Is 'Side Effects' Steven Soderbergh's best film?

I'm happy to report that after a long wait, I've finally seen Steven Soderbergh's latest (and possibly final) film, Side Effects. We just left the theater less than an hour ago and I rushed home to write this, because I don't want to lose the momentum. I love writing with a post-great movie buzz, and that's exactly what I've got right now.

Steven Soderbergh is no stranger to extremely provocative thrillers, and neither is Side Effects' screenwriter, Scott Z. Burns, who also wrote 2011's suspenseful Soderbergh film, Contagion. Once again, this teaming works beautifully, in the form of a wonderfully told, intricate thriller plot with brilliant, classic Soderbergh direction.

I absolutely cannot reveal much of the plot of this film. Trust me when I say this thing has more twists and turns and double crosses than I've seen in any movie in recent years. It's great stuff for a suspense/drama junkie like myself, and if you are too, you need to see this film. Now.

Here is the gist of what you need to know about Side Effects: Rooney Mara gives a fantastic performance as Emily Taylor, a woman who struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts. Emily's husband, Martin Taylor (Channing Tatum) has just been released from prison, where he served time for insider trading.

Emily stuck by Martin during his incarceration, struggling to make enough money to stay afloat (after the government took their ritzy Greenwich, Connecticut, home). Once Martin is out of prison, Emily starts slipping into a crippling depression. She's placed on anti-depressants, begins therapy with psychiatrist Dr. Jonathan Banks (Jude Law) and is starting to improve. Life seems brighter, the "poisonous fog" she feels is lifting and her relationship with her husband is more intimate.

That's absolutely all you're going to get plot-wise, sorry. I'm sure you can guess that there is much more going on. This is a Soderbergh movie, remember? There's always a crazy amount of things happening simultaneously.

Jude Law delivers another charismatic on-screen performance, and Catherine Zeta-Jones' role is memorable as well. So, let's recap: Great ensemble acting? Check. Excellent script? Check. Directed well? Check. And honestly, I so hope Steven Soderbergh isn't really going to retire. It's fine if he wants to take an extended break, but with his gifts, it's hard to imagine him hanging it up for good.

In a weekend that offered precious little in the way of quality films at our local theater, we managed to hit the great one. I mean really, was there even a choice? Identity Thief looks so lame, and the reviews are just awful for the latest Die Hard movie. And please, do not get me started on Dark Skies, which also got horrible reviews.

If I had to criticize one aspect of Side Effects, it would probably be the storyline. It is, in a nutshell, a wild ride -- and not always a believable one. Some of the twists are on the crazy side. Things get complicated, as they often do in Soderbergh movies. I'm not talking about Syriana mind-blowingly complicated, so there's no need to take notes while watching. But I will say that on the plus side, Side Effects is a classic thriller that reminded me just a bit of Hitchcock. Yes, I just said that: Hitchcock.

Now I'm sitting here wondering: Is this Steven Soderbergh's best film? I have a good friend who swears that yes, it is. She won't budge about it. I'm not entirely sure, though I respect her opinion greatly. Considering Soderbergh's whole body of work, including what I think might be a perfect film - Sex, Lies and Videotape - it's tough to choose one over the other. I'd say that Side Effects might be in my top five Soderbergh favorites.

I'm starting to think I'm a Steven Soderbergh fanatic. I hinted at this a few weeks ago, and now I realize I'm completely over the top. Did I already mention he can't retire? Oh, yes, sorry.

If you're a fan of Steven Soderbergh or suspense films or mysteries, get thee to the theater now to see Side Effects. And if you've already seen it, let's hear what you thought in the comments (spoiler-free, if possible). Is it one of, if not the best, film this brilliant director has ever done?

Photos courtesy of Wikipedia and Yahoo! Movies