District 9 (2009)

Directed by: Neil Blomkamp

Starring: Sharlto Copley

Produced by: Peter Jackson

IMDB Page

When this film first appeared in theaters, I ignored it. Not being familiar with any of the lead actors or director, and the fact it was made in South Africa, (Ever heard of a mainstream South African film before?) I didn't think much of it. The first trailer I saw seemed like it was made on a very low, straight to DVD budget. (This was because most of the effects weren't done yet. The second trailer is much better, but I didn't see that one until after I had seen the film.) I few months later, I got a chance to see it in a delayed theater run. And boy, was I wrong.

In its simplest form, the plot of District 9 is very familiar. Aliens come to earth in a giant disc shaped craft, and park right over a major city. Similarities between this film and others end here. The biggest being its location. This time, the aliens aren't visiting New York, LA, or Washington DC. The ship has come to a stop right over Johannesburg South Africa. This provides a very different feel from most alien invasion films right of the bat. And its not an invasion either: The aliens (dubbed "Prawns" by the local inhabitants) are refugees, starving and dying. Their ship was broken down, and merely drifted to its final location.

When we join the film, it has been 20 years since the ship first arrived. The prawns have been moved to a ghetto outside of the city. The alien leadership has died, and all that is left is the lower working caste. Unrest has been brewing between the aliens and the humans, and it is almost at the breaking point. As a result, the South African government contracts with a weapons company, Multi National United, to move the aliens to a tent camp further outside of the city. Our main character, Wikus Van De Merwe, is a recently promoted bureaucrat in charge of the operation. While out in the alien ghetto, Wikus is sprayed in the face by a strange alien chemical. Things begin to change for him, and he ends up on the run from MNU, and has to seek help from the aliens that he was just recently oppressing. On top of being a great action film, it carries some very heavy themes (such as racism and obedience to authority), and does very well with them. The apartheid parallel is so apparent, it almost smacks you in the face. The story is so good, I don't want to ruin any more for you.

The main character, Wikus (played by Sharlto Copley, in his first feature film), is one of the best characters I have seen in recent years. At first, you absolutely hate him. He is cold, callous, and a bit nerdy.  As his struggle becomes apparent throughout the film, he starts to grow on you, and by the end you can almost feel his pain. Add on top of this that almost all of Sharlto's dialogue was completely improvised. He defiantly deserved an Oscar for best actor, but unfortunately was ignored in this category at the Academy Awards. The aliens, while completely CGI and not voiced by any actors,  bring a lot of heart to this picture. They are faintly humanoid, resembling giant bugs. Nonetheless, the emote extremely well. There are a couple of scenes of an prawn and his "son" that are particularly moving. 

District 9 is presented in a very different way. The first half of the film is like a documentary, complete with interviews and news footage. The camera is a bit shaky in these scenes, but not as over the top in some action films. Its what you would expect from a shoulder mounted camera.  Wikus and other characters interact with the "film crew", giving a very realistic feel to some of the scenes. About halfway through, the film transforms to more of a traditional cinematic experience, with an omniscient camera. The transition between these two formats is perfect, even with some cuts between the "real" camera crew and the omniscient one in the same scene. The action is fast paced and brutal. Blood spatters and body parts fly. Its not a film for those with a weak stomach. 

The CGI and effects are simply amazing, even without considering this movie had the third of the budget of a usual si-fi/action film. The CGI prawns and alien technology fit so well with the environment, you sometimes forget they're fake. 

No CGI here......

The environment feels gritty and dirty, and that feeling stays through the whole film. Much of D9 was filmed in an actual South African ghetto, which again helps with the real feeling this movie has.

The Blu-Ray version, besides from being visually stunning, comes with a fair amount of extras to keep a fan entertained. The director's commentary was especially interesting, as it was recorded a day before the films premiere. 

Bottom Line: 10/10: I can't say enough good things about this film. Gripping and dramatic story line, great action, stellar acting, and amazing visual effects. For a first time actor and first time director, they sure made one hell of a film.