District 9
The Short Review District 9 is a film that will have the world talking for some time, and for good reason - it's a small-budget, independent, science-fiction film, which is a combination of adjectives that one would never think of ascribing to a film that is currently holding the number one box-office spot in the US.
Allow me to cut to the chase immediately, to save you from scrolling to the bottom of my expertly crafted and well-reasoned review:
District 9 is a superb film. It is amazing. It is the kind of film that will get sci-fi nerds like me running their mouths off at every chance they get. If I were the type of person who rated things, I would give a 9.5 out of 10. It's seriously that good.
The Director's Cut Actually, to give you an idea of how much I liked this film, my initial reaction when stepping out of the cinema was: "This is the best sci-fi I've seen since
Aliens."
This, of course, is exceptionally high praise: Aliens is a classic sci-fi, one of the best of it's genre, and led the way for the darker side of science fiction for decades to come. District 9 is a resonating call-back to that kind of science fiction film that dominated the 70's and 80's, when special effects were a challenge as opposed to a computerised circle-jerk. Think of Blade Runner and you've got the general feel of District 9. District 9 is classic science fiction, the kind that is born of the great minds of Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke.
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"District 9 is the best sci-fi I've seen since Aliens..." |
Science fiction isn't about spaceships, laser-fights, and explosions (although those are pretty cool); science-fiction is about placing humanity in extreme positions and examining their reactions and our morality, as well as postulating on our future development as a species and as individuals.
Given that definition,
District 9 is science fiction at its best. It's all about human interactions with the near-future and with the fantastic, and while the alien creatures are the most interesting aspect of the film, this is essentially a film about humans, the good,the bad, and the worst.
But enough nerdy waffling, let's get back to the film itself...
Synopsis (Spoiler Free) District 9 has a premise that already sets it up as
District 9's basic premise sets it apart as an original in many aspects: aliens have landed on Earth, but they're not invading, or trying to save humanity from itself, but rather, they're here as refugees who seem to have lost their leadership structure, or have been cut off from it, and are somewhat helpless and at the mercy of humanity.
They have advance technologies far beyond human technology, but since they are starving and dying, the position of dominance is ceded to us mere monkeys.
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The alien spacecraft landed in 1982, and thus in the film's timeline they've been here for more than 25 years. The city they chose to communicate with was Johannesburg, South Africa (which is an interesting choice, but which makes sense if one considers that aliens probably don't know that we expect them to land over New York City...)
They're interred in a slum filled with tin-shacks and a lack of basic infrastructure, and have a strange addiction to cat food, a weakness that is exploited all too well by a Nigerian criminal faction that is running freely within the alien community that has become more of a burden to humanity than some bright shining revelation that we are not alone in the universe.
Already, District 9 has turned a lot of Sci-Fi conventions on its head. There's no "Live Long and Prosper", and there's also no devastating apocalypse; all there is a one million refugees, and all the problems that come with that.
Enlisted to look after the aliens is a company called MNU, which, while having the capability to police and look after such a unique population, is also unfortunately one of the world's biggest arms dealers. This is already a huge conflict of interest, and the cynic in me is not surprised at all; aliens or not, humans are humans, and money still talks.
The main alien relocation task force is headed by one Wikus van der Merwe, a newly promoted, somewhat simple but well-meaning bureaucrat who is just trying to do the best job he can. Wikus is sort of an everyman government employee, with no real power and no real desire to have any.
Trouble starts when MNU decides that they need to relocate the aliens (who have now been called "The Prawn", a derogatory name that is an attempt to describe the creature the aliens most resemble). Wikus is exposed to a substance that changes the course of Alien-Human history and leads to some startling revelations.
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"...Enlisted to look after the aliens is a company called MNU, which, while having the capability to police and look after such a unique population..." |
| "...is also unfortunately one of the world's biggest arms dealers." |
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Dissection District 9 is shot using a variety of techniques that lend an interesting feel to the film: there's the documentary-style, where hand-held cameras are used to follow Wikus and his crew around, and where action shots are interspersed with interviews with prominent people.
This style allows for an easy and fairly seamless means of explaining the origins of the aliens and the general feelings of the man on the ground towards them. It works well and makes exposition much easier and allows for simple and total immersion and suspension of belief.
The filmmakers also use other visual sources, such as new-reels, security cameras, and standard cameras to stitch together the story, and while it would appear as if this technique should be quite jarring, it isn't, and in fact lends a pace to the film that is breathtaking.
The visuals are lent an extra kick by the superb visual effects, an aspect of sci-fi that is often the centerpiece, but which is relegated to a mere story-telling device in this film: aliens are seen to blend in the most realistic settings, from rooting in garbage bins, to being caught on grainy closed-circuit camera. The site of an alien space-craft shrouded by Joburg smog is also one that is so natural that it seems even more out of place...
While the visuals are breathtaking, the real joy of the film is in the acting, both human and alien. Sharlto Copley plays Wikus van der Merwe so sympathetically and beautifully that your heart will break for him, even when he's acting like a total prick. The emotional connection with Wikus is gut wrenching, and it's essential to making this movie what it is.
While the humans do a fantastic job portraying their flawed, ugly natures, the aliens themselves are just as emotional. While it's not quite the same 'acting' as the humans have to do, the connection to The Prawn is just as emotional, vivid, and in the end, heartbreaking.
District 9's story, however, is what sets it apart: I’ve already mentioned how the basic premise of
District 9 is a lesson in breaking the mold; the delivery and conclusion take this idea and run with it, as fast as it can, away from basic 'Hollywood' stereotypes.
Don't go into this movie without a strong stomach, and don't expect happiness and rainbows at the end. This is essentially, a movie about human brutality and ugliness, and how easily it overrides our better parts. You'll find yourself rooting for, hoping for, praying for some beauty to show itself in this ugly, ugly mess.
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Fortunately, the film delivers, and with such a punch that you will not forget it for a very long time.
District 9 has done several things, but its main achievement is in bringing about a return to intelligent, emotionally realistic science fiction, and for that I am eternally grateful.
Congratulations,
District 9, you have made this reviewer's year.
Afterthought- A Tale of Two Movies I put this at the end to avoid clogging up an already rambling review. I thought I should address the fact that District 9 is not one, but rather two movies: a science fiction thriller, and a South African movie.
I've spent a long, long time discussing the sci-fi aspect of the film, but I think that, as a South African, I should give my thoughts on how it succeeds as a 'South African' film.
Firstly, it's important to note that while it may be easy to ascribe a lot of allegory to this film (as people wrongly do to many stories, including The Lord of the Rings), it isn't necessarily the aim of this film. Set this movie in the USA, or the UK, or China, if you will, and the themes would play out in the same way. This isn't a story masquerading as a metaphor for South Africa. Rather, South Africa is used as a microcosm for the rest of the world.
Secondly, much praise must be heaped on the film's writers for not un-South African-izing the dialogue. It was hugely satisfying to hear "Are you okay, bru?" "What a doos!" and "Fok! Fok fok fok!" being said on an international movie.
The actors, the extras, the scenery and the locations were all very, very South African. There was a near complete lack of 'Hollywoodification', which, again, is immensely satisfying. It is a wonderful feeling to see our country, and our flagship city, shown in such an authentic manner, warts and all. Joburg comes across as a city full of life and layers, human and physical.
I think that this is why this succeeds as a South African film - it doesn't attempt to make a story about South Africa, but rather a story about a world in which South Africa is not some isolated island, but rather an integrated part of it. It's a trend that is growing and is quite heartening to see, and it's a great thing that this film does.
The End Ok, so if you made it this far, you either skipped ahead to see my rating (go back to the top…), or you read all the way through, for which I thank you.
Go see the movie.
It premieres in South Africa on 28 August.