Paradise Lost

Rating: 6/10 (14 August 2013)

This film is mildly recommended.
Elysium, the latest sci-fi thriller, purports yet another fatalistic view of our future. It's an intelligent but unexciting movie that showcases all of the elements of sci-fi genre with an undercurrent of social relevance. The film deals with more complex political issues, a subject very close to its director's mindset. Neill Blomkamp (District 9) has directed this fantasy action film with enough flash and strong imagery to disguise his overt messages about class warfare, injustice, immigration, and prejudice. It's still drips of deeper themes like apartheid, inequality, and discrimination, although the racial implications have been slightly altered to conform more to socio-economic issues.
The year is 2054 and it's still them versus us, as the film depicts two different worlds and class structure. There's the luxurious resort space station called Elysium where the rich can cavort in the extravagant lifestyle with which they are accustomed and only the wealthy are the welcome 1%. In sharp contrast, there's Earth, a slum-ridden hellhole for the mere common folk.
Up on Elysium, everything is running quite smoothly, with Jessica Delacourt, a high-ranking governmental official, in charge. Played by Jody Foster, Dalacourt is all evil and greed. It's a one-note role, but Foster does put a spin on this stereotype every now and then.
Down on Earth, everything is a mess, with Max DeCosta, an ex-con and laborer, trying to survive. Played by Matt Damon, DeCosta is all good and courageous. It's a one note role, but Damon does put a spin on this stereotype every now and then too.
Of course, both will clash as Max attempts to land on Elysium to try to make matters right, (I will not go into the details of the complex plotting, the illogical circumstances that bring Max to meet his fate, or spoil any surprises except to say that Damon looks good as the anti-hero, with or without his exoskeleton attached.)
Blomkamp keeps all the action and CGI in motion, although his tendency to overuse hand- held camera-work ruins much of the physical fight sequences. The director, who also wrote the screenplay, has a strong visual point of view that elevates the melodramatic moments, of which there are many. The turn of events lack genuine suspense and the final outcome is very predictable, more the fault of the screenplay than the direction.
Blomkamp's casting of the supporting characters brings mixed results, although those secondary characters are far more interesting and developed than the two lead roles. Alice Braga, Wagner Moura, and Diego Luna are fine in their roles. However, there is a major misstep in casting with Sharlo Copley as Kruger, a mercenary who tends to kill the English language more eagerly than his intended targets. The actor's overwrought performance with his thick accent and poor diction undercuts most of the menace needed for this pivotal role. As for the leads, Foster, who looks fabulous, seems to be channeling Tilda Swinton with her ice princess imitation and Damon plays Max with a minimum of success.
Elysium effectively shows us a grave new world and while Bromkamp's film is a thought- provoking fantasy, the film ultimately made me think about nirvana and other more heavenly travel destinations, like exiting the theater. GRADE: B-
ANY COMMENTS: Please contact me at: jadepietro@rcn.com