Outbreak

I revisited the Outbreak recently and was curious whether it would maintain its three stars. As you can see for yourselves, it did not hold up, despite the team of stars parading in front of the camera and trying to earn their salaries. In the first half, it still worked, and the beginning seemed even more promising than expected, but with every passing minute, the film sank into genre cliches, naivety, and logical somersaults. When the American president pathetically exclaimed, "But these are American citizens!," it felt as if I had just sat in a tub full of hot coals. Despite Petersen's craftsmanship and the presence of a few decent actors, I can't rate it high. I'm sorry, Dustin. Overall impression: 40%. (18/02/2018)

I've written it many times in variations, but I have to say it again – Petersen is a master at filling out Hollywood templates. His relatively good directorial name will provide him with great actors, a decent budget, and as far as the choice of scripts is concerned, the German film matador always chooses quite carefully... His films don't fail, but they also don't make giant marks on the world. A deadly epidemic is a proven recipe for a disaster film, which is improved a class higher by the absolute realism of the subject (if I am able to judge it), and by the excellent gradient and quality of acting performances... In particular, the titular "Precog – agitator – determined warrior" Dustin Hoffman has the right choleric flair and, as they say in English-speaking countries, drive. Petersen does what Hollywood taught him to do – he doesn't really add his talent into the film (he showed it elsewhere, right?), he does everything the way it's supposed to be done in a disaster movie, he puts the pedal to the gas in the action scenes when the pace is fading and the grunting of the infected becomes annoying and monotonous... And once again, they create a beautifully worked and filled template, which is a joy to look at and for which it does not pay to remember who the great W.P. once was... (24/10/2004)

Good old subordination. A top-notch virus flick with the actors’ elite of the nineties. Evil, militant USA vs. microbes from Africa and Dustin Hoffman with his pals in the middle. Petersen is an expert at tension and the tear in the suit and chasing the monkey are wonderfully intense. On the other hand, it’s spoiled by (today rather ridiculous) helicopter chases and the stupidity of some soldiers. Howard’s music is great. - Why don’t you go get some rest? - Why don’t you? - I slept in July. (13/03/2015)

So, during this quarantine period, I had to watch another film about a viral epidemic. Compared to Soderbergh's Contagion, this one falls short. Wolfgang Petersen's direction is precise, no doubt about that, and the cast can certainly be considered among the top tier. However, I found the script rather simplistic, lacking in innovative ideas, or perhaps it didn’t manage to translate those ideas from written form to the screen effectively. While it’s still one of the better films in the genre, I expected a bit more. The film offers some truly gripping moments in parts, though the action scene with helicopters flying over the forests felt a bit far-fetched, as did the ending with the bomb (it didn’t quite suit the film). On the other hand, as I mentioned earlier, the film is buoyed by cinematic greats (with the excellent Donald Sutherland). Three strong stars, and I’m giving it a respectable 70%. (13/04/2020)

The initial enthusiasm for Outbreak’s lean filmmaking – the long shot in the laboratories, the introduction of likable characters played by great actors, the appealing hints of strong drama – dissipates as the film transitions into an action movie with helicopter chases and a clichéd and predictable ending. The film becomes a sillier affair than it would have been if the screenwriters had aimed for a nerve-racking realistic thriller instead of an overwrought action flick for a popcorn audience. (27/03/2020)