If you’re into social commentary about the injustices of the have’s and have not’s, Elysium may just satisfy your pallet. Directed by Neill Blomkamp whose 2009 sleeper hit District 9 was both a critical and financial success, Elysium stars Matt Damon as Max Da Costa a doomed orphan living on a depleted planet Earth who since childhood, has always looked up at the stars at the world of Elysium, a Utopian society for the select few who could afford to call Elysium their home.
While it is not a sequel, much like its predecessor, Elysiumdoes showcase a world where the social classes rather than racism is the great divide that we must overcome. Earth has seemingly become a third world planet with its lack of resources like medicine and food.
The first half sets up all the players rather nicely. Here on Earth you have Max, who after an unfortunate accident at work makes getting to Elysium a matter of life or death for him. And on Elysium you have Secretary of Defense Delacourt played by Jodi Foster, who’s primary concern is to keep non-citizens from entering Elysium no matter what the cost. What seems like an inevitable showdown between the two, unfortunately never comes to fruition. This is where the film slips a bit and never quite reaches the same level as District 9.
Instead of a game of chess between Max and Delacourt that we all thought was going to happen, we are given a fight of bionic proportions between Max and his antagonistic rival Agent Kruger (played by District 9 alum Sharlto Copley). Kruger who lives in the slums on Earth is Delacourt’s henchmen and carries out all her dirty work.
The overall theme is that the oppressed no matter how strong the grip is by the oppressor, will always try and often do, rise up and revolt. History has always shown that to be true.
In the end, I wish Elysium would’ve been a sequel to District 9. It already had the look and feel of D9. And while Blompkamp has shown to have great vision and a wonderful way of getting the social message across, he like so many directors before him try to do too much when given a bigger budget and seem to accomplish just short of what you hoped for. I do however look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
