Monday, September 7, 2009

"District 9" (4.5/5)


When I was little kid, I remember I loved to play with Ninja Turtle action figures. They were simple in design. Their arms and legs moved 360 degrees and could be contorted in numerous ways. Yet I remember at some point the action figures changed and soon the movements of the legs were standard, and now the figures were accompanied with extra pieces like faux clothing and weaponry. Certainly with such additions the prices of the toys increased, but bigger is always better, right? Not necessarily. I always found myself falling back on my older toys not only because of sentimental value, but because they were simple. With so many weapons and additions, toys just seemed way too convoluted then they needed to be. This basic notion is how I feel about some science fiction or "summer tent pole" films. They have this notion to think bigger is always better. Lets get bigger effects, bigger explosions, and bigger personalities. Certainly the masses will love it! Well, the masses will love it, but as time goes on, the film itself will always get passed over for that one film that chooses simplicity, depth and story, over giving the eyes an orgasm.


Such an example would be "Transformers 2;" a film that decided to up the ante in effects and leave the plot at home. Certainly, there is a place for this film in the world of movies, but ultimately it will get passed up for better films. Such a film is "District 9" which has so much going for it. Its an enthralling, thought provoking, funny, and ultimately poignant piece of work that will last through the years because of its ability to blend story and special effects. The basic plot revolves around a spaceship unexpectingly appearing over South Africa in the 1980's. Over the years, the aliens on board were taken down and placed in an area named 'District 9', which resembles the slums seen in "Slumdog Millionaire" or "City of God." Due to hostility and forms of racism and xenophobism, the aliens and 'District 9' were held away from the good natured folks of South Africa.


Fast-forward to present day, where an organization MIL (Multi-National United) is asked to forcibly remove (or better yet, evict) the alien inhabitants of 'District 9' and to no surprise move them to another area aptly named 'District 10.' The eviction is lead by Wikus van der Merwe ( who is wonderfully played by first time actor Sharlto Copley) and through the eviction plan, he comes in contact with a mysterious alien chemical. I'll stop the spoilers there because things happen that are much more impactful if not known in advance. Needless to say, writer/director Neil Blomkamp covers a lot of themes and issues while still delivering a satisfying sci-fi actioner. Of course there are explosions and buckets of alien blood, but Blomkamp delivers an examination of not only race relations in the Apartheid based South Africa, but also what could be related to the assimilation the United States viciously placed upon Native Americans. In many respects, I'm willing to say this is "Do the Right Thing" draped in a science fiction cloak. Each scene is dripping with subtext in which one can't help but draw comparisons to the world we all currently inhabit. This is what makes the story so compelling: it details the human conflicts we have seen over the years, and we can't help but relate to these issues when presented to us on screen.


Aside from the simplistic, yet deep storytelling, Blomkamp and his screenplay do something quite remarkable: he made me actually care about the aliens, which by all intensive purposes are 100% CGI. Unlike films like "Transformers" or "The Phantom Menace", where the CGI characters are colorful and one note, Blomkamp creates his alien creatures with troubles that rival their human counterparts. They all have needs, desires, and fears that drive them to behave in certain ways. Simply put, Blomkamp respects his CGI characters. Anytime a filmmaker can make you cry or celebrate in the presence of a CGI character, then he has fulfilled his duty as not only a director, but a screenwriter and this occurs quite a bit in "District 9."


And this is the key of "District 9", it doesn't overwhelm you with the CGI or blood or action. Instead its far more focused on using the aformentioned attributes to supplement the story. Better yet, it pushes the viewer to examine the world on screen, and ultimately the one they inhabit. Without a doubt "District 9" could've been a film that went from action scene to action scene, but that would've been the easy way out. Anyone can piece together cool scenes, but only a few people can capture a scene (or a film on a whole) that reaches the depth of your heart and the recesses of your mind. And to think, it took a simple story about aliens and humans to do so.

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