Contagion stars Matt Damon, Lawrence Fishburne, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard and Gwyneth Paltrow in this thrilling tale of a deadly pandemic
The Plot of Contagion
The story begins with a young couple (Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow). She returns to their suburban home from a business trip to Hong Kong, unaware she is carrying a deadly virus. This virus spreads quickly and there is no known cure. In come the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control in a race against time to find the origin of the virus and hopefully slow it down and develop a cure. Their jobs are made more difficult by a rogue blogger (Jude Law) who manages to spread fear even faster than the virus with falsities and alarms.
This is a thrilling story that hits home to viewers as the world is becoming more and more connected and the fact that a pandemic is a real possibility in the near future.
Yes, this plot has been done before, most notably in the 1995 Dustin Hoffman film Outbreak. So, what makes this an interesting film for today’s viewers is the fact that we have been experiencing several potential pandemics recently and the powers that be caution that there is another pandemic on the horizon. This is real life drama, not science fiction.
The Bonus Features on the Contagion Combo Pack
I found the bonus features on the combo pack as interesting as the film. “The Reality of Contagion” looks at the film in today’s world. Gwyneth Paltrow asks, “Are we prepared?” And Jude Law states about a viral pandemic, “It’s a matter of when, not if.”
The evolution of a virus is minutes and hours, which is an extremely short time for it to mature into something new. As a producer says, “We live in a scary world.” Will we be able to create and immunize an entire population in time when a virus starts spreading?
The cast learned from the professionals how to put on their protective suits and work as though they were part of the CDC and WHO. There were professionals from these organizations on hand to help guide the cast through the film.
But what is shown in the film and what is a potentially more hazardous threat to the population than the original virus is the spread of fear. Disinformation and the instant access to the Internet will create a major worldwide panic in times of emergencies.
The science in the film is good and shows how the medical professionals do their jobs. The bonus features take viewers into the film with the cast and crew to discuss the film as well as the facts.
There is another bonus about how a virus changes the world, along with some important information to helping stay well: Wash your hands often, get flu vaccinations annually, stay away from people if you are sick and see a doctor, and have an emergency plan which includes stocking up on supplies.
- Contagion Combo Pack
- Studio: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
- Number of discs: 2
- Rated: PG-13 for disturbing content and some language
- Running time: 106 minutes
- Release date: January 3, 2012
