REVIEW: Elysium

Courtesy of Sony

Neill Blomkamp isn’t a household name quite yet, but he’s well on his way thanks to his blockbuster debut District 9. While he doesn’t reach the same narrative heights with Elysium, his latest sci-fi parable, it’s still a visual extravaganza filled with interesting performances and exhilarating action sequences. Though the metaphor is clunky and obvious, it’s still a wildly entertaining film.

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