A Good Film, But Not an Evolution of “District 9,” More Like an Expensive Add-on
The year is 2154. Humanity has trashed the planet and completely divided into two societies: the poor live on Earth, ruining their health for pennies, while the rich have moved to the Elysium space station, where they have everything, including advanced medical pods that diagnose and cure any disease. Max (Damon) has dreamed of getting to Elysium since childhood, and now he has a significant incentive: he receives a lethal dose of radiation at work, which will kill him in five days. His only chance to survive is to reach one of the miracle pods on Elysium…
Filming took place back in 2011, and “Elysium” was originally scheduled for release in late 2012.
The incredible box office success of newcomer Neill Blomkamp’s “District 9” caught many by surprise, but the film was worth every dollar of the $210 million it earned worldwide. A technically polished sci-fi action film with a charming central actor, a powerful humanistic message, and, most importantly, made with soul, could not fail to resonate with audiences. We had to wait four years for Blomkamp’s second creation, but whether it was worth it is difficult to say right away.
Eminem was originally offered the lead role, but he insisted that filming take place in Detroit.
If we start with the good, then “Elysium” is, without a doubt, larger, more spectacular, and more thorough than “District 9” – it’s a big Hollywood sci-fi with a superbly crafted world, high-quality special effects, and a world-class star in the lead role. Frankly, after watching, you wonder: what do the masters of blockbuster construction manage to spend over 200 million dollars on if Blomkamp was able to make such a spectacular and action-packed film with special effects for only 90 million? The humanistic message and soul that secured “District 9’s” cult status are still present. The struggle of small but resilient people for dreams, the right to happiness, and life itself still occupy a central place in “Elysium.”
The Problem with Elysium
But this also leads to a problem: alas, for Blomkamp, this is just a repetition of what he’s already done, told on a new technical level, but not offering anything fundamentally new, a “clean” performance after a dress rehearsal (which was already brilliant). Yes, he expanded the world, deepened the story, added halftones where they were lacking, and introduced several bright characters, but he has already traveled a path that has already been explored. Which in itself is not so bad (after all, “Desperado” remained in history, and only purists now remember “El Mariachi”), but it may disappoint those who saw Blomkamp as an uncompromising genre reformer after “District 9.”
Sharlto Copley’s Performance
Interestingly, the most advantageous role is once again with Sharlto Copley – his vile mercenary Kruger easily removes everyone who is unlucky enough to be in the same frame with him. There are no authorities for him – whether it’s the noble charismatic Matt Damon or Oscar winner Jodie Foster, Copley once again shows the frantic energy of a young Robert De Niro. But his acting talent seems to be much more diverse: it’s hard to believe that the downtrodden “comrade Novoseltsev” from “District 9,” the dashing merry fellow from “The A-Team,” and the ruthless killer from “Elysium” are the same person.