The surprise hit of the summer is 'District 9'...

Rating: 8/10 (5 February 2010)

Hype can be a dangerous thing for a film, and in the case of 'District 9' it's the sort of thing that both helps and hurts it. Hype is what got the film to reach the status of being an "event" picture, but hype is what keeps it from being as good in my mind as it can be. The movie works far better as an under the radar film (which partially explains how the hype began) since it's got a decidedly independent flavor to it. Putting all that aside, it's a damn good movie, one that combines ideas with action, a rare mix in this day and age.
The movie takes the "aliens visiting Earth" plot and spins it on its ear a bit. Instead of them going to a big city, they end up in Johannesburg, stranded and without leadership. Humans soon make contact and despite some good intentions early on, end up locking them away in a slum. Tensions rise and when it is decided for their home to be relocated (from District 9 to the concentration camp like District 10), things don't go well and quite a bit goes down. The film works best as a surprise, so I'll abandon description here, but suffice to say, it won't be pretty.
The film is best during its opening act, when it is a fake documentary providing history to the event and setting up the situation that feeds the movie. It gives you all you need to know about what the world of the film is like, and you almost feel like you are there. It's still good when it transfers over to a more conventional narrative (shot very much like the Paul Greengrass directed Jason Bourne movies), but it falls off from its high perch until the very good ending, which leaves things very much open ended, surely to inspire debate.
First time director Neil Blomkamp shows why Peter Jackson wanted him to make the Halo movie. His direction and writing is strong and assured. The special effects are terrific, and the movie keeps a very good pace despite a longer running time than probably is necessary. The action is extremely kinetic and gory, but never too frantic to follow.
There is only one real human character of any note in the film, and it's protagonist Wilkus Van De Merwe (first time actor Sharlto Copely), a bureaucrat entrusted with the removal of the aliens (known as prawns) from District 9. He starts out as a bit of a douche and not the type of guy you'd probably like, but by the end of the filmwell, let's just say things end up very different than they start.
If you're expecting the next great science fiction film, you're not going to get that (it's not even the best one this year, that honor goes to Moon). What it is, however, is a very strong sci-fi film mixed with some very good action and ideas. Blomkamp hurts the film by making the segregation allegory far too strong and prominent (a little would have gone a long way, and it's good stuff for the movie, just that it ends up like a hammer to the head after a while), though his ability to make you identify with aliens as opposed to humans is done quite well. If you mildly temper your expectations, there is a lot to like about 'District 9'. Even with the hype, it's a very good film, just one I wish would have not been sold to us quite as hard as this one has. Even so, you're not likely to forget your visit to District 9 anytime soon.