The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland List: Steven Soderbergh Films

How often do you sit there thinking about what to watch? You might have an endless watchlist that keeps piling up (I certainly have one myself). Sometimes you are just in the mood for a type of film or a certain filmmaker or actor and want to take yourself into a deep dive. As someone who watches so many movies, I have people asking me for recommendations all the time. One of the best feelings as a cinephile is recommending a film and that person loves it. Take this wealth of cinematic knowledge and experience and enjoy some recommendations on me. Genre. Subgenre. Filmmaker. Actor. Composer. Writer. Genre. Story. Trope. Cliché. Any other cinematic elements or them. Here is The Wasteland List:   

Steven Soderbergh Films 

Sex, Lies, and Videotapes (1989) 

Soderbergh is an auteur filmmaker who makes plenty of experimental decisions from a filmmaker perspective but what is the film that put him on the map? Oddly, the answer is not a film bold for its craft but more for its raw honesty about taboo topics. Sex, Lies, and Videotapes is an engrossing cinematic experience that explores sexuality in a “no holds barred” way that leaves everything out there. The level of vulnerability on display is fascinating with the likes of James Spader and Andy McDowell delivering complex and empathetic performances that pull the audience in. The atmosphere and character work sells this early Soderbergh gem.

The Limey (1999)

What should you expect from a crime thriller from the late 90s and early 00s? You might be expecting something like a Guy Ritchie flick back that is certainly not what you get with Soderbergh’s The Limey. This is a cool and sleek film (the most obvious trademark of Soderbergh’s filmography) that takes a different approach to this genre. There are a few standout thriller moments including a car chase and a climactic shootout, but this film shines due to some filmmaking flourish that Soderbergh throws in (especially through the editing). The audience is also treated to a strong anchoring turn by Terence Stamp with a good collection of supporting character actors as well. Unique, cool, and challenging, Soderbergh just does crime thrillers differently.

Erin Brockovich (2000) 

What a great year 2000 was for Soderbergh, right? This man tore up the awards circuit with two fantastic films. The first recommendation here is a great character piece wrapped in a compelling tale of corporate greed. Erin Brockovich is both an inspiring tale of a woman stepping up and taking on the dangerous actions of big business while also shining a spotlight on the potential harm that a lack of environmental regulation can have. Julia Roberts makes this a must-watch film with her presence and endless charisma filling up the screen. Throw in strong support turns from Albert Finney and Aaron Eckhart and you have yourself an engaging and poignant true story brought back to life on screen.

Traffic (2000) 

How did Soderbergh one-up himself back in 2000? Traffic. This has that distinct visual filter that Soderbergh’s films generally have while crafting a compelling tale with multiple stories threaded together. This web of pain and suffering captures the layers of the war against drugs. Looking at affluent white society and the seediness exposed underneath, Traffic will put many people into uncomfortable experiences. Government agents. Spouses of drug kingpins. Informants. There are plenty of engrossing and poignant narrative threads. The cast is fantastic with the likes of Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Benicio Del Toro delivering powerful and impactful turns. Engrossing and challenging, Traffic is one of Soderbergh’s most timely efforts.

Ocean’s Eleven (2001) 

What is the coolest film ever made? Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven. That might be a bold statement to make but Ocean’s Eleven is indeed that sleek and cool. Danny Ocean is one of the coolest and smoothest leading men in any movie with George Clooney delivering in every conceivable way. Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Andy Garica, and so many talented performers fill out this stacked ensemble. The heist elements are the blueprint for the whole genre. Clever storytelling keeps the mystery going and helps deliver some satisfying resolution. The cinematography is sleek and engrossing with each shot full of personality and craft. Soderbergh goes commercial but never lets up on his filmmaking craft and that makes this remake so successful and hilarious. 

Magic Mike (2012) 

Wait…Soderbergh made that male stripper movie? That might be a shocking twist that an auteur like Soderbergh delivers a steamy and beloved film for many women out there. But if you watch Magic Mike…you realize that it is so much more than just a male stripper movie. Channing Tatum was made for this role as he channels his life before acting as he delivers on all the impressive physicality. But other actors like Matthew McConaughy fill out the rest of this cast with some impactful performances. This drama is full of drugs, betrayal, and the struggle. Sure…Soderbergh’s impressive filmmaking skills brings a lot to the many stripper sequences but there is a lot more depth of character and story in Magic Mike than its reputation might lead on.

Behind the Candelabra (2013) 

Soderbergh can do it all, can’t he? He even hopped over to television and delivered impressive made-for-television films that still felt like they had the craft of a theatrical release. For the record…Behind the Candelabra does not feel like an HBO original film. The flare and style of Soderbergh’s talents leave prints all over this biopic about the lover of megastar musician Liberace. Michael Douglas and Matt Damon deliver a pair of impressive performances with excellent chemistry. Douglas channels the big personality and bigger presentation of Liberace. This is a twisted, engrossing, and slick romance that rises so high and comes crashing back down. The costuming, music, sets, props, and hairstyling is just top notch as the world of Liberace is brought to life in such an impactful way.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Logan Lucky (2017) 

How about Ocean’s Eleven…but for rednecks? Trade out Las Vegas flare with NASCAR chic and you get Soderbergh’s Logan Lucky. This film has all the perfectly executed blueprints for a heist film like Ocean’s but delivers such a unique and different vibe and atmosphere. Few heist films focus on blue collar and grass roots folks like the Logans. This is effortlessly hilarious and has plenty of tension and suspense (thanks to the impressive efforts of Soderbergh…as always). The cast really pulls this endlessly entertaining film to life with Channing Tatum and Adam Driver leading them away as the titular Logans. But it is Daniel Craig who shines as the redneck explosives expert on the job that sells this film so well. A great ensemble paired with slick filmmaking makes this such a fun and charming entry for Soderbergh.

Unsane (2018) 

How scary can one of Soderbergh’s films be? Unsane feels like quite the diversion for Soderbergh. He has plenty of films that leverage tension and suspense but a psychological horror/thriller like this one is new for him. Presence is a strong and ambitious entry in his filmography, but it is Unsane that showed the other side of Soderbergh first. Claire Foy leads the way in the paranoia driven and stuffed thriller. Soderbergh and Foy make the audience think that they just might be going insane as well. All shot on an iPhone, Soderbergh can creep on the characters from places where you are not used to having cameras. Engrossing, unnerving, and downright haunting, this is one of the most ambitious and unique films in Soderbergh’s career.

Black Bag (2025) 

Soderbergh still has it, obviously? It is 2025 and he delivered two impressive films, and Black Bag is the one that is the big winner. Soderbergh has tackled espionage with films like Haywire (a bonus recommendation) but this is certainly the better effort. The perfect combination of style, mystery, and thrills, Black Bag is stuffed with perfect sequences that navigate strong character work, develop narrative intrigue, and drills into some effective motifs and themes. Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett play quite the spy couple as they attempt to uncover some dastardly treason. The rest of the cast is filled with talented performers (for the most part) who maximize their screen time and add layers to this lean thriller. Style everywhere. Tension and paranoia mounting. Plenty of emotion underneath. Black Bag is another impressive effort from the legendary auteur.