CONAGION was a more plot-driven film than it was character-driven. The ensemble of "star names" listed above and the other characters who we follow become a minor supporting role to the leading character, the leading character being Humanity.
This film really missed the mark for me. It was entertaining, but it left too many unanswered questions, too many plot holes, and not enough resolution.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle