In 2009 the South-African director Neil Blomkamp surprised audiences with 'District 9'. A landmark film in the science-fiction genre. Now it's four years later and again Blomkamp has crafted a futuristic action movie with a brain. The film is called 'Elysium' and it's a perfect companion piece for 'District 9'.
'Elysium' paints a bleak future. You might think we have it bad right now but boy, wait until you get to 2154. Everywhere you look there's garbage and people living in squalor. There are law enforcing robots staring at you from every corner. And if you want a job you can go work at the factory. It's dangerous and monotonous but it does keep you off the street.
Your boss, though. He got a far better deal than you. That wealthy bastard gets to live on Elysium; a space station orbiting Earth. He's not alone up there. Nope, every rich son a bee lives in that artificial piece of heaven. It's awesome. There's no hunger or sickness and you'll never have to do any physical work ever! Obviously, the people who live on Earth feel a bit miffed by the fact they aren't allowed to live on Elysium.
Max is miffed too. Especially because he's only got five days to live after an accident at work. On Elysium he'd be cured in a second but on Earth he's a goner. So what would you do? Get you're irradiated ass to Elysium, of course! It isn't going to be an easy trip. For starters, the rich bastards don't take kindly to people coming for their home. Then there's the ruthless way they choose to do away with the people who try.
Matt Damon is Max. He's got the role of everyman down pat. It doesn't matter if he's working at a factory or kicking ass, he's entirely believable. Jodie Foster is rich bitch numero uno. She's not that threatening on her own but she does have a dog that bites. That dog is the ruthless Agent Kruger. It's a massively creepy role that should make Sharlto Copley into a household name (even though it's pretty difficult to pronounce).
Neill Blomkamp has created an intelligent bit of sci-fi. There's enough action to satisfy your average moviegoer but it also provides some healthy food for thought. In many ways Blomkamp's films evoke the work of Paul Verhoeven. Both are masters at infusing their action films with a wealth of ideas. Like Verhoeven, Blomkamp also has a fondness for ickyness. The violence is graphic and disturbing but it's never glorified.
On the contrary. Much like in 'District 9' the weapons are so brutally effective that using them could be considered cowardly. People are dismembered, decapitated and blown apart with only a slight squeeze of the trigger. But for all the violence and action, 'Elysium' never quite forgets what it's about. In its heart it's a movie about the ever growing divide between rich and poor. These days it is rare for a blockbuster to have not just a heart but a brain. And like any great science-fiction story, 'Elysium' is a compelling reflection on the human condition.
