Film: Elysium
Cast: Alice Braga, Jodie Foster, Matt Damon, Sharlto Copley Director: Neill Blomkamp Rating: **1/2
What’s it about:
Another futuristic setting after Oblivion and After Earth comes alive in the opening scenes of Elysium. Hollywood’s fascination with end of the world scenario and finding an alternative life support system in a distant galaxy doesn’t seem to end any time soon.
Elysium is a rich habitat only the privileged few have access to. Max (Damon) an earthling faces a life threatening situation after being exposed to radiation. Now he must sneak under the sharp nose of Secretary of Defense Delacourt (Jodie Foster) who single handedly guards the sanctity of the region making sure no one else gets access to the futuristic healing machines and equipment. One man’s mission to blur the line between the have and have not’s results in a thrilling climax.
What’s hot: District 9 was a landmark film when it came to weaving a really strong story line into a futuristic setting that was emotional and heart breaking at the same time. Elysium has shades of D9 but the canvass is much bigger than anything Blomkamp has attempted. So if larger than life is your thing, Elysium won’t disappoint. Special effects though minimal impress in the right places. They aren’t in your face or brought out every five minutes.
What’s not:
Performances are uneven. While Damon manages to impress with his body language and dialogues, the same can’t be said about Jodie Foster. There is no logic or reason to her strange accent or awkward walk through out the film. Also Damon’s character becomes one dimensional a little too soon before the climax gets played out. There are moments when it feels like the social message part of the film over rides the fun part.
What to do: Elysium is a big gun that aims and fires but misses its target by a mile.
