Very nearly superb...Neill Blomkamp nails it again

Rating: 8/10 (22 August 2013)

Elysium had a lot to live up to in my books and in a lot of other people's books. District 9 came out of nowhere and very nearly floored everyone in the sci-fi genre. It was brilliant. So there was a lot riding on Blomkamp's second outing. Elysium was amazing. It was solidly entertaining, moving, gritty and well put together. It was very nearly as superb as District 9. Unfortunately there were a few performances that lacked a certain depth (and its surprising who was the worst perpetrator), and there were some pretty significant plot holes that I would have thought Blomkamp would be too thorough to let go. Still the film has an extensive plot that covers a lot of ground with that amazing political undertone that Blomkamp does so well. Elysium is a sweeping sci-fi epic with absolutely stunning special effects and breathtaking scenery and setting from the visceral horrible conditions of Earth to the beautiful setting of Elysium. You spend far more time in the shoes of someone on earth fighting to survive having grown up dreaming of a better place. I couldn't help but think how nearly perfect this was...District 9 was a solid huge ten for me and this was so close to a nine but I just couldn't quite give it that.
Matt Damon was superb. He is always a great hero but his flawed and tortured character was just riveting to watch. He just shined when he was on screen and did a first rate job. He fit the style of the film so well and lead the cast flawlessly. Jodie Foster (whom normally I don't mind...she's far from my favourite but she is usually pretty good) is the perpetrator I mentioned above. Her wooden performance is unforgivable in this movie. She sports an awful fake accent...not even sure whether its English or just upper class but its awful and makes her sound fake and campy and unlike Damon, she does not fit the tone of this movie at all. She could have been an amazing villain with class and style and a subtle evil but she blew it hands down actually probably took this from a nine to an eight single handedly. Fortunately we had a secondary villain played by Sharlto Copley. Copley's villain is violent, over the top, psychotic and fun. He is definitely the physical force against Damon and his character was great. Alice Braga was decent as Frey, Damon's life long friend and love interest. She showed appropriate emotion and intensity and yet didn't quite blow me away but she was good. Diego Luna was excellent in a smaller role as Damon's best friend. I wish we had seen more from him because he really did a great job and had a good role. Same for Wagner Moura who was really terrific as Spider. At first I was worried he was cheesy and campy and like Foster but all doubts went out the window because he turned out to be a really solid role and well acted on his part. And I have to mention William Fichtner because (although he often plays very similar roles) I thought he was fantastic in a small cameo role as the factory head with little emotion or sympathy for the people on earth.
I have no doubt that Neill Blomkamp got a much bigger budget for this film. Perhaps that was overwhelming to him so some details slip through the cracks in this one. Don't get me wrong...this was still an excellent, powerful movie and Blomkamp now has TWO fantastic sci-fi pictures under his belt. The film is full of emotional scenes and powerful action sequences. There is no down time and the pacing of the film is non-stop. I can't tell you how much I respect Blomkamp for working such powerful political messages into mainstream Sci-Fi epics. This one reeks of a message about immigration reform and struggling to find happiness in another place that seems to have it all. I'm not sure the message about everyone being made citizens changes the world for the better makes sense but its still a really terrific film. You may have to ignore some plot hiccups and Jodie Foster's performance but you will find yourself blown away by this sci-fi flick. I can't wait to see what Blomkamp has in store for us next. 8.5/10