Steven Soderbergh turns 58! Remembering the best works of the talented American filmmaker.

He was the youngest winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. He shot an entire film on a seventh-generation iPhone. He created an interactive series where the viewer decides how to follow the story. He left cinema and made a triumphant return. He directed films that became genre benchmarks and others that critics tore to shreds. He won an Oscar for the wrong film. He is Steven Soderbergh, and he has been delighting us with his experiments for over 30 years.

We took on the daunting task of selecting the best works from the rich filmography of the director, screenwriter, cinematographer, and editor. And here's what came out of it.

Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)

In his debut film, which became a true sensation of independent cinema, Steven Soderbergh skillfully balances on the edge between voyeurism and genuine feelings. In this film, the director blurred the line between the audience and the characters on screen. We literally peek into the lives of ordinary, essentially bourgeois characters played by Andie MacDowell, Peter Gallagher, and James Spader, who played the role of a lifetime. We look less at their bodies and more at their souls. We delve into their essence through the prism of non-obvious dialogues. And even now, over 30 years later, it remains damn interesting and mesmerizing.

Erin Brockovich (2000)

Not only is 'Erin Brockovich' a well-directed and enjoyable film featuring one of Julia Roberts' most outstanding performances. Not only does it still spark discussions and debates among film enthusiasts, and is even quoted by the group Lonely Island. Your humble servant knows of cases where this film is shown at corporate trainings to draw inspiration for the right attitude toward work, the desire to get to the truth, and the ability to connect with people. That alone is enough to confidently say the film has stood the test of time. And it is for this film that Soderbergh should have won the Oscar back then, rather than for the far more pedantic and unemotional 'Traffic,' released the same year.

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

In cinema, it's quite rare for a remake to be even half as good as the original. But sometimes it does happen. And that's what happened with Steven Soderbergh, who refreshed and reimagined the 1960 hit, assembling a whole constellation of talented and popular actors in one frame: from George Clooney and Brad Pitt to Julia Roberts and Andy Garcia.

It turned out stylish, witty, spirited, and engaging for a wide audience. It's no exaggeration to say that 'Ocean's Eleven' is a benchmark in the heist film genre.

Side Effects (2013)

Steven Soderbergh is a rare all-rounder who works equally effectively and impressively across various film genres, whether it's an intimate conversational drama or a rollicking comedy. But he still favors one direction more than others: thrillers. And perhaps 'Side Effects' is his best attempt in this field.

An engaging and unpredictable plot, femme fatales, relevant social themes, a hypnotic visual style, and a talented quartet of actors (Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Channing Tatum, Catherine Zeta-Jones) — in this film, Steven Soderbergh uses every available tool to entertain the audience and creates exemplary genre cinema with them.

The Knick (2014-2015)

Steven Soderbergh manages to create conditions on set where even already renowned actors manage to squeeze the maximum out of their abilities and talents. No one doubted that Clive Owen is one of the best actors of his generation, but he rarely gets material that matches his skills and abilities. 'The Knick' gave him a chance to show himself in all his glory.

The story of a brilliant doctor who is bent on self-destruction, surrounded by death everywhere, turned out to be remarkably engaging and ambiguous. It's simply impossible to tear yourself away from watching this multi-episode artistic masterpiece.

Written by:

• Roman Kovalev
• Varvara Ulianenok

And what is your favorite Steven Soderbergh film or TV series? Share your picks in the comments.