All hail the major new talent in science fiction: Neill Blomkamp.
District 9 is a fantastic film and one that shocks and surprises in just about every department. The less you know about the story the better, but I’ll reveal as much as the original teaser does: aliens arrived in the city of Johannesburg some time ago. Instead of being welcomed by humans, they have been herded into a slum known as District 9.
It’s been some time since science fiction has been so… in your face. That the film is set in South Africa has obvious links to recent history, and when you consider that all of the aliens have been numbered and catalogued we see that the film is particularly damning of the human race in general. It’s either a wake up call – suggesting that our moral standards require constant vigilance – or a depressing condemnation of human nature.
Science fiction is predominantly concerned with humans entering the dominion of the gods (Prometheus, fire, yada yada yada… ) and as such questions what makes us human. This is exactly what District 9 is about. Effectively based on Blomkamp’s short film ‘Alive in Joburg’, it’s a tragedy/horror/action film hybrid. The steady escalation of events is masterfully handled and I assure you that by the ten minute mark you’ll have absolutely no idea how it’s going to end (which is quite a rarity, really).
That the film is so immersed in Johannesburg makes it a fascinating watch. Unlike any other alien invasion movie, we have no idea what the President of the United States thinks, because he’s entirely irrelevant. This is about the people on the ground, the inhabitants that have had their world shaken since the aliens arrived. There’s some fantastic acting, the main focus coming from Sharlto Copley as Wikus, a most unlikely lead character.
The special effects are fantastic and with a budget almost one sixth of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, it goes to show how a bunch of dropkicks were in charge of that ill-conceived toy commercial. It comes as no surprise that Peter Jackson has supported this film and Blomkamp almost every step of the way – he’s a major talent, and – incredibly – only 30. (Surely the powers that be will be letting his ill-fated ‘Halo’ adaptation go ahead, now… ) Sure, there are some weak moments, not to mention some biggish plot holes/unanswered questions, and I’m uncertain if the first act will be quite as involving on repeat viewings, but this is truly a film to be reckoned with.
If you’re only going to see one science fiction film this year, see District 9.