District 9 Review
Midway through District 9, this viewer witnessed something slightly different than what was happening on-screen. X-Men Origins: Wolverine was zapped into oblivion while Star Trek was blasted through some shacks. Terminator Salvation and Angels & Demons where blown to smithereens, The Hangover and The Proposal ran when they saw Pelham 1-2-3 massacred as Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen had its head popped right off. The film apologized to Public Enemies before kicking it into an outhouse then proceeded to rip apart Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince limb from limb and used the pieces to beat down Funny People. Finally, it shook hands with G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra only to knee it where the sun don’t shine and slam the Eiffel Tower down on top of it.
If you require further explanation, District 9 has, hands-down, won the summer season.
In fact, it’s tempting to call this the best summer blockbuster since The Bourne Ultimatum. As in that picture, Neill Blomkamp keeps things squarely focused on two wonderful things that most action-blockbusters don’t: story and characters. Most are going to enter this picture expecting aliens to be shot to pieces and while we get that in some of the best action scenes of the year, all of it is motivated by the actions of its characters. The aliens aren’t just brilliant effects to be shown off, they are actual creatures living in a believable society. They’re not shot to be showy or boast what’s possible on a relatively small budget. No, these aliens are shot like actual, living beings and are treated as such throughout the film. And while often times this is done to hide some otherwise shoddy effects, District 9 features the best visual effects of the year. That’s right, a thirty million dollar picture has visuals that not only is on-par with it’s much bigger budgeted brethren, it’s better than almost all of them.
But again, it boils down to District 9 keeping it focused on the characters. We get to know the aliens and their lifestyle, and get a glimpse of how horribly they’re treated. Called ‘prawns’ (a derogatory term for the creatures, the film tells us), there’s no secret plan to take over the Earth or overthrow human beings. They’re just trying to live out their lives, much like our own kind does. The humans are the one’s pegged as the antagonists as they brutalize the prawns and force them from what they now call home with “District 9.” Perhaps our lead human, Wikus Van De Merwe is the one who brutalizes them the most (even if he doesn’t use brute force.) He’s portrayed by Sharlto Copely who effortlessly fits like a glove into this role. What’s amazing isn’t that Copely makes one feel so many different emotions over the course of the film, but that this is his first acting role and he’s this great. He brings it in a way few leading men have this year and creates pure acting magic. Copely may be a rookie but he shows true class and swagger as if he’s a seasoned veteran.
The same needs to be said for Neill Blomkamp who handles the project like was on his fifth or sixth film. While this utilizes shaky-cam techniques, it never goes overboard with them. The camera never shakes too much or zooms in or out for no reason. Blomkamp has a solid understanding of composition and general knowledge of how to tell a story. He’s only one film in and already he has a better filmography than Paul W.S. Anderson and Brett Ratner combined. Certainly, he knows how to make his characters seem real which is a feat considering most of them are CG. His visuals grasp hold of the audience and doesn’t let them go. He makes “D9″ a terrible place to live, and shoots it all very aggressively, only to film the softer moments with a sense of romance. The film has a very distinct look likely due to the cast and crew using the RED-One Camera. They couldn’t have picked a better film to showcase what their powerful cameras are capable of, nor a better cinematographer in Trent Opaloch to deliver flawless, beautiful visuals.
Are there faults with District 9? Nitpicks really. Without spoiling (as the less you know going in, the better) things are a little too convenient as Wikus wanders through the district. In addition, the themes Blomkamp and company want to convey are a little too obvious which isn’t a bad thing at all. Unlike some films that talk about every little detail of their commentary, District 9 opts to make it more obvious in it’s story. The filmmakers also don’t explain every little facet of why one things works a certain way or why does this effect a character. It’s fine that they don’t, but there are one or two things that could have used a bit more explanation. Some might complain that the pacing is off but they’re incorrect as District 9 moves at a perfect pace as it balances what a blockbuster should be.
Even then, District 9 is the clear winner of this summer season as it has arguably the best action sequences in addition to a story that is not brainless or stupid. The film calls back to movies like the original Day the Earth Stood Still or even Forbidden Planet when science fiction wasn’t about sleek visuals or how crazy one can make an orgy of action. District 9 has something to say and makes sure we don’t forget it. The story is involving and gets you into the mystery of what “District 9″ is and truly makes you care about creatures you wouldn’t want near you, just like the interviewees in the film.
Yet skipping over the action scenes would be an act of tyranny for District 9 never slows it’s action down to glorify the deaths, all of it happening very real and quick. What’s left is a film that will leave it’s mark well after the final reel has been shown and have folks discussing that they’ve just seen the next big film. It’s hard to believe it took this long into the summer to get it, but that film has finally arrived as District 9 is not just the best film of the summer, but also one of the top class of the year so far. Go, now.
