The Ferris Wheel Paradise in Space

Rating: 9/10 (13 August 2013)

Elysium has to be one of the most populist oriented science fiction films I've ever seen. Doesn't mean it isn't good, in fact has a message of equality that should resonate for today's audience.
Elysium is a giant wheel in space with artificial atmosphere where folks live on the inner ring in really luxurious style. They've even got all the latest advances in modern science with a machine that can cure just about anything. For that if nothing else the people living there want to keep it to themselves.
Meanwhile back on Earth the planet has just become one big polluted mass where everyone just scratches out a living the best they can. It's patrolled by robot police who keep the great mass in line. Everyone yearns to go to Elysium and live the good life. But there are no Horatio Alger stories any more. The haves, the 2% that live on Elysium want to keep it for themselves and are ruthless in keeping the other 98% in line.
What's brought things to the sorry state they're in is unbridled capitalism. That's the message of Elysium.
The one man who's going to change it is Matt Damon who gets an accidental overdose of radiation poisoning on his industrial job. Now he wants to get to Elysium and steal some of that rationed healthcare. In the end though he serves far more than himself.
That part of the film reminded me so much of the famous noir film DOA where Edmond O'Brien is given a slow acting poison. As for the ending that's from another classic science fiction film The Omega Man with Charlton Heston. See if you don't recognize the plot elements.
One of the causes near and dear to Matt Damon's heart is our environment. Both in this film and in his most recent previous film Promised Land, Damon used the power of his celebrity to voice these concerns without sacrificing an iota of entertainment.
His adversary for most of the film is Jodie Foster who plays the head of Homeland Security on Elysium. She's got an agenda of her own as she protects the Homeland Security for the haves on Elysium.
Elysium also makes some strong political statements about the USA as a kind of earthly Elysium which at one time was built on the strength of immigrants which now some want to keep out at any price.
I did enjoy this film very much, it's one of the best so far I've seen this year.