Matt Damon rescues somewhat contrived plot

Rating: 6/10 (7 April 2014)

I rate this b-grade movie 6/10 only because of Matt Damon's excellent, powerful performance. Otherwise, the acting - nada, the plot - nada. This was terrible acting by Jodie Foster. What accent was she trying for anyway? French, Fringlish? And paper thin believability. Just disappointing for someone of her pedigree. Pure money grab. Sad.
This movie tried to combine too much. It references the Mad Max genre, even naming Matt's character - Max. It references Forest Gump with Frey and Max forming this bond when they were young, like Forest and Jenny. I could have lived with those links, but the plot had too many holes to keep this ship afloat.
People on earth have to stare up at this star-shaped Elysium floating above them, where everyone is happy and healthy and wealthy. Yes, they have medical pods that can cure every disease, but only the rich inhabitants of Elysium have access to them. Of course, bands of earthlings try to get up there, like the illegal immigrants trying to seek out a better life, and Jodie Foster shoots them down with no second thought. I get it, the rich kill the poor. The rich live the good life, the poor suffer in squalor. Boy does this movie hit you over the head repeatedly with that theme. By the time you leave the theater, I get the feeling the producers wanted you to feel guilty for even having enough money to pay for the tickets to see this mess.
When Max faces the evil bad guy Kruger at the end, wow, what a surprise, huh? Good wins over evil. And when Max makes the ultimate sacrifice to free the slaves of earth, everyone is supposed to cheer, a la Armageddon with Bruce Willis. Send down the medical pods.Cure all 10 billion people on earth...eh...wait, Elysium can't hold 10 billion people, oh well, you can vacation up here, then go back to your poverty and pollution. Yeah, earth rebels never thought through the consequences of liberating your planet.
Yeah, well, you instead should think of the consequence to your sanity of watching this mish mosh that tried to do too much. If you like Matt Damon, this will be worth your while for his effort. Otherwise, I'd suggest you beam me up Scotty, and get me out of here!