ALARIS' REVIEWS

30th March 2010
District 9 (2009)

District 9 is a film about an alien refugee camp in the slums of Johannesburg. But this is not a movie about aliens. District 9 is a film about prejudice, poverty, corporate politics, and most of all.the slums of Johannesburg.

The protagonist, Wickus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley), is a small minded, corporate lackey, whose responsibility it is to relocate the alien population, with or without their cooperation. He's a discomfortingly unsympathetic character, whose callousness towards the aliens is no less distasteful for its lack of real malice. Wickus has no genuine understanding of experiences outside of his own, and no empathy for those suffering disadvantage, dispossession, oppression or discrimination.

However, District 9 is not a film about heroes either. There isn't a lot of cool in this movie, and even less fun, but District 9 is a thoughtful presentation of a challenging concept. The film takes a gritty, understated approach to the story, and is intercut with documentary style segments which work surprisingly well.

The pacing is steady, and the special effects are very effective. There's a fair amount of graphic violence, so this isn't breezy family fun. However, the acting is solid, and appropriately low key. Wickus might not be a likeable character, but he's a convincing one.

District 9 is an unusual concept, executed well. However, its downbeat tone won't suit everyone.

Verdict: An interesting and disturbing film about the slums of Johannesburg. With aliens.

If you like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, you might like this.

**+

Read Clementine's review of District 9 (2009).