perfectly conceived sci-fi cinema at its most daring and honest

Rating: 10/10 (22 March 2010)

Part an elusive Apartheid allegory examining sprawling intolerance, part an enthralling transformation story, "District 9" is perfectly conceived sci-fi cinema at its most daring and honest. It's hard to believe this is Neill Blomkamp's first feature film as he utilizes mock documentary approach in such an instantly relatable fashion that we believe in every revelation he pulls off. By showing us what happens to a derelict spacecraft stranded above South Africa, and its extraterrestrial crew forced to live in squalid camps for the last two decades, the first time filmmaker offers the social commentary that just cannot be diminished. Granted. The film is high-on-concept, intelligent and full of hidden messages like cat food being an equivalent of legalized drugs, yet it doesn't shine away from being a thrilling ride abounding with credible, cringe-worthy twists, dazzling action sequences and inventive low-key special effects. When its tone oscillates between darkly comical to deadly serious, the movie never loses its steam remaining wildly kinetic. It's also to Blomkamp's credit that "District 9" is so emotionally resonant all the way through to its poignant finale showcasing both physical and moral transformation of the main character, social worker Wikus Van De Merwe. Newcomer Sharlto Copley provides amazingly complex performance here. Although Wikus tends to act like a complete jerk, he is surprisingly sympathetic when faced with almost unbearable circumstances. Clever and bombastic at the same time, "District 9" is a genuine masterpiece, one of the very best sci-fi movies ever made.