Side Effects (2005)

A young woman fumbles with love and ethics as she navigates a career with one of corporate America's darlings...the pharmaceutical industry.

Director:

Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau

Writer:

Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau

Stars:

Sandy Adell, David M. Ames, John Apple

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sandy Adell	...	Dr. Jones
David M. Ames	...	Dr. Jakobs (as David Ames)
John Apple	...	Plant Manager (as John L. Apple)
Ron Baumgartner	...	Business Man @ Plant
Collin Spencer	...	T. Bates (as Collin Bernhardt Spencer)
Bill Bolz	...	Scary Man (as William Bolz)
Stacy Brickson	...	Dr. Collins
Nathan Caracter	...	Recruiter
Tom Christianson	...	Dr. Michaels (as Tom Christensen)
Nathan Connor	...	Scott
Janet Cresson	...	Debbie
Tom Curtis	...	Dr. Allen
Dorian DeMichele	...	Jacqueline
David Durbin	...	Dan (as Dave Durbin)
Lee Ernst	...	Jack Klug

Storyline

Karly Hert 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, they fall in love with each other. Karly gives herself a deadline 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. When the anti-depressive Vivexx is approved by FDA, Karly finds that there are medical reports showing liver 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.

---

Plot Keywords:

panties | bra | concealed nudity | pharmaceuticals | corporate | 

---

Taglines:

a satirical look at the pharmaceutical industry

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for momentary language and brief sexuality.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 September 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Efeitos Colaterais

Filming Locations:

Madison, Wisconsin, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,216, 11 September 2005

Gross USA:

$2,216

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,216

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mo Productions

Technical Specs

Color:

Color (Technicolor) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although unrelated to Steven Soderbergh's movie of the same name, both movies deal with the side effects of a fictitious anti depressant and the way the pharmaceutical industry deals with such issues.

---

Goofs

It seems that almost every time the one or more characters walks in front of a window, you can see the crew in the reflection, especially car windows.

---

Soundtracks

WALK THOSE SHOES
Performed by Heathrow
Written by Fletcher / Kurth / Lahl / White
Courtesy of Easter Records

User Reviews

Decent Look at the Inside

Side Effects is a movie that really suffers because of its budget. I think with more money there could have been more done to make this movie better. It basically ends up being an OK movie with a good heart and brain.

The movie plays up the ridiculousness of the American pharmaceutical business and does a good job of it. The story is really alright and I only have minor qualms with the script. The acting (aside from Heigl, who was great aside from her strange tantrum scene) is poor at best and some of the shots had me shaking my head. There seemed to be an inordinate amount of closeup shots of actor's faces in this film. I started realizing about halfway through the film how everything felt like it was zoomed in when it was just one person on screen.

The movie's got a good moral to it and I enjoyed the Madison backdrops, but with a little better funding and maybe some better editing and camera work, it really could have been a better film.

5 out of 10.