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Soderbergh Will Be Missed (for as Long as He's Gone)

AP
February 15, 2013

As you may have guessed if you've read my review of Steven Soderbergh's latest film, Side Effects, I don't think Soderbergh's retirement will stick. And it'll be a real shame if he does, because the film world will be losing one of its brightest lights.

It's worth admiring, just for a moment, Soderbergh's epic output over the last five years: the two-part Che (2008); the entirely underrated Informant and the perhaps-properly-rated-but-under-appreciated The Girlfriend Experience (2009); and then, in a sort of sprint, the smart and entertaining Contagion, HaywireMagic Mike, and Side Effects (late 2011-early 2013). He's also got a film in the can on Liberace that will air on cable sometime this year. (And there are two other films in there that I haven't seen: a documentary on Spalding Gray and a comedy that appears to have been released in Australia?)

Not all of these pictures were artistic triumphs and several were a bit overly indulgent (I'm looking at you, Che). But Soderbergh has managed to do something really remarkable: He has created intelligent and crowd-pleasing works in a variety of genres while resisting the temptation to turn them into fomralist exercises. I can't really think of another director who has done something similar; Kubrick was able to work in a variety of genres, but they always felt like "Kubrick" films. The Shining is a horror film as designed by Stanley Kubrick; Full Metal Jacket is a war film as designed by Stanley Kubrick, etc. Ridley Scott, perhaps, would be the closest. But even then, I feel like you know when Scott has directed the film in question. Soderbergh is less showy while remaining in complete control. He is, perhaps, the least auteur-like auteur working today.

As I say, it's a shame to see him go. I hope he'll be back soon.

Published under: Movies