Neill Blomkamp's District 9 (2009)

Science fiction tends to come in two distinct flavors -- the quiet, speculative, often mind-bending variety, such as 2001, Moon, and even Alien, and the much louder, effects-filled epics replete with the necessary levels of lasers and carnage. If you are wondering which category District 9 falls into, let me just say that there are a lot of lasers, and a lot, I mean a lot, of carnage. The film's excellent marketing campaign managed to keep people in the dark regarding the true nature of the plot of District 9 and I will attempt to do this same during the course of this review. This is a film that should be seen with as little prior knowledge as possible, as the impact of certain events is an experience one won't want to be cheated out of beforehand.

The first act of District 9 is comprised entirely of pseudo-documentary footage as we are introduced to an alternate reality where, in the late 1970s, a huge hulking and decrepit alien ship appeared hovering over Johannesburg, South Africa. The aliens, all two million of them, are promptly deposited in "District 9", a huge, guarded slum where they live in squalor. Tension is high among the human population, and most humans employ the derogatory term "prawn" when speaking of the aliens. The parallels to apartheid are quite obvious, yet the sheer originality of Blomkamp's vision produces a rather poignant look at the racism and discrimination that still dominates many areas of the globe. A private security firm, MNU, which specializes in weapons research, is brought in to manage "District 9". It's not hard to see why MNU would be interested, as the alien species possesses the most advanced weaponry on the planet. Once the stage has been properly set, we are introduced to Wikus van der Merwe (played by newcomer Sharlto Copley), an MNU field operative assigned with the task of the heading an operation to relocate the nearly 2 million aliens to a new "District 10" camp located 200 miles from Johannesburg. To say any more would be to spoil the many twists and turns of Blomkamp's screenplay. I was thrilled at the direction the film eventually takes -- the less one knows, the better.

Along with the great premise, there are two main reasons why District 9 succeeds so well, and yes, the film as a whole is a rousing success, and certainly the best science fiction film since Children of Men. The first, and in my mind, most important, is the central performance by Sharlto Copley. It's a great performance until you realize that Copley has never acted before ... ever. What was at first a great performance is all of a sudden a sensational turn, the excellence of which holds the film together throughout. The character of Wikus van der Merwe is no hero, but instead a very flawed individual who continually operates only in his self-interest, and yet the audience is still able to identify with, and root for Wikus despite his obvious character defects. This is a testament to the power of Copley's performance and it really does hold the entire film together.

The most discussed aspect of District 9 will no doubt be the action and special effects. I honestly have no clue how Neill Blomkamp and Peter Jackson were able to make this film for the reported $30 million as it honestly looks as though it cost four times that amount. Michael Bay, take note. The alien effects are totally believable and as they are immediately thrust in front of the audience, they soon come to be just another part of the background. The audience accepts the aliens as aliens, when in fact we know they are just CGI. They aren't even there to begin with. However, the excellent creature design and spot-on CGI allows the audience to suspend their disbelief and really immerse themselves in the events and actions that follow. And when the action finally does start, it does not disappoint. The alien technology gives Blomkamp license to create some awe-inspiring action sequences, complete with armored mechs and exploding bodies. Yes, this is definitely not a film for the kiddies. The second half of the film definitely has a much different tone than the first, as guns and explosions take precedent over back story and character development. Whether one view this as a positive or a negative is entirely up to the viewer. Personally, I didn't have a problem with the eruption of violence and gore, but I'm sure some will wish the film had a less violent and conventional conclusion.

Neill Blomkamp has made a rather remarkable film in District 9. With Sharlto Copley delivering one of the year's stand-out performances, a bevy of excellent and believable special effects, and an original and well-executed premise, I have no problem calling District 9 one of the best films of the year. 4.5 out of 5 stars.