Side Effects
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Written by Scott Z. Burns
Starring: Rooney Mara, Channing Tatum, Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones
Open Road Films
Rated R | 106 Minutes
Release Date: February 8th, 2013

Directed by Steven Soderbergh (Magic Mike) and written by Scott Z. Burns (Contagion), Side Effects begins as an exploration of the pharmaceutical industry and experimental mood-altering drugs. But slowly, Soderbergh’s film becomes something different altogether.

The film follows Emily (Rooney Mara) and her husband Martin (Channing Tatum), a New York couple whose world unravels when a new drug prescribed by Emily’s psychiatrist (Jude Law) – intended to treat anxiety and depression – has unexpected side effects.

Accustomed to a life of luxury and blissful matrimony, Emily’s world collapsed when her dream husband was arrested for insider trading. Since then, she has been struggling with depression and anxiety about the future, or her lack of one. After serving a 4-year prison term, Martin has returned home to help rebuild his life with Emily.

Emily begins seeing Dr. Jonathan Banks (Law), who recommends better living through chemistry via a new SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), Ablixa. In the past, Emily hasn’t had much luck with drugs like Prozac, Welbutrin, Zoloft, or Effexor, so she’s willing to try the pharmaceutical industry’s latest ‘miracle cure.’

The digital movie rental of the day over at Amazon today is David Fincher‘s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo for only $.99.

This deal is valid through today, Thursday, May 17, 2012, until 11:59pm PST. Once you activate the rental through Amazon’s Instant Video on demand service, you’ll have access to the movie for 24 hours. If you’re interested in purchasing the digital version, the cost is $12.99.

Also, if you’d like to own a physical copy of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, the Blu-ray/DVD Combo Edition is available for $22.44 while the DVD is $19.96. Both editions are part of Amazon’s “Buy This DVD and Watch it Instantly” program “” you get the film as a FREE digital rental you can watch immediately when your purchase the physical copy.

The cast of Steven Soderbergh‘s upcoming drama, Side Effects, is coming together, and now a new star has been brought in to replace the departed Blake Lively.

It’s being reported that Rooney Mara, star of David Fincher’s The Social Network and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, will replace Lively on the film, which will see her playing a highly depressed and overly medicated woman who’s anxious about her soon-to-be-released husband from prison.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Directed by David Fincher
Written by Steven Zallian
Starring Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgard, Steven Berkoff, Robin Wright, Goran Visnjic, Joely Richardson
Release Date: December 20, 2011

Crusading journalist and magazine publisher Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) has just taken a major hit to his finances and reputation in a libel suit brought against him by billionaire businessman Hans-Erik Wennerström (Ulf Friberg). As he’s trying to figure out his next move while keeping his personal life afloat, Mikael is summoned by retired industrialist Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) to his palatial estate on an island in the Swedish countryside. The older gentleman offers the disgraced Blomkvist a golden opportunity that will replenish his bank account and restore his reputation as an honest reporter if he will use his investigative skills to solve the mystery of the disappearance of Vanger’s great-niece Harriet, whom he believes was murdered four decades ago. Blomkvist is reluctant to take on such a task, but when Vanger also offers to give him the crucial evidence he needs to bring Wennerström to justice, the embattled writer accepts the job.

The promotional machine for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is up and preparing to crush the competition in the run-up to its theatrical bow next week and Entertainment Tonight, the show that once gave Cosmo Kramer seizures, has a preview of the forthcoming film. You can watch it here below.

There’s a bit of footage from the David Fincher-directed film along with interviews with stars Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara in the two-minute preview. If you’ve seen the various regular and extended trailers you won’t find anything new here. Mara discusses how she approached the character of Lisbeth Salander and Craig talks about shooting in the frigid climate of Sweden.