Side Effects (2005)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Memorable, crazy movie

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

For those who haven't already been introduced to the fact that Psychiatry is in bed with Big Pharma, this could be an eye-opener. I enjoyed seeing this topic explored and this sweet love story wrapped around it all. Heidi, who went on to become a well known actress, was not particularly known at the time she made this little film. She did a beautiful job of conveying the sentiment of so many in her position and the difficulty of sometimes choosing between what is right and what pays the bills. This was not a big budget film and yet the message of the film was conveyed and the audience was left with questions about the integrity of the professionals we have put our trust in.

Karly Hert (Katherine Heigl) is hired by the Braden-Andrews to work as pharmaceutical sales representative persuading doctors to prescribe drugs from Braden-Andrews. Karly feels a moral dilemma with her unethical job, but is seduced by the salary, car, bonus and benefits offered by the corporation.When Karly meets her former rep Zach Danner (Lucian McAfee), they fall in love with each other. Karly gives a schedule of six months to quit her job and she decides to be honest with the physicians. The result increases the market share of Braden-Andrews and Karly is promoted; receives a BMW as an upgrade; and lives a conflictive situation. When the anti-depressive Vivexx is approved by FDA, Karly finds that there are medical reports showing lever issues hidden by the industry. Karly is nominated by Braden-Adrews to the award Industry Rep of the Year and she needs to take a decision."Side Effects" is a low-budget movie about the American pharmaceutical industry that moves billions of dollars per year and occasionally hides side effects of some medicines using unethical doctors that are bribed to prescribe their medicines. Coincidently I saw "Love and Other Drugs" yesterday that has many similar situations.The plot romantically and ethically speaking gives a good message about the corrupted system. However, it is hard to believe on the story of Karly Hert, a young woman that climbs socially selling her soul to the Devil, and seeks redemption reporting the truth about a new medicine on the day that she reaches the top of her career with dedication.Both Karly and Zach have consciously worked in the pharmaceutical industry aware of how the system works, and Karly has paid her bills and Zach has raised his savings for his dreams using the industry. Therefore, she is totally disloyal with her employer and her last attitude is a total betrayal. Therefore she was also extremely unethical in her behavior exposing the inside information that she had the way she does. Does the end justify the means? My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Efeitos Colaterais" ("Side Effects")

This director takes way too long setting up shots and the action is painfully slow. I am all for watching Heigl dress and undress. I could watch a movie called, "katherine gets dressed and undressed" and be happy.But even I got bored watching her put on her panty hose to go meet her boss at the copy store! Seriously, what was the point of that. It did not set an emotional tone. It did not advance the narrative. It did not show us anything about her character. This is the kind of movie I might shoot myself because I don't have a clue on how to make a movie! I love the info-tainment angle. But even that got dull.The romance guy: his looks were odd but it might have worked. But I felt zero chemistry. I don't know why, but i just did not get their chemistry.The roommate choice I thought was odd but cool. In real life, people have roommates who are nothing like them. Some set up to how they are room-mates were nice. I am all for tall, large black women, but I did not really feel the character had much depth.

"Side Effects" has a great story but unfortunately it has its problems that some people won't be able to get past. It stars Katherine Heigl as a young woman working for a pharmaceutical sales company, trying to figure out her professional life and love life. Although its not an original idea, they told the main story very well as they focused on the pharmaceutical sales industry and the moral dilemmas that come with the job.Trying to run alongside the main story we had a few sub-plots, but these were really poorly done. These side story lines had no end, or if they did, they had no beginning. They really detracted from the film. Adding to this problem were technical issues with poor editing and sound.I say you should see it if you are looking for a great story. But if you are going to get frustrated by some poorly written scenes and sloppy editing and sound, then skip it.