By rights, “District 9″ should probably have bypassed theaters and gone directly to On Demand cable tv and dvd. It features a cast of relative unknowns, an untested director, and a modest $30 million dollar budget. And so “District 9″ failed to be the hyper publicized escapism that so many of its’ top grossing predecessor’s had. Instead, a miracle occurred; “District 9″ triumphed and shone as daringly original film that at times will make you want to stand up and cheer.
Twenty years ago, an alien craft arrived on Earth by virtue of the fact they literally ran out of gas. Since nobody could locate the intergalactic AAA card, they’re stranded and forced to live a poverty level life in shantytowns. There they are exploited by Nigerian crimelords looking to gain possession of alien weapons, as well as including them as ritual sacrifices in voodoo ceremonies. A corporation called the Multi National Unit (MNU) has been charged with moving the refugee extraterrestrials to a settlement outside of Johanesburg, because of the escalating conflict between humans and aliens. After a long history of racial segregation, it is an ironic plot twist that has White and Black Africans joining to oppress an race of alien immigrants. It has been written that many envisioned a time when both human races worked together, but it’s doubtful they were thinking of that.
We then meet Wilkus Van De Merwe, a rather dim and hapless MNU middle manager who is given the job of evicting the aliens from District 9 mainly because he married the boss’ daughter. Rather out of his depth, his bravado and condescending attitude towards the aliens evaporates the same time he accidently sprays himself with an alien biochemical. His body slowly metamorphasizing into what he’s always looked down on soon becomes the least of his problems. His father-in-law wants to dissect him, to learn how to combine alien and human DNA in order to operate the advanced interstellar weapons confiscated in District 9. A local crimelord wants to eat him, as part of a voodoo practice to gain his powers, Now a wanted man, Wilkus has no choice but to flee to the very place he wanted to demolish and seek help from an alien he only hours before threatened and humiliated. But in his darkest hour, this small and officious man will discover the hero within and the courage to help those who have so desperatly needed that hero.
If anyone has any doubt as to the ability of director Neil Blomkamp, the first fifteen minutes of the film will permanently erase it. There’s nary a dull moment in “District 9″, as he effeciently estabelishes the film’s backstory before moving full speed ahead with the rest of the film. Even more impressive are the battle sequences staged expertly in the film. These aren’t simply bloodless skirmishes with tons of ammo spent and few casualties. This is blood splattering combat that’s Creatine fueled and hits you with the impact of a Lexi assault rifle. The script is also amazing and not simply by creating an incredibly original scenarion. Blomkamp and co-writer Terry Tachell make the aliens three dimensional creatures, who make us feel their anger and desperation at their plight. Even nicer is the small details, such as their obsession with cat food or even their racial slur (prawns). However, the brief mention of interspecies sex any sane person could have done without.
In a film where most of the memorable characters are computer generated, Sharlto Copley is truly brillant as the coporate yes man/weasel Wilkus. His transformation is a revelation, from a man who simply takes orders to one who fights a squad of mercenaries and damn near decimates them. Even more amazing is that Copley is not really an actor by profession; God can only guess where he channelled the emotions for this performance, but Sharlto, keep ‘em coming. Watching him blossom from spineless company man to one who’ll stand up and fight once his eyes were opened will not just make you want to applaud. You’ll clap until your palms bleed, then you’ll wildly keep doing it until your wrist muscles collapse.
From a humble beginnings as a six minute short film, “District 9″ isn’t the little film that could. It’s the little film that could, did, and then, left the competion in its flaming wake. This isn’t just a science fiction film with sociological overtones. It’s a movie with a beating heart and a vibrant soul. One that reminds us that no matter what we were, we can change to be so much more.
Neill Blomkamp (director) / Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell (screenplay)
CAST: Sharlto Copley … Wikus Van De Merwe
Jason Cope … Grey Bradnam – UKNR Chief Correspondent
Nathalie Boltt … Sarah Livingstone – Sociologist
Sylvaine Strike … Dr Katrina McKenzie
Elizabeth Mkandawie … Interviewee
John Summer … Les Feldman – MIL Engineer
William Allen Young … Dirk Michaels
