MOVIE OF THE WEEK #2 (8/9/13): ELYSIUM
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Alice Braga, Sharlto Copley, William Fichtner, Diego Luna, Wagner Moura and Emma Tremblay
WRITER(S): Neil Blomkamp
DIRECTOR(S): Neil Blomkamp
WEB SITE: http://www.itsbetterupthere.com/site/
60 SECOND PLOT SYNOPSIS: A film that blends elements of other films in its genre, Elysium takes place in the year 2159. And it's not a good year – much like the last few decades haven't been. Earth has become overpopulated, polluted and just about everyone who's left behind lives in poverty-ridden slums, often in poor health.
The rich, however, fled eons ago and moved to Elysium, the ultimate floating gated community 375 miles above the earth in outer space. It is here that Secretary Delacourt (Jodie Foster) defends her paradise with an iron fist, shooting down any potential illegal immigrants at every turn or calling in her Earth field agent Kruger (Sharlto Copley) to do so whenever possible.
This is a problem for people like Max (Matt Damon), a laborer at a factory run by John Carlyle (William Fichtner), a rich magnate who Delacourt has big plans for. Max, however, has his own problems once he's exposed to a lethal dose of radiation at the factory and he will die in 5 days. That prompts Max to seek out the assistance of Julio (Diego Luna) and Spider (Wagner Moura), which comes at a VERY steep price. If Max is going to survive the rough road ahead of him, he might just need the help of an old friend like Frey (Alice Braga) ... Then again, with a sick daughter (Emma Tremblay) to take care of, she has enough of her own problems to worry about.
And the answer for both Max's and Frey's problems lies in the sky at Elysium ...
WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST?: People who like Matt Damon, people who enjoy dystopian society films, fans of traditional summer action blockbusters and people who wish WALL-E was more violent and had real human beings in it.
The rich, however, fled eons ago and moved to Elysium, the ultimate floating gated community 375 miles above the earth in outer space. It is here that Secretary Delacourt (Jodie Foster) defends her paradise with an iron fist, shooting down any potential illegal immigrants at every turn or calling in her Earth field agent Kruger (Sharlto Copley) to do so whenever possible.
This is a problem for people like Max (Matt Damon), a laborer at a factory run by John Carlyle (William Fichtner), a rich magnate who Delacourt has big plans for. Max, however, has his own problems once he's exposed to a lethal dose of radiation at the factory and he will die in 5 days. That prompts Max to seek out the assistance of Julio (Diego Luna) and Spider (Wagner Moura), which comes at a VERY steep price. If Max is going to survive the rough road ahead of him, he might just need the help of an old friend like Frey (Alice Braga) ... Then again, with a sick daughter (Emma Tremblay) to take care of, she has enough of her own problems to worry about.
And the answer for both Max's and Frey's problems lies in the sky at Elysium ...
WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST?: People who like Matt Damon, people who enjoy dystopian society films, fans of traditional summer action blockbusters and people who wish WALL-E was more violent and had real human beings in it.
WHO WON'T LIKE THIS FILM?: People who are tired of familiar feeling sci-fi, people who want a film that is more District 9 in execution and not just in story and those looking for something more than a standard sci-fi film.
BOTTOM LINE – IS IT GOOD, GREAT, BAD OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? It's good ... But feels all too familiar to be anything more than a short-term diversion.
WHAT'S GOOD (OR BAD) ABOUT IT?: Elysium features a great performance by Damon, an absolutely perfectly arrogantly annoying performance by Fichtner and a strong showing by Foster showcasing her inner Karl Rover as a totalitarian ruler looking to preserve life on Elysium at all costs. Likewise, Blomkamp does a nice job moving things along, bringing to life the sheer beauty of the man-made paradise of Elysium while using it as a stark contrast to the sadness that is Earth.
However, there is one problem with Elysium that detracts from the film: It's dystopian future fatigue – for nearly every element of Elysium feels co-opted from another sci-fi film that did it first.
Hero dying? Check Escape from New York. Planet become a mess? Take your pick; Children of Men, The Island, the already forgotten After Earth – even WALL-E qualifies for this list. Revolutionary healing for the rich while the poor die off? Repo Men, In Time, Blade Runner, etc. Dreaming of escaping to a better world than the one you live in? Total Recall for starters. And that's the entire problem – Elysium is fine if you just take it for what it is, but what it is is NOT as nearly an original concept as its creators want you to believe. Seriously at this point, there only seem to be three types of sci-fi movies: [1] aliens invading earth; [2] dystopian society where its the haves vs. the have nots or in recent years; [3] zombies.
Given just how interesting the story of District 9 was – aliens being subjected to colonization – Elysium is disappointing in how it doesn't do anything to really expand any of the subjects. Yes, the final confrontation the film builds to is interesting, but it's extremely predictable as is the latter half of the film. So, once again, Elysium in itself is fine and dandy. But in terms of being anything other than a well done film you've seen before, it's not.
And that's a shame – because given its pedigree, Elysium could have been one for sci-fi fans seeking sanctuary this summer.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
WHAT'S GOOD (OR BAD) ABOUT IT?: Elysium features a great performance by Damon, an absolutely perfectly arrogantly annoying performance by Fichtner and a strong showing by Foster showcasing her inner Karl Rover as a totalitarian ruler looking to preserve life on Elysium at all costs. Likewise, Blomkamp does a nice job moving things along, bringing to life the sheer beauty of the man-made paradise of Elysium while using it as a stark contrast to the sadness that is Earth.
However, there is one problem with Elysium that detracts from the film: It's dystopian future fatigue – for nearly every element of Elysium feels co-opted from another sci-fi film that did it first.
Hero dying? Check Escape from New York. Planet become a mess? Take your pick; Children of Men, The Island, the already forgotten After Earth – even WALL-E qualifies for this list. Revolutionary healing for the rich while the poor die off? Repo Men, In Time, Blade Runner, etc. Dreaming of escaping to a better world than the one you live in? Total Recall for starters. And that's the entire problem – Elysium is fine if you just take it for what it is, but what it is is NOT as nearly an original concept as its creators want you to believe. Seriously at this point, there only seem to be three types of sci-fi movies: [1] aliens invading earth; [2] dystopian society where its the haves vs. the have nots or in recent years; [3] zombies.
Given just how interesting the story of District 9 was – aliens being subjected to colonization – Elysium is disappointing in how it doesn't do anything to really expand any of the subjects. Yes, the final confrontation the film builds to is interesting, but it's extremely predictable as is the latter half of the film. So, once again, Elysium in itself is fine and dandy. But in terms of being anything other than a well done film you've seen before, it's not.
And that's a shame – because given its pedigree, Elysium could have been one for sci-fi fans seeking sanctuary this summer.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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