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South African director Neill Blomkamps's District 9 fuses modern directing and editing with science fiction and racial allegory to come up with the best wide release action film of the year. Peter Jackson's seal of approval as producer is likely responsible for the films initial box office success but positive word of mouth will power this film for the weeks to come.
Praise has been heaped upon the film as a racial allegory utilizing a stranded alien race in South Africa to represent the inhumanity of apartheid. Viewing the film as a direct commentary on apartheid is probably a little strong but in a summer filled with action movies designed to sell toys a film that builds action out of a plot with any intelligence is deeply appreciated.
Lead Sharlto Copley, playing Wikus Van De Merwe, electrifies the film with his performance. His anonymity pays off beautifully for the role and his transformation from innocent ignorance to disenchanted rebel carries the film. He works for MNU, the worlds leading weapons manufacturer, who won the contract to manage District 9 after two decades of government failures. In footage taken from a documentary, Wikus explains the coming alien eviction from Johannesburg and their eventual move to a new facility. The blundering idiocy he portrays is deep but he manages to be a good-natured fool. When his father-in-law, CEO of MNU, puts him in charge of the eviction the foreshadowing is very evident as is the corruption within MNU.
The early portion of the film gives the back-story and follows the MNU eviction crews serving notice to the aliens in a documentary style that is surprisingly effective. The characters play to the camera in blatant corporate pandering designed to portray MNU as humanitarians but actually displays their dark side. The tacit acknowledgment that documentary footage can be manipulative allows the material to be richer and have some depth of meaning. Thankfully, the film recognizes when this style runs out and utilizes more standard methods of narrative filmmaking as well. These later sequences are shot mostly handheld allowing the two distinct styles to merge effectively.
A superb sci-fi/action hybrid flying in the face of overpriced Hollywood action movies. Reportedly made for thirty million dollars, (in comparison G.I. Joe cost $170 million+) the film relies on original ideas, distinctive style and great storytelling instead of expensive stars and overblown special effects. A refreshing movie with ideas as big as the action District 9 is a summer movie that does not require a switched-off brain.
***1/2/****
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