Theatrical Review: District 9

Directed by: Neill Blomkamp

MPAA Rating: Rated R for bloody violence and pervasive language.

Runtime: 1 hr. 53 min

Theatrical Release: August 14, 2009 (wide)

Notable Cast: Sharlto Copely, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt, Sylvaine Strike, John Sumner

TRUE REVIEW*

Introduction: Thirty years ago, aliens made first contact with Earth. Humans waited for the hostile attack, or the giant advances in technology. Neither came. Instead, the aliens were refugees, the last survivors of their home world. The creatures were set up in a makeshift home in South Africa’s District 9 as the world’s nations argued over what to do with them. Now, patience over the alien situation has run out. Control over the aliens has been contracted out to Multi-National United (MNU), a private company uninterested in the aliens’ welfare — they will receive tremendous profits if they can make the aliens’ awesome weaponry work. The tension between the aliens and the humans comes to a head when an MNU field operative, Wikus van der Merwe, contracts a mysterious virus and quickly becomes the most hunted man in the world, as well as the most valuable — he is the key to unlocking the secrets of alien technology. Ostracized and friendless, there is only one place left for him to hide: District 9. – Yahoo!

Directing: ‘District 9′ is directed by first time director Neill Blomkamp, a truly stunning fact as Blomkamp makes the daunting task of directing a large scale film such as this one look easy. Blomkamp also co-wrote the screenplay, which gave him more control over the direction of the story as a whole and helped him to create the context in which we are viewing the events of the film. Blomkamp’s dark and sometimes brutal visual style is prevalent throughout the film, and his artistic vision delivers shivers and gasps throughout. The attention to detail Blomkamp demonstrates throughout is uncanny, and everything from the special effect rich action sequences to the truly emotional scenes are delivered with subtlety and expertise. The choice of a documentary narrative was a stroke of genius, as well as introducing us to lesser known actors, many of which have never appeared in anything else. Coupled with the modest yet realistic special effects, Blomkamp does an excellent job of immersing the audience into the haunting story of ‘District 9′.

Score = 4.5 out of 5

Acting: The diverse cast of ‘District 9′ lead by first time big screen actor Sharlto Copely does not disappoint. Each actor effectively personalizes the plot within each character’s life. From the countless MNU employees dealing with the alien situation, to the heartbreaking performance of Vanessa Haywood, the wife of MNU field operative Wikus van der Merwe, to the shockingly brutal, ruthless District 9 regulators, the film weaves together a strong supporting cast with a wealth of depth and emotion. However, the performance of Sharlto Copely is what ultimately drives the film, as he takes the audience on a roller coaster ride of love and hate for the character. Copely portrays this overtly evil and selfish character well, adding a subtext to the dialog and actions regarding the alien species. As the plot develops, we see a very different side to Wikus, and Copley’s portrayal adapts to the challenge, bearing the burden of the character’s torment.

Score =  4.2 out of 5

Cinematography/Editing: The cinematography and editing added to the suspense and realism throughout ‘District 9′. The film is mixed with a variety of color, black and white, and high and low quality footage which creates a perfect blend of cinematic artistry and raw documentary ambiance. In the film’s first reveal of the aliens within District 9, the editing style is rapid and facilitates the suspense and anticipation the audience is feeling throughout. The editing paired with the jerky camerawork and close-up shots of the aliens effectively sets up the dark, gory and sometimes brutal nature of the film. In another notable sequence, Wikus is being held against his will and experimented on by medical personnel within an MNU hospital. Upon the screen we see the graphic violence of this scene, assaulting us from all different angles through the lenses of what appear to be security cameras. Through this unique use of camera work we are shown the gravity of Wikus’ situation and the torture he has been put through. ‘District 9′ takes hand-held, jerky, guerrilla style camera work to an untouchable level.

Score =  5 out of 5

Plot: The plot of ‘District 9′ is incredibly unique, and evolves far beyond a typical alien vs. human Sci-Fi story. The cultural and societal back story of District 9 is laid out well in the beginning, and the situation resonates deeply with viewers as it portrays the reality of the life of a refugee. ‘District 9′ promotes awareness that whether the refugee is alien or human, in the present or in the future, the circumstances are the same. The movie is hard to watch at times, with many gory scenes entirely necessary to the plot. The rest of the plot plays out surprisingly realistically, as the bottom line becomes alien weapon exploitation. The plot also turns the tables on the viewer in the second and third acts, and makes us question everything we were meant to believe in the first act of the film. Overall, the unique and believable plot keeps us guessing until the very end.

Score = 4.6  out of 5

Redemptive Value: If I had to describe ‘District 9′ in one word, redemptive would be at the bottom of the list. The story, and the realistic way it is presented leaves a very unsettling feeling within the viewer as the screen fades to black and the credits roll. There seems to be little or no hope for man kind, as humans are the clear antagonists against the aliens. The aliens themselves are very creepy, and as the viewer is exposed to their behavior and treatment, they become pitiful and hateful creatures. There is only one small glimmer of hope that comes with the fate of the main character, but it isn’t enough to be satisfying. This is one film that definitely does not have a happy ending, and although I wouldn’t want it any other way, there is no redemption in District 9.

Score = 2.5 out of 5

Conclusion: After all is said and done, “District 9″ is an entirely unique and chilling concept that forces the viewer to take a candid look at deep cultural issues in the world today. The awe-inspiring special effects throughout set the stage for this futuristic thrill ride, and gives us a fun yet meaningful summer movie experience. If you’re looking for a film that will shock you and stimulate some brainwaves,  “District 9″ is a must see.

Overall Score = 4.2  out of 5