DOUBLE FILM REVIEW: DISTRICT 9

With Mitchell having recently posted his review for District 9, I couldn't help but join in the fun. The film was great on so many levels, and thankfully, we both happened to explore different aspects of the film. Please read these reviews together as they are both important in their own ways. Enjoy!

Erika Szabo

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First, we'll start with Mitchell's:

DISTRICT 9

By Mitchell Tully

Released:2009

Written and Directed by:NEILL BLOMKAMP

Starring:Sharlto Copley, William Allen Young, Louis Minnaar, Vanessa Haywood

Genre:Action, Drama, Sci-Fi

Quick Review:

District 9 is one of the few films that can be seen as utterly unique. The presentation of the film’s ideas were quite remarkable. By combining a pseudo-documentary style with a high octane action, it kept me in the dark and it defied many of my Hollywood expectations. Overall, District 9 is an excellent addition to the Sci-fi genre, and works wonderfully as a damning critique on current social-political conflicts that exist within our society, especially those dealing with underprivileged minorities.

Full Review:

District 9 is an exploration of what makes us truly human, and what would become of us when faced with a new culture that could potentially help us technologically, but are currently suffering and weak. Would we do everything we could to help them, or would we simply cast them aside and take their technology for ourselves? The film paints a frightening scenario where humanity is seen as utterly despicable, selfish, ignorant and completely untrustworthy, and by the end of the film, I felt little to no sympathy for us.

The story behind District 9 is told through a pseudo-documentary style, where the current predicament is explained through a series of interviews about the alien landing and the events that followed it. I found this style of storytelling to be interesting, even though I was a little concerned that District 9 would be filmed like Cloverfield. However, the film-makers mixed up the first person perspective with a third person style camera that followed the more ‘covert’ aspects of the story.

Once the history of District 9 had been explained, we follow MNU field operative Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley) who has been assigned to relocate the 1.8 million aliens living within District 9, which has become a slum/shanty town, to the new "District 10" camp. In one of the alien ‘houses’, Wikus handles an alien device that sprays a dark liquid into his face, which sparks a thorough examination of what it means to be human, and what we are capable of when we are pushed to the limits.

The alien species, seeking refuge on Earth, are referred to as “prawns,” which we learn is a derogatory reference to the Parktown prawn, a king cricket species located in South Africa. The alien species are called this because they possess a number of resemblances to the insects, as well as allowing the term to establish a sense of superiority between the humans and aliens.

I thought the special effects were very well done. Although the aliens had little to no human features, they portrayed real, unquestionable emotions. It was a truly remarkable feat, especially since the budget for this science fiction film was a modest 30 million, compared to The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008) which was US$ 80 million and The Matrix (1999) was US$ 63 million. District 9 ’s creatures and mechanics looked absolutely gritty, raw and incredible, from the alien creatures to the giant mechs that the actors pilot.

Overall, I felt the film was an incredible experience. It defied a number of my expectations, especially those dealing with science fiction films. I was thoroughly impressed by the alien species in the film, especially when I was hoping that each and every human would be punished for what they have done to these creatures. While I do feel the trailer mildly misleads the story (the interrogation scenes does not necessarily happen in the film), the themes are very well represented, mainly mankind’s desire for more devastating weapons that are more likely to destroy ourselves than our enemies.

SHARP OBJEX Rating: 4 out of 4

District 9 Trailer 1

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District 9

By: Erika Szabo

Another good film, is it even possible? Apparently so, although after seeing Star Trek and Public Enemies, I thought all hope was lost for the rest of the summer (of course, there were other good films, but these two stood out). Sure, money-grabbing blockbusters will always do well at the box office, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re good. Unfortunately, a big screen spectacle will almost always win over quality entertainment – you can’t deny that, can you Transformers 2?

From what I’ve experienced, late summer never bodes well for moviegoers. Not this summer. No, this summer plans on ending with a bang, and maybe claps and cheers. One of these films in question proves that there there is room for a few good, late summer films – and by good, I mean great. It’s hardly what you would expect: alien spacecrafts, segregation, and eventually apartheid. The film is purely science fiction, but incorporates enough social and political issues to transcend many of its kind.  The message is strong and the imagery is violent, gory, but painstakingly real. Welcome to District 9.  

Over 20 years ago, an alien spacecraft docked above the city of Johannesburg. After weeks passed, the humans grew impatient and breeched the ship, only to find diseased insectoid creatures dying onboard. These weren’t the bloodthirsty invaders we had come to acknowledge, or accept, they were practically human. Not sure what to do, the government hired a corporation titled Multi-National United (MNU) to oversee the aliens affairs, yet were the least bit interested in their welfare. The “immigrants” are segregated from the angry human population and forced to live in District 9.

After this brief history, the faux-documentary shifts to the present.  As part of the MNU, bureaucrat Wikus van der Merwe (played by the unknown, yet outstanding Sharlto Copley) is tasked to relocate the aliens from their crime-ridden slum to a new location – aptly named, District 10. However, unlike District 9, this new location, deceptively portrayed as a good environment is, in fact, a concentration camp.

Having been born and raised in South Africa, it’s clear that director, Neill Blomkamp wanted to make a statement when creating District 9. Blomkamp presents us with an otherwise ordinary science-fiction universe, but cleverly recreates an alternate history which mirrors the countries own shady political past. It recreates the horrors of apartheid and depicts the humans as being far more monstrous than any alien could ever be. This is one of those rare occasions that you will be rooting for the underdog, the aliens, as they fight to gain their own independence back just as the impoverished blacks strived to in South Africa’s recent past.

With that in mind, District 9 is extremely violent and gory, but each and every scene of violence serves a purpose. Also visible in this film is its dark humor, most often exhibited through our main character, Copley. His sadistic sense of humor, yet awkward demeanor makes for a complex character, and will be sure to make him one of the most likable protagonists in the film. However, now that I mention it, Copley isn’t the sort of protagonist we had in mind, if you even care to call him one. If anything, Copley becomes a sacrificial lamb of sorts.

Without Copley, there would be no bridge between the aliens and humans, and although he initially sees himself as a victim of an otherwise unfortunate incident, it becomes one that goes on to reform two incredibly similar races. Often a selfish coward, Copley is almost forced into his heroic deeds, but once he continues to change and painstakingly understand his fate, he stops resisting and accepts what he is to become – his true self.

The story itself is so complex and rich with detail while still having more than enough action to please those looking for entertainment. However, it’s hard to ignore the deeper meaning behind the story, and proves to be the highlight of this film. District 9 is not a film to ignore and undoubtedly one I will be seeing multiple times – as should you. This is potentially one of the best films out this year, and by far, the most important. 

SHARP OBJEX Rating: 4 out of 4

 District 9 Trailer 2

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