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District 9

By David Hollingworth
10:53 Aug 18, 2009 | 14 Comments
Tags: District | 9 | movie | review
District 9
 
92
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Verdict:
Intelligent and gripping science fiction.

Quite possibly a contender for sci-fi film of the decade, District 9 is sci-fi with a conscience and a heart.

The bureaucrat talks into the camera, explaining an alien gang sign, while a curious alien loiters in the background, looking slightly nervous, and still kind of curious. It's hard to tell which one of the figures is less at ease - the chitinous visitor from another world, or the white-shirted functionary wearing an ill-fitting bullet-proof vest. And it's just one of many wonderfully constructed scenes showcasing the divide - or lack thereof - between what we call human and what we fear for its otherness.

District 9 is that kind of film, the kind that makes you want to wax lyrical about the Kafka-esque overtones, or rave about the subtle and understated performances from a cast of largely unknown, untrained actors. But don't let my intellectualising fool you. As subtle and even lyrical as some of District 9's storytelling is, it still has a lot of balls to the wall action to deliver, some freaky-cool aliens, and some awesome technical production design.

It really is just about as perfect a piece of thoughtful science fiction cinema that I've seen since 2001, or Soderberg's remake of Solaris.

It opens simply, in a faux documentary style complete with interviews after the fact. It's intimated early on that District 9's central character, Wikus Van De Merwe, has been responsible for something big, but we don't learn exactly what, only that it's almost beyond the comprehension of those left behind, like his wife and co-workers. Then we flash forward to Wikus himself, before it all goes bad.

As lead characters go, he's pretty much the ultimate dweeb. Think someone like Ricky Gervais' character from The Office and you're not far wrong, and it's an interesting choice for someone we're meant to follow through an at times complex plot. But what it does is lend the film an incredible air of truthiness (to borrow from Colbert), and make the character's remarkable journey all the more impactful.

Even more impressive is the fact that Sharlto Copley hasn't really acted before, apart from a small role in Neill Blomkamp's short film Alive in Joburg (which was the inspiration for D9). Sharlto's presence is amazing, at once entirely natural and perfectly intense. In fact, pretty much every performance is note-perfect, especially some of the talking head documentarians that provide the backstory for the shadowy District 9 itself. Blomkamp has extracted some very nuanced performances, largely through trusting his actors to develop and improvise their characters as they filmed.

Similarly, the choice to keep the film set in Johannesburg, rather than locating it in, say, the usual spot for Alien encounters, the USA, means that D9's tale of segregation, fear of the other and corporate greed has an overwhelming sense of belonging. And it didn't hurt that the crew could shoot the film in real slums and shanty towns. Some audiences may find the South African accents impenetrable, but it really does work to make the film ultimately believable.

But, as good as D9 is - and it is very good - one can't help but come away from the film a little sad, feeling that Blomkamp and producer Peter Jackson lost the chance at something possible even greater. Looking at D9's slick action sequences, remarkable set and effects design, you can't help but get the feeling that if the pair had been able to make Halo, it would have been something truly remarkable.

And yet we should be happy that Jackson felt he had such a talent on his hands he could give him $30 million to make something else - and something remarkable at that.

 
Product Info
Specs:
Director: Neill Blomkamp Starring: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt
Supplier:
price check*
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$17.20 SPHE District 9 (Steel Slip Case) [9317731079917]Release Date:25 Oct 2010(M...
MegaBuy Technology Superstore (QLD)
$25.49 MAD District B13 [9322225058446]Release Date:09 Jul 2008(MA15+) Shipping ge...
MegaBuy Technology Superstore (QLD)
$34.46 SPHE District 9 [9317731074141]Release Date:30 Dec 2009(MA15+) Shipping gen...
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$34.46 PAR District 13: Ultimatum [9339065005257]Hot on the heels of the impressiv...
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14 Comments
orcone
Aug 18, 2009 11:01 AM
"Fook, oh fook,oh fook!"
orcone
Aug 18, 2009 11:02 AM
Oh, and our shit will be ruined in 3 years time.
Hawkeye
Aug 18, 2009 11:10 AM
I for one welcome our Prawn overlords.
Malkieri
Aug 18, 2009 11:16 AM
Saw this last sunday, one of the better movies I have seen in a long time. Even though the effects were top-notch (thanks to WETA!) it didn't get lost an become the effects-driven crap we've seen so much of recently (usually via Michael-explosions!-Bay).

It's fooking good (nice one orcone!)
Krispy89
Aug 18, 2009 1:05 PM
Two words: VISUAL EFFECTS and FRACKING AMAZING.

Well, that's four words but anyway.

If you haven't seen this movie yet, then what the hell are you doing here?
Pepsi
Aug 18, 2009 4:22 PM
It was good although could have been better. The effects where pretty amazing. The only thing I found, it was weird to begin with but got better and better in my honest opinion.

If I was to do an alien film, I would have picked the 'Grey's as my alien choice. 8/10.
thesorehead
Aug 18, 2009 5:15 PM
ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. Hollywood action/adventure these days is dominated by novel, comic and TV rip-offs. Original content? In my cinema? OMGWTFBBQKITTENSWIFMITTENS!!!!11oneoneoneeleven

It's good that there's a built-in sequel-timer. Gives Blomkamp and Jackson the time to consider and solidify in their minds the fact that a sequel would be a BAD IDEA.

Having said that, with this kind of creativity behind the original it's possible that District 10 will be to District 9 as Aliens was to Alien, or Terminator 2 was to The Terminator: Very different, but truly a worthy successor.
20GOTO10
Aug 18, 2009 9:30 PM
Fook me. one o them smart filums. Well spotted Hollingsworth. I shan't fire you now...
HuntedWumpus
Aug 18, 2009 11:04 PM
The Candy man is here!
Betzie
Aug 18, 2009 11:19 PM
The part where the media portrayed him having sex with the alians was where he lost me.

Quite an effort though, pretty solid movie otherwise.
Tyno
Aug 19, 2009 5:17 AM
The last movie I saw before this was GI Joe so this was heaven to me. Though I am confused that the prawns could actually get anywhere since the majority didn't seem to bright. Look cat food, om nom nom.
Negotiator
Aug 19, 2009 8:25 AM
I posted about this in the green room ages ago. Looks awsome
Woomera37
Aug 21, 2009 10:15 AM
I'll have to wait for this on a tor or DVD. About the only thing I miss about the city. Also have you seen the trailer for AVATAR (due out Dec09). Its a sort of Mechs V's Furrie/elf/blue giraff.
FileAnt
Sep 25, 2009 3:31 PM
*minor spoilers*

I think the cat food was just a joke to disconcert you, I mean dog food is almost the same. Anyway most of the prawns were suppose to be 'different' they were workers. They were not really dumb, rats are smarter than cats but ignore humans more... a bit like the prawns. They were smarter than us but did not look up to us or down at us. They did not seem to value life but the leader valued aspects of life, "a fair go" I suppose. They also did not kill for pleasure or out of fear, unlike humans. They just killed you if you annoyed them too much, also unlike humans.
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