Highly original but frequently absurd.

Rating: 8/10 (7 September 2009)

Though District 9's originality can't be denied, the absurdities do get piled up pretty high. it's not the logistical plot holes that annoy me (most of which I can't reveal without being a Spoiler) but, rather, the frequent lapses of believable human behaviour. The capper is the ridiculous and gratuitous surprise party thrown by the wife and father in law of the seriously wounded and grievously ill main character. I suppose it may been intended to be funny but the filmmaker didn't really tip his hand in this direction. As it plays out it just feels jarring and dramatically OTT.
Unfortunately that's the case throughout a lot of the film. There are numerous moments during the eviction operation with the lead character mincing and prattling about like a hepped up camp counsellor on a Sunday stroll, utterly oblivious to the imminent danger of the situation. These scenes could have been humorous if played as broad satire or as a direct parody of the U.S. govt. handling of Katrina, but, unfortunately they're played pretty straight and whatever laughs might result feel unintentional and awkward. Much of the film's action unspools this way, lurching from faux docu-realism, to surreal comedy, to all out action that it makes for an uneven and, for me, somewhat strained experience. However, I think a lot of these problems will be ironed out by the highly talented director come the inevitable sequel time.