Joey Magidson
Yesterday, very quietly, a new Steven Soderbergh film has opened in theaters. It’s The Christophers, which played last year at the Toronto International Film Festival. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but it has gotten a nice little reception, which makes the small release a bit of a shame. Still, to counteract that, an Awards Radar Community Question on the filmmaker is only fair. So, today, the question is…what is your favorite Steven Soderbergh film?
Normally, I’d have my thoughts on The Christophers here, but in lieu of that (at least unless I catch it this weekend, in which case I’ll update), I have something else. Instead now, this would be my top ten for Soderbergh flicks:
10. Sex, Lies, and Videotape
9. Out of Sight
8. The Girlfriend Experience
7. High Flying Bird
6. Solaris
5. Erin Brockovich
4. Magic Mike
3. Ocean’s Eleven
2. Contagion
1. Traffic
If my list includes your picks, definitely let us know. I’m hardly alone in thinking Traffic is arguably his masterpiece. You could go that route, or cite something I included but you’re higher on, like Erin Brockovich. However, you’re moving away from my list, that’s cool too and makes for a very interesting contribution. Maybe it’s Behind the Candelabra for you? Or, perhaps an Ocean’s Eleven sequel? All options are on the table. Hell, you can go television too, if you so desire, and cite The Knick. Whatever floats your Soderbergh boat. I know I’m a bigger Contagion fan than most, but that’s my cross to bear, since I even watched it more than once during lockdown.
Now, it’s time to hear from you. What’s your favorite of Steven Soderbergh’s resume? Are you a Magic Mike champion? Something else entirely? Wherever you fall, it’s time to chime. So, strap in, do it up, and let us know where you fall on the Soderbergh spectrum…
What is your favorite Steven Soderbergh film? Let us know!
I used to agree with the consensus surrounding Traffic as his magnum opus… now, I’m not so sure. I still very much admire the scale and ambition mounted on such an unabashed polemic (especially now that we’re living in an era of contemptible cowardice from the film industry), Benicio del Toro‘s Oscar-winning performance is still fantastic, and I acknowledge that the case he lays out against the War on Drugs was not only correct, but arguably effective on a policy level (to take just one example, the federal government would dramatically reduce D.A.R.E.’s funding only a year after the film’s release; remember D.A.R.E.?). But man, it’s hard not to look at its depiction of Mexico and wince these days, and I still find the Wakefield plotline a near-total dud. Contrast that with Contagion, which at the time I criticized for its Jude Law conspiratorial scam artist influencer being a hysterical caricature who would never be able to rally a massive base of support in such a short period of time during a pandemic. Yeah, that… that was an unfair criticism, in hindsight.
One movie I don’t see listed in your top ten, despite being one of Steven Soderbergh‘s absolute best in my eyes (top three, at least), is his poignant Depression-era bildungsroman King of the Hill.
I’m definitely due a King of the Hill revisit!
I’m here for Solaris.
It’s divisive!