Misunderstood

Rating: 8/10 (24 August 2019)

Neil Blomkamp's follow up to District 9 is another science fiction/action hybrid that contains social commentary aplenty. District 9 was praised (or condemned by the right wing) as being a statement against Apartheid-like policies still being practiced in the world by countries like Israel. Elysium rattled the cages of the right wing media when it came out (Limbaugh ordered his listeners to boycott the movie and Matt Damon). The science "eventuality" in this movie must have hit too close to home. A not-so-distant Earth, basically destroyed by nuclear and global warming, where the lower 98% lives and works in jobs that serve the top 2%? This is not an unlikely scenario in a nation where we have greedy narcissistic failed businessmen and Evangelical science-denying crazies controlling the Government.
The top 2% have evacuated the planet to live in a deluxe space station that looks upon a dying planet. Again, not hard to believe - especially given the recent news about the elite planning to colonize both the moon and Mars.
The action in the film concerns the plight of the disenfranchised to get to Elysium in order to use their high tech medical device that cures all types of cancer (a device only for the top 2%, of course). A psychopathic agent of the space station on Earth is called into action to stop them, especially the radiation-infected former worker played by Damon who leads the group.
Sharlto Copley plays the deranged Earth-based protector of Elysium and it is a truly frightening performance. He is all-out insane and provided with all weaponry needed to stop the heroes. Copley also played the hero of District 9 and his transformation into a Van Demme-esque physical presence with no morals and a psychotic urge to not only eliminate Damon and co., but also take over Elysium with this goons, creates one of the best action film villains of the decade.
Great entertainment, whether you watch it for action escapism, its social commentary, or both.