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A well-made but ultimately unsatisfying global epidemic drama. The cast, which seems to be the main selling point of the film, doesn't come through as strongly as I'd hoped. No one gives a bad performance, but how can I not be let down seeing people who've given some of my favorite performances ever given practically nothing to do. Kate Winslet and Jennifer Ehle are the exceptions. Though neither has an enormous amount of screentime, they turned in a pair of lovely performances, making their characters seem real and I was able to view them as more than the actresses portraying them. Aside from that, I don't have much to say. While sitting in the theater, I was always interested and sometimes moved, but once it ended it kind of lost it's impact (aside from me not touching anything on my way to the car). Shouldn't a film where 30 million people die, including some of the central characters, have an impact? Often, competence is good enough, but with a film with this plot and cast and director and budget, I expect something extra. Something special.
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