the trailer by clicking on the image below, or watch an embed after the jump.
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35 responses to “‘Contagion’ trailer”
Good cast, looks to be a solid little thriller, if not a little forgettable.
I think it looks more than commercial/forgettable. Not with that cast and director. I’m looking forward to it.
I liked the first half of Outbreak, before they tried to turn Dustin Hoffman into an action hero.
OMG!!! Amazing cast!!!!!!
Not gonna put my Oscar chips on it, but it definitely looks like something right around my corner. ☺ Can’t wait to check it out.
Lots of great looking films coming out in the Fall.
Is it sad that I’m actually happy to see Gwyneth Paltrow infected instead of Marion or Kate?
Looks like a rock solid thriller, although I would’ve advised them to axe the line about “the birds are doing it themselves”.
Is anyone else having trouble playing HD trailers on Apple’s website?
This is the weirdest remake of “The Birds” I’ve ever seen.
@Dana- It looks as though Gwyneth dies (spoiler alert, but it’s plainly obvious) and it looks to me near the end that Kate is infected too.
Compelling stuff.
I urge Kris and everybody else to look up the script reviews for this. Oscar noms are in store.
This is so not good for someone with OCD like me. But it’s an awesome cast and it looks kind of interesting with the whole fear-as-control angle.
“Warner Bros. showed Steven Spderbergh’s “Contagion” to a handful of journalists a few weeks ago.”
Any word on how it went? Other than the comparisons to Traffic of course.
Screening it this early to journalists must be at least a semi-good sign.
I dig the trailer. I like the naturalistic approach they are bringing to it and I like how they killed off a big time actress in the trailer, letting us know that no one is safe.
I thought this was coming out in October? Are they doing a wide release on September 9th or is it going to be a rolling release pattern? If they are trying to go for money and not an awards play then why are they releasing it so early in September? That isn’t really a time known for releasing blockbusters or awards nominated films, so releasing it that soon with only a trailer coming out now kinda has me worried a little bit…
Michael: They moved it up a week or two ago, and Eastwood’s J. Edgar took the October slot. I wouldn’t be surprised if it also had to do with when IMAX screens would be available — although I’m not sure what kind of draw this will be in that format.
Tye-Grr- I read somewhere that Paltrow dies as well, early on. Good enough for me. I cannot handle her in most film, but I’m super content with such a strong ensemble cast- esp. Winslet, Damon, and Collitard.
I’ve read the synopsis but does anyone know what the specifics regarding Winslet and Collitard’s roles?
I used to think this would get an Oscar nod only for its Make-up. I still think the same…
It looks great, superb cast. Probably a very entertaining flick.
“releasing it that soon with only a trailer coming out now kinda has me worried a little bit…”
It’s almost identical to how Warner Bros. marketed and released The Town. I wouldn’t be too worried. Just don’t expect it to sweep the nominations.
It kind of reminds me of The Poseidon Adventure. “There’s Got to be a Morning After,” by the way, is a pretty memorable tune. “We May Never Love Like this again,” on the other hand…..
Looks solid. Looks like a great Friday night/Sunday afternoon movie to sink your teeth into (at least that ensemble cast). Wow.
But it doesn’t look flashy enough for Oscar. And though everyone in that cast is fantastic, it doesn’t even look like a potential SAG Ensemble nomination-type of movie, either. It just looks potentially very good.
@bobmcbob yes, today and yesterday, seems for only newer stuff, i have noticed this frequently and it really annoys me.
i think this looks great, but it is Soderbergh so I am in regardless. didnt know it would have an IMAX release, interesting…
Love the trailer but the September release date worries me. I fear that the trailer may be better than the finished film (a la “The Informant!”)…
Nothing original at all in the trailer. End-of-the-world by-the-numbers. But still looks like good old-fashioned intertainment. Damon looks weird (fleshier?), and I’m actually more over Winslet and Law than Paltrow at the moment, but great cast! (Any Paltrow haters should see Proof – she was amazing in that, although it wasn’t that good a film).
This looks good enough to be a best picture nominee!
I don’t understand what makes a Paltrow hater tick. I don’t.
@Kris- her presence in general…
She’s insufferable. I just can’t handle her “acting”.
Watching Che today really made me miss Soderbergh. Other than Erin Brockovich, I don’t think he has made a bad film. He will surely rise this above its genre trappings.
The thing about this trailer and the problem I’ve had with Soderbergh all along (I have a similar problem with Miike, too – could be a thing with extra prolific filmmakers in general) is that it reeks of nihilism.
Yes, it’s effective in it’s own way. It’s not enitrely original but it left me sad and not in the way that was intended. The closely shot scenes of Paltrow, in context they are in are incredibly cheap. This type of manipulation almost always works but great directing it is NOT.
Is it possible to make a large scale human disaster movie that doesn’t feel as vapidly insensitive?
It’s hard but I thought a Children of Men succesded in that.
Even in Dark Knight, among all the killings, there is a sense of value and sacredness of human life. There may not be a more naratively problematic part of that film, for me, than the part involving prisoners on the ship but it had that, at least.
Erin Brockovich was such a Julia Roberts vehicle that I no longer associate Soderbergh with it. But I did enjoy it… probably one of the few Roberts’ films that I truly enjoyed. /end tangent
I highly enjoy Erin Brockovich.
And on Gwyneth: I’ve never disliked her performances (well, maybe sans Country Strong).
I think some of her best work is in The Talented Mr. Ripley. And if anything, I’m not wild about her offscreen persona/personality. It just kinds rubs me the wrong way. But I’ve always thought she was a good actress.
I have a hard time picturing this film will end any other way than complete annihilation.