Prawntastic!

Rating: 9/10 (28 September 2009)

20 Years ago, an enormous alien spacecraft drifted to rest over the South African city of Johannesburg. Within are discovered a race of insectoid aliens derogatorily known as 'Prawns'. They are in a seemingly broken vessel that has come to rest on Earth, whilst having lost their leadership. Due to a hive-like societal structure, the worker populace are somewhat aimless and not exactly of superior intelligence. Wikus Van Der Mere (First time actor Sharlto Copley) is the hapless human tasked with evicting the aliens from their makeshift shanty town of District 9 below the giant craft, in order to relocate them for the benefit of the resentful Human populace. He works for the MNU (Multi National United) who are also one of the largest arms dealers in the world, and currently in the process of trying to master the miscellaneous weapons brought by the aliens. It's not long before Wikus finds himself embroiled in a situation that will have him fighting for his life and re-assessing his priorities and beliefs.
District 9 is that rare thing. A science fiction movie with an allegorical message that is not preachy, and does not compromise it's science fiction elements in the process. On it's most obvious level, it is an allegory for the former apartheid situation in South Africa, but it can be read on many other levels, including but not limited to the potential in all of humanity to act vindictively or dismissively to another they feel as being inferior.
Wikus is presented to us as neither a particularly sympathetic nor loathsome character. He is a perfectly constructed balancing act who is a product of his environment and upbringing. We see him doing things that are (Unwittingly to him) repulsive. Yet likewise, he will make an effort when he sees action being taken that goes against his innate morality. Wikus is without a doubt the greatest strength of District 9. Watching his character grow and change with the story, is the element that keeps us riveted to the screen. Wikus can be humorously inept at times, right through occasionally amoral, flawed, yet ultimately sympathetic, courageous and touching.
The story has been used many times in the past (e.g. Alien Nation). Where District 9 succeeds as something new, is by making its alien species less immediately sympathetic. We are not presented with an easy side to take. The aliens are sometimes stupid and often repugnant in their behaviour, making it all too simple to feel sympathy with the humans who detest them. This is yet another strength of District 9, avoiding the simple and often over-used contrast of 'Good aliens, bad humans' though perhaps as the film continues this is weakened a little with somewhat stereotyped villains.
On a more basic cinematic level, the film is again a careful balancing act. We have all seen the hand-held 'documentary' style of film-making (Blair Witch, Cloverfield). Where District 9 succeeds is in using such techniques for much of its beginning, yet gradually segueing more and more into traditional 3rd person style. As such we do not get tired of the technique, as we can do with the other examples, and because much of that footage in District 9 is shown as either news or security camera feeds, it does not have the nausea-inducing tendencies of the above.
One of the most jaw dropping visual aspects of District 9, are its special effects. Amazingly, almost all of the alien creatures were CGI. On the whole, District 9's digital effects are flawless and stunningly photo-real, created using a combination of cutting edge effects from WETA digital (Owned by Peter Jackson and created initially for the Lord of the Rings films) and creature designs that do not require fur or a great deal of moving flesh. This means that even with the film's limited budget, they have been able to use the most positive aspects of the technology without too many of its flaws.
The action in District 9 is also brutal and tough. This isn't your average glamorised blockbuster with wire-stunt kung fu experts doing the impossible with nary a bruise or scratch. Bodies are ripped apart, exploded, shot, electrified and generally dismembered in a variety of ways. When the film kicks into its action scenes, they are pulse- poundingly raw and visceral.
District 9 is director Neill Blomkamp's first feature film. Originally recommended by Peter Jackson to direct the feature adaptation of the computer game 'Halo', but when the deal fell through, Jackson reportedly gave Blomkamp thirty million to make a film of his choice. Blomkamp then went on to make the full length version of his short film 'Alive in Joburg'. In my view, we are lucky that events unfolded in this way, because I am much happier to see an original piece of work, than yet another miscellaneous video game adaptation.
This is an adult film that has not been watered down to stay safe for the kids. The characters swear repeatedly, and everyone has a tough time of it. It is by no means an 'easy' film to watch, but it will leave a lasting impression and keep you thinking. Is it perfect? No, there are some things that happen too easily for the sake of plot convenience, occasionally unanswered questions that are more frustrating than mysterious, and the story ideas are often far from original. Yet on the whole this is a genuinely impressive, often gruelling and hard-hitting film. I also have it on good authority that the accents and cultural references are dead on the nose. It is neither a video game or comic adaptation, or a remake of an older film. As such it is a real treat amongst all of the other genre offerings of recent years. Just be warned, if you eat out and see a prawn dish, you may find yourself inadvertently uttering an appropriate expletive often used in the film. Trust me, you'll see what I mean...