Steven Soderbergh followed up his slick, star-studded sequel, Ocean's Twelve, with Bubble, a small-town drama about workers in a doll factory, played by a cast of unknowns. Martha (Debbie Doebereiner) seems to have acclimated herself to a very simple life. She works at the factory, where she eats lunch with a younger co-worker, Kyle (Dustin Ashley), and goes home to take care of her elderly father. Her routine is disrupted when an attractive young woman, Rose (Misty Wilkins), is hired at the
factory to help them with the holiday rush. Rose soon tells the others that she's eager to leave their town, where there is "nothing to do." She immediately attracts Kyle's attention. One night, Rose asks Martha to baby-sit for her two-year-old daughter while she goes out on a date. Martha is startled to learn that her date is with Kyle. When Rose returns home that night, she's greeted by her angry ex-boyfriend, Jake (K. Smith), who accuses her of stealing from him. Martha looks on while Rose and Jake have a heated confrontation. The next morning, one of the characters is found murdered, and a detective (played by Decker Moody) begins to investigate. Bubble was written by Coleman Hough, who also scripted Soderbergh's Full Frontal. It was shown at the 2005 New York Film Festival, presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
Finally got around to seeing this film and was impressed with Soderbergh's experimental style. This guy continues to be one of best directors around today. Paul Chambers, CNN.
Bubble is an intriguing work for other reasons, though: in some ways, Soderbergh takes us back to his iconic debut, sex, lies and videotape, where realism was the film's most powerful weapon.
Appears at first glance to be either a violent attack on the white working poor, or not aggressive enough in its critique of the cultural degradation of that social class.
Versatile director Steven Soderbergh leaves the bright lights of Las Vegas far behind for this quiet, stark tale of friendship and murder in a small Midwestern town.
Where "Full Frontal" (also written by Coleman Hough) was Steven Soderbergh's ode to Polish meta-narrative and "Ocean's Twelve" was his valentine to Jean-Luc Godard, "Bubble" is Soderbergh's neorealism tribute. Employing non-actors (whom are all extremely potent) and filming in a real, decaying Ohio town (a doll factory
is at the center) Soderbergh proves how deadly the banal black holes of middle American can be in the 21st century. Watching as these people are ripped from their lives by impulsive crime (there is more going on here than just the murder for attentive viewers) is oddly harrowing. Steven Soderbergh has proved that he can deliver slick Hollywood entertainment like "Ocean's Eleven" and "Erin Brockovich" but it's the fact that he is able to pull off films like "Bubble" that prove he is a true filmmaker and artist. This is yet another truly unique Steven Soderbergh experience.
March 19, 2011
Steven Carrier
Super Reviewer
"Another Steven Soderbergh Experience" Set against the backdrop of a decaying Midwestern town, a murder becomes the focal point of three people who work in a doll factory. REVIEWA hypnotic and haunting art film from director Steven Soderbergh, Bubble tells the story of three Ohio factory workers and the
relationships that they share and fall into and out of. No description of the script or story, though, can hint at the amazingly simple, yet dark and fascinating portrait that Bubble displays of the three people's lives. It is expertly executed and performed, and it mesmerizes from start to finish. Cast with local non-actors (and at points filmed in their real-life homes), the acting is better than what one would expect from seasoned studio actors. Bubble stands apart from the crowd of other films that are out there. It may not be for everyone, but for any film buff that is interested in seeing a character study that is very different and original, it's definitely for you.
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