District 9 Review - Saving the best for last.

The summer movie window is closing, and with it the usual mid year soirée of action packed blockbusters.  2009 has been stacked with all the explosions one could stand between X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Star Trek, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and GI Joe: Rise of Cobra.  But despite all the fanfare and bloated budgets that went into these films, the sci-fi force of nature that is District 9 blew them all away.

True appreciation for District 9 begins with the way it was marketed.  Other than a teaser and a handful of trailers, there has been an overwhelming amount of media exposure.  Basically, going into it I didn’t know exactly what to expect.  A true rarity for film’s in this day and age.  So virtually every frame in the 112 minutes was an unspoiled treat.  That being said, I will do my best to maintain this trend and reveal as little as possible.

District 9 is a modern day fable of racism, war, and the human condition.  One day, a large alien mother ship mysteriously appears in the skies over the South African city of Johannesburg.   For reasons unknown the aliens are unable to move their ship and must reside on Earth for the time being.  Naturally, global governments step in to ensure the assimilation between alien and human goes as smoothly as possible.  These efforts eventually blossom the glorified concentration camp, District 9.

Enter Wikus van der Merwe.  At the beginning of the film, Wikus is a somewhat annoying pencil pusher who loves his job.  He works for a large militant company and becomes the human face for direct dealing with the aliens, who are derogatorily referred to as prawns.  While Wikus is a beloved office worker, his first exploits into District 9 do not end well, resulting in the central drama of the story.

And there you have it. This simple premise evolves into a sweeping narrative regarding the nature of prejudice and violence.  Writer Terri Tatchel and director Neill Blomkamp (who also co-wrote) spin a narrative web that shows how quickly corruption can spread through any society and exposes the desensitized views of society in modern times of war.

The character development of Wikus (Sharlto Copley) has to be one of the finest acting examples in sci-fi history.  Copley’s debut feature film will put him on the map and show that you don’t have to rely on A-listers to make a movie unforgettable.  Wikus’ journey from cubicle dweller to labeled terrorist is a harrowing tale unmatched in this summer’s film fare.

If my rooftop cries of praise haven’t swayed you into the nearest movie theatre, allow me to try on a much more basic level.  District 9 is rated R, and it’s a hard R at that.  Both human and alien technology do their share of blood spilling and head exploding.  Blonkamp captures all of the intensity of Transformers with the bloody guts of Rambo and still manages to keep the film grounded in reality.

All of these amazing feats of narrative and spectacle were accomplished on a budget of $30 million with virtually no established actors and delivers an experience more action packed and involving than anything Michael Bay has ever dreamed of.  If you’re curious as to what all the fuss is about, give in and see District 9.  You won’t be sorry.

 -By Adam Ballard