REVIEW: ‘District 9′ is proof that you don’t need a big budget to produce one of the best movies of the year!
At first glance, it may appear that District 9 is just another sci-fi action movie about scary aliens who come to Earth. I mean, how many times have we seen this played out on the big screen? Who could get psyched up about a low-budget ($30 million) sci-fi movie starring a no-name lead actor (Sharlto Copley)? Haven’t we had enough of predictable sci-fi movies? Well, brace yourselves everyone. District 9 may not be what you are expecting.
The biggest draw for this movie has been a very well-made trailer (see below), and the fact that Peter Jackson is producing. But trust me when I say that the trailer does not tell you the whole story. And quite frankly, you will see that this movie is about much more than what the trailer reveals.
To state it bluntly, this movie is a masterful creation that took me by surprise. From the grainy, realistic style of the movie, to the incredible performance of Sharlto Copley’s first big screen appearance, this movie is one that never bores and is never predictable. You will find yourself wondering who you should be cheering for throughout this movie. And it is that uncertainty that makes this movie so absorbing. You find yourself questioning your early notions from the film’s beginning as it progresses through it’s intricate plot. And it maintains your attention throughout.
The film is based on a short story titled “Alive in Joburg” by Neill Blomkamp. Blomkamp was originally contacted by Peter Jackson to make a film adaption of Halo, a very popular video game series. The Halo project fell apart due to internal conflicts between Fox, Universal, and Microsoft. So Jackson and others decided to provide Blomkamp support for another film project. And that is how District 9 began. Blomkamp was given directoral duties for a feature film based on his short story. And this may very well be why the film turned out to be so compelling. After all, who knows better how to portray the tale than the author himself?
The movie takes place in Johannesburg, South Africa as an alien ship settles over the city and fails to leave after three months. Humans decide to cut their way into the ship and discover sick and malnurished alien beings inside. These aliens are eventually housed in a government camp referred to as “District 9″. As the area degrades into a slum, the aliens strive to survive by scavenging the area and by setting up a black market with a group of Nigerians. Tensions rise and the local humans demand that the aliens be moved outside of the city of Johannesburg.
A private company called Multinational United (MNU) is placed in charge of District 9, and they in turn place an operative by the name of Wikus van der Merwe (played by Sharlto Copley) in charge of relocating the aliens. To avoid any spoilers, I will refrain from commenting further about the plot of the movie. But I will mention that Copley does an incredible job of portraying a man who is struggling with his role in society. Throughout the film, he discovers that his loyalties may be misplaced. And he realizes that his place in society is not determined by his profession, but by his willingness to do the right thing through his own sacrifices. It is a story about a man who finds his true calling in life in a very unusual way. Although this is Copley’s first feature film performance, he plays the role as a seasoned veteran. Van der Merwe’s struggles in life are very believable. And it is easy to relate to his quest to find his purpose in life. Copley’s role is not a low-budget “good enough” performance. It is a convincing spectacle of a man finding himself through extraordinary circumstances. And rest assured, the plot is much more than what I’ve mentioned here.
But Copley’s performance is not the only reason to see this movie. Although this is a sci-fi film, it is easy to draw parallels between what the aliens experience and what humans experience today in real life. This film deals with how our society might struggle with a situation in which beings from another planet might become integrated into our own society. It deals with social class struggles, prejudices against those different from the norm, and also how one’s actions can be taken out of context due to ignorance of the situation. This movie makes statements, but it doesn’t smack you in the face with them like so many films today. It also addresses how groups of “beings” end up resorting to drastic measures in poor conditions when they feel their survival depends on it. There are plenty of parallels and contrasts between these aliens and the humans. And you find yourself uncertain as for whom you should cheer.
And let’s not leave out the artistry of the film making. This film had a $30 million budget, and yet the effects, the style, the sense of “being there” were all there. The effects were quite effective, and the alien weapons were to die for (literally). If you like realistic action with awesome weapons, then you’ll love this film. And even if you don’t like sci-fi action films, you will most likely find something compelling in this movie. Yes, it is THAT good.
Needless to say, I highly recommend this film. This is truly one of (if not THE) best film this year. It is unpredictable, full of action, and is a thinking man’s sci-fi film. Don’t judge this film by the trailor alone. The trailor is just a tool to set up the unpredictable plot, and it does a very good job of doing just that. The plot is multi-faceted and never lags. But with all of that said, I do recommend that you leave the young ones at home for this one. As I mentioned earlier, the weapons are VERY realistic and several of the scenes are quite graphic. But everyone else should definitely see this one. Go into this movie with an open mind, and you will leave very satisfied.
Oh, and be sure to check out D-9.com for some District 9 fun!
This one gets 4 1/2 kernels. This is a must-see. Yes, it is THAT good!!
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