Film Review: Elysium


The new sci-fi-social film by Neil Blomkamp (District 9) has made a film with similar look and tone to its predecessor - slums, dirt, guns and extreme urgency. Everything feels filthy and unrefined, but this is kudos to Blomkamp and his team, as Elysium's worlds are real, and completely believable. The culture, the landscape, the technology, all fully realized, to make you wonder how far away from reality the film truly is.

It follows factory worker Max (Matt Damon) who has a severe radiation attack at his work, and is given 5 days to live. The only way he can heal is by visiting Elysium, an incredible floating world where the rich live in luxury and reassurance of perfect health. But he will have to literally fight his way up there, because Elysium's inhabitants are very protective of their world and do not want 'ordinary people' messing it up.

If you visit the IMDB forums you will find Elysium has sparked a fiery debate over its main theme - the wealth gap between rich and poor. Posters have written about how they are living well, earning lots of money and have a great job, because they earned it. The movie addresses the wealth gap as corrupt, immoral, and causing mass suffering. Spoilers aside, Elysium is ultimately suggesting that we should not aspire to live like millionaires and celebrities, but appreciate our own culture and background, so the privileges of the upper classes should not be limited to them. This is a brave and bold message, especially as it is the entire point of the film, and not an afterthought. At the final few minutes, some audience members had tears. Elysium will split opinion with its social message, but perhaps this split is revealing the true gaps in our society. Sparking a debate is never a bad thing.

While Damon is solid and believable, we don't seem to learn much about him, except that he has 5 days to live and what he was like as an 8 year old. Jodie Foster, as the film's chief villain, is particularly disappointing. Her script and acting is hammy, like something from a pantomime, although this simply makes her more unlikable. A highlight is Sharlto Copley (also from District 9 and The A-Team), who plays the 'evil henchman' role with such gusto and nasty attitude that he completely steals the film.

If you can withstand over-the-top, sometimes cartoon excess of violence, the film is exciting and well put together, so definitely worth a look.
8/10