Contagion has all the clichés of a typical disaster movie, but none of the excitement.

Can you all please stop going back to the future?

Wife does not believe professor husband was murdered as his best friend is released by police

It is, of course, possible, that the so-called "silly season", which ends officially this weekend, is in fact rather serious. All but a few politicians – those exhibitionists for whom August represents a career opportunity – have given us a rest from their yakking. There is little on TV. Most people have gone on holiday, reacquainting themselves with their families, seeing new places, reading books.

The American film director Steven Soderbergh's career has had more twists and drama than the kind of Rat Pack remake that made his name.

The Zack Snyder-directed Man of Steel is putting the finishing touches to an impressive cast ahead of the start-of-shoot in the autumn this year.

Crossing over from adult films to the mainstream isn't easy – but then Sasha Grey isn't your average ex-porn star, says Luke Blackall

The Week in Arts

Steven Soderbergh, one of Hollywood's best-known directors, as deft at making blockbusters as he is small arthouse films, is to quit filmmaking.

If you can repair a carburettor then you should have no trouble at all saving your own soul

As Mark Wahlberg and David O Russell score with their third collaboration, Leigh Singer celebrates top director/star combos

Actors risked frostbite and hypothermia on the set of Neil Marshall's Roman epic

Justin Kerrigan dedicates this tale of delusion and misadventure to his late father, who may have been the model for his protagonist.

Steven Soderbergh tries to turn this true story of corporate whistle-blowing into an offbeat comedy caper, complete with a swinging retro store, a stream-of-consciousness voice-over, and Matt Damon with an unflattering moustache.