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Film review by Demetria Hamandishe
“Elysium” is an American science fiction action thriller written, co-produced and directed by Neil Blomkamp, the same man responsible for the much praised “District 9” (2009). “Elysium” goes over many of the same themes as “District 9” but differs in execution. The action switches between a dystopian looking planet Earth and a luxurious space habitat called Elysium. Blomkamp clearly wants the audience to sympathise with the impoverished inhabitants of Earth who are ruthlessly policed by sadistic androids and patronised by unfeeling robotic social workers.
This is wonderfully contrasted in the films’ early scenes with the tranquil serenity the inhabitants of Elysium enjoy; robots attending to every need and med bays which detect and eradicate all ailments, even cancer.
But, of course, because this is Neil Blomkamp, there must be a sinister edge to the Elysium calm. Therefore, we see Hollywood veteran Jodie Foster channelling Christine Lagarde (IMF boss) as Elysium’s Defence Secretary, Jessica Delacourt, calmly ordering the disposal of Earth citizens over tea.
This is clearly meant to satirise the attitudes of wealthy citizens everywhere, those living in gated communities come to mind. However, the film is rather weak in this area due to its lapse into a straightforward Hollywood style action plot.
This plot sees Matt Damon as Max Da Costa, a former car thief who lives in the ruins of Los Angeles and works on an assembly line of Armadyne Corp, a company which ironically makes the police androids which oppress him and his fellow humans.
Max suffers radiation poisoning in an accident and is sent home with a few pills and the knowledge he will die in five days. This leads him to resurrect a childhood dream he had to go to Elysium so he can be healed.
The film uses slightly corny, sepia tinted flashbacks showing Max’s childhood with a fellow orphan, named Frey but you have to pay attention to these scenes as they resonate throughout and especially at the end of the movie.
Max’s dream of reaching Elysium is compromised by the machinations of defence secretary Delacourt as the film settles into standard action film mode.
While this is not a bad thing in itself, some fans of Blomkamp (especially after “District 9”) may have wanted more of the satire and less of the routine fight sequences which permeate the latter half of the film. I’m among them.
There simply were not enough scenes of the like were Max is struggling to explain to a robot parole officer why he got into difficulties with a police android and is reminded that sarcasm is abusive and that abusing a government officer is a crime.
Despite the traditional action on display, the film’s visuals are top notch with the Elysium scenes matching the best of science fiction projections of the future.
The film looks good and the serviceable action scenes make for an entertaining one hour and 50 minutes. Just try not to compare it to “District 9”, you may be disappointed!
Online Reporter