Written by Alex Kartman of Scene Selection
District 9 Scene Selection Review
Grade: A 
4/4
Hollywood always rolls out their blockbusters in summer. That is fact and tradition, from “Jaws” to “The Dark Knight.” Most of them are high budget, low IQ, plotless bombardments of spectacle and action. One sect of this genre is the alien invasion films. “Independence Day” and “Transformers” are the most popular of these, but they lack any sort of political and social statement to make an impact on society. Then again, summer isn’t the time and place for that because who wants to think when school’s out. This weekend, one film challenges you, the viewer, to break away from the average fare, and to look at what our society has become over the years, and to reflect upon your soul, while still delivering great action and effects. I speak of “District 9,” the directorial debut of Neill Blomkamp.
“District 9” follows a field operative, Wikus van der Merwe (played brilliantly by Sharlto Copley) as he begins evicting aliens from District 9, to move them to District 10. On his first day in the slum, he finds weapons caches, illegal computers, violent aliens, and a vile of fluid that infects him with a virus that begins transforming him into an alien. He has to run from his employer, who wants him for experimentation, with only one place for him to run: District 9. He befriends an alien and rushes to reassemble his life and to help the aliens escape from earth to return home.
The film treads where very few wide released summer films do. It has deep themes, harsh views of reality, and a call to political action. “District 9” exists in a society where aliens have landed on earth, and been exiled to a ghetto by the titular name. They face racism, riots, violence, and everything that harkens back to 1950s and 60s America. The aliens are derogated to the term ‘prawns’ and live in shacks thrown together from scraps. They are malnourished and face violence for any suspicious activity. It seems out of place that society still faces these issues today, but the film addresses the inner meanness all humans may harbor. This never has to be an alien movie; the prawns are merely vehicles to put a face to the problems of this culture. I can only think of “The Dark Knight” as another summer blockbuster that dared to stir these types of political statements. Whereas that questioned corruption and the need for heroes, this examines the need for global understanding and acceptance of culture.
Director, Blomkamp, and producer Peter Jackson, create a mystical and realistic environment in the film. These two men were on board to make the anticipated “Halo” film, yet diverted and created this masterpiece instead. They don’t use a superpower country as the setting, instead pursuing Johannesburg, South Africa. I can’t even begin to dive into the depths of this film for fear of spoilers, but look past it as being another popcorn alien movie and think of it as an award contender.
What sets this film apart is the incredible stylization. It borders between realistic mockumentary (using ‘mock’ in a non-comedic sense) and hand-held narrative frenzy. The first half hour or so seems like a convincing documentary, but the style shifts to only follow Wikus, losing the quick paced news coverage that drives the first act of the film. I wish they had chosen to keep this throughout because it created a frantic pace that drove the movie very well for that section. The most impressive thing is the impeccable CGI for a film with such a low budget. The aliens look real as do their ships and weaponry.
The camera styles are excellent for the film that this is. The documentary camera angles used throughout, match the audiences perspective on this story. There are some incredible angles near the climax in which the camera appears on the sides of guns, in cars, and thrown in any tight space imaginable.
“District 9” easily transcends the mockumentary/ alien/ blockbuster genres of summer to create a politically charged thrill ride that hopefully keeps you thinking for hours after viewing. Keep an eye on Neill Blomkamp because he has a bright career ahead.
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