Culture

Rating: 4.5/5

Neill Blomkamp is still making science fiction film as it should be. His 2009 film District 9 proved that he could provide highly intelligent yet action-packed and highly accessible science fiction to mainstream cinema, and with his latest film Elysium he is once again pushing the science fiction genre up to a whole new level.

Elysium tells the story of a dystopian future in which the rich have left a polluted and over-populated Earth for a mechanical haven orbiting Earth called Elysium. This premise is the foundation for a fast-paced and exhilarating story that follows Hollywood narrative conventions closely enough to be an easy watch, but subverts them in unexpected and ingenious ways that will have you constantly enthralled.

The film stars Matt Damon and Jodie Foster, both of whom give highly commendable performances. However, it is Sharlto Copley (who you may remember as the lead from District 9) who stands out as the morally reprehensible Agent C.M. Kruger.

The film is meticulously conceived. It offers a spectacular social commentary on topical issues such as social and political structures and healthcare. Though these are the central messages around which the film is based, it feels like almost every scene has something to say. This makes every scene a feast of ideological treats that will leave you transfixed in the moment and contemplative for days afterwards. It is clear that there is not a single aspect of the film that Neill Blomkamp did not consider deeply.

On top of a great story and a wealth of commentary, Elysium is also a visual triumph. Earth and Elysium offer drastically different aesthetics that are both filled with interesting and intriguing sights. Blomkamp’s direction creates superbly crafted action sequences along with not-so-skilfully-executed-but still-admirable dramatic moments. He has an artful grasp on violence (of which there is a huge amount), but it is always varied, intense and lends a real and visceral reality to the actions of the film.

Though this winter has had a number of science fiction epics, not one of them is in the same league as Blomkamp’s new masterpiece. A must-see!