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| Courtesy of Sony |
In
the year 2154, income inequality has literally skyrocketed: the rich have
abandoned our planet to live on a space station called Elysium, where every
whim is catered to and deadly diseases can be cured almost instantly. Everyone
else is stuck on a ruined, overpopulated Earth. That includes Max (Matt Damon),
a factory worker who dreams of leaving crime and poverty behind and escaping to
a better life on Elysium.
When
he’s exposed to a deadly amount of radiation at his job, Max must make his
dream a reality. To do so, he must accept a dangerous mission that puts him on
the radar of Elysium’s uncompromising defense secretary (Jodie Foster) and her unhinged
enforcer (Sharlto Copley). However, if Max can somehow pull it off, he’ll save
his life and provide a fresh start for millions of people on Earth.
Nobody’s
going to accuse Blomkamp of being too subtle, but the story effectively stands
on its own once he establishes the narrative layout. I’m sure the talking heads
on Fox News will find plenty to be livid about, but most moviegoers will likely
appreciate the somewhat original plot and almost nonstop action.
Best
of all, the filmmaker excels at making the fights and explosions feel like a natural
part of the story. It’s not like everything stops so people can shoot at each
other for a few minutes. Plus, like he did with District 9, Blomkamp
seamlessly integrates visual effects, making it hard to tell where the sets, props,
etc. end and the CGI begins.
The
director relies on some heavy hitters to make this world and its stakes seem convincing
and, for the most part, they accomplish the task. Damon’s work is deceptively simple.
It doesn’t seem like Max is too complicated, but the actor conveys the
increasingly perilous consequences of his actions through his eyes and body
language. Alice Braga, Diego Luna, Wagner Moura and William Fichtner add important
weight to supporting roles. Though they don’t have a lot of screen time, the
actors make sure their impact is felt throughout the rest of the film.
Copley
steals the movie as the mercenary tasked with stopping Damon’s character at all
costs. There’s no trace of the slimy, incompetent bureaucrat he played in District
9. That guy has been replaced by a monster capable of horrific violence at any
second. He’s fascinating and terrifying at the same time.
The
most disappointing aspect of Elysium is Foster’s character, but it’s not
really the actress’ fault. She brings a dogged ferocity to the role, but it’s
so underwritten that she feels squandered. I’m wondering if she had more to do
in a longer cut of the film. The main points of her character’s motivation are
there, but it seems like the connective tissue is missing.
Despite
this major misstep, the film is still worth seeing. It takes a look at the
unpleasant course our society is on, and suggests a couple of ways to change
direction. But, in the words of Mary Poppins, it throws in a spoonful of sugar
to help the medicine go down.
Elysium is rated
R for strong bloody violence and language throughout.
Grade:
B
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