Bubble

Bubble likely marks Steven Soderbergh’s least accessible and most lethargically-paced film to date, which is no small feat considering the sort of work the filmmaker has produced in the past (eg Full Frontal, Solaris, etc). And though the mundane vibe takes a while to get used to, there’s absolutely no denying that Bubble is – on the whole – an absolutely mesmerizing piece of work. With a cast comprised entirely of unknowns, the film revolves around three employees of a doll factory. There’s Kyle (Dustin James Ashley), an apathetic young man who lives in a trailer with his mother; Martha (Debbie Doebereiner), a friendly middle-aged woman who is stuck caring for her infirm father; and Rose (Misty Dawn Wilkins), a newcomer to the factory who takes an immediate shine to Kyle. Bubble feels more like a debut film rather than the latest effort from an accomplished director, due primarily to Soderbergh’s incredibly low-key stylistic choices and the absence of professional actors (the movie is filled with weird, emotionless performances). Yet despite the film’s obvious deficiencies, there’s something strangely hypnotic about all this; Soderbergh’s gift for storytelling has never been more evident, and the striking visuals and memorable score (by Robert Pollard) lend Bubble an unforgettable sort of quality (ie this is the kind of movie that rattles around in your brain long after the end credits have rolled).

*** out of ****