Every movie has a storyline and a message. The storyline in Contagion is: 'Help, there is a pandemic!' The message though is: 'Your government, scientists, business and media are there for you'.
Even if you don't believe in a conspiracy, this is the script-level message. And there's nothing wrong with that. In Hollywood, films are often made in collaboration with the government or the Pentagon. There's nothing mysterious about that. George Bush also admitted that Hollywood made films for the Pentagon to promote the war in Iraq to the general public. It's also nice to notice the little messages hidden in little sub-phrases: "Dad, they thought an ulcer was caused by stress, but it was a bacteria." Etc...etc... This film was made to give the public the feeling that the old institutions still work. In the movie this was done on the basis of a virus that is clearly life-threatening. That's why we have to believe the message. But what if there is a virus that is not dangerous, but is sold as such? Then everyone remembers this remarkably powerful and professionally made film - and others with the same message (not story-line per se!) in which the viewer is prepared scene by scene, dialogue by dialogue, as to how he has to think and reason; 'Go to sleep, the State has integrity, watches over you and saves you'.
Mission accomplished.
Even if you don't believe in a conspiracy, this is the script-level message. And there's nothing wrong with that. In Hollywood, films are often made in collaboration with the government or the Pentagon. There's nothing mysterious about that. George Bush also admitted that Hollywood made films for the Pentagon to promote the war in Iraq to the general public. It's also nice to notice the little messages hidden in little sub-phrases: "Dad, they thought an ulcer was caused by stress, but it was a bacteria." Etc...etc... This film was made to give the public the feeling that the old institutions still work. In the movie this was done on the basis of a virus that is clearly life-threatening. That's why we have to believe the message. But what if there is a virus that is not dangerous, but is sold as such? Then everyone remembers this remarkably powerful and professionally made film - and others with the same message (not story-line per se!) in which the viewer is prepared scene by scene, dialogue by dialogue, as to how he has to think and reason; 'Go to sleep, the State has integrity, watches over you and saves you'.
Mission accomplished.