District 9. It is a good film.
I hadn't paid much attention to the hype for this film, though it did have a habit of cropping rather frequently in my various data streams. But it had at least caught my attention in some small way. So since I had time off and it was showing, I figured why not check it out?
Certainly not the worst decision I've ever made.
The film is very good, well acted and at least reasonably plotted. The effects are obviously very good, but serve the plot, which is a nice change from the usual mindless spectacle. Whilst the protagonists transformation is somewhat limited, it does progress throughout the course of the film and evokes Cronenbergs The Fly in places. Good stuff.
A very dark film certainly, and when there's violence it certainly doesn't shy away, with various chunks and fluids splattering over the camera as well as the bystanders. Not an action film by any means, but certainly a film with action in it.
It's shot in a very interesting way, using a documentary style to tell the story, often using TV or security camera footage, as well as more usual camerawork.
It's kind of interesting that there's been some desperate attempt at fuss over racism for this film, since the whole thing is a rather massive and obvious metaphor for apartheid, though personally I get more criticism of the horrific state of poverty in these sort of places. But I suppose the issues are all strongly interrelated.
It's interesting to note that the characters shown are largely an unlikeble bunch, but all solidly believable. Whilst it's easy to critique from this side of the screen, they do feel like a part of the world in which the drama takes place. Imperfect people in an imperfect world if you will.
An intelligent piece of mature themed science fiction, and well worth seeing in my humble opinion.
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