Review: Bubble / directed by Steven Soderbergh

Steven Soderbergh's latest venture into avant garde cinema has generated a lot of attention - the majority of which centers on the film's unique marketing campaign. While this is certainly worth discussing, the film itself is equally notable. When Mark Cuban set out to challenge the traditional Hollywood distribution, he sought out a filmmaker who is consistently challenging the rules of the Hollywood narrative. Even surrounded by major stars and a high budget with Ocean's 12, Soderbergh did not stray from his distinctive aesthetic, and was never hesitant to experiment.


Bubble finds Soderbergh teaming up with his Full Frontal screenwriter Coleman Hough. For that 2002 film, Soderbergh experimented with different video formats and actor improvisation, while not allowing his actors (including Julia Roberts) to wear makeup. The film was interesting theoretically, yet somewhat challenging to sit through. With Bubble, however, he succeeds - creating an intriguing film that is also anti-Hollywood, shooting in a small, rural Ohio town, with a complete cast of non-actors.


Debbie Doebereiner is not a movie star; she manages a Kentucky Fried Chicken in West Virginia. The honesty and authenticity she brings to her role as Martha is a testament to both her natural screen presence, and Soderbergh's skill with actors. All the principal characters are doing one thing - surviving. They work at a doll factory in a poor community, where some are forced to work multiple jobs. They make barely enough to save, and do not really think about leaving. The less said about the plot the better - so as not to disrupt the experience. For the first half, Soderbergh keeps things simple - a slow pace and simple conversations, as he builds tension towards the mystery that eventually unfolds. Soderbergh changes tone in the last third, delivering a haunting finish, while never disrupting the pacing he initially established.


Soderbergh has always been a director who likes to get behind the camera and be his own director of photography. He makes great use of the rural landscape, and utilizes the factory as a source of tension. Using only natural lighting, these characters have nothing to hide behind. With a simple approach, Bubble is a triumph of independent cinema, as Soderbergh is one of the gifted few who can challenge viewers, while also telling a great story.

4 STARS (out of 5)

::2 Related Links::
1•Bubble: Experimental Films Meets Experimental Marketing
2•Bubble Hits Theaters, Gets Positive Reviews