5) Elysium
Central Cast: Matt Damon, Sharlto Copley, Jodie Foster
Budget: $130 Million
Release Date: August 9th (US) September 20th (UK)
Directed By: Neill Blomkamp
The Pitch: Elysium takes place in the year 2159 where Earth is nothing more than a war-torn, ravaged wasteland. The upper echelons of society have abandoned the planet and now orbit in the eponymous space craft. Matt Damon will play the role of ex-convict Max, who is desperate to get to Elysium to save his own life. In his path, however, stand oppressive government officials who impose anti-immigration laws outlined by Secretary Rhodes – the film’s chief villain played by Jodie Foster – from her orbital ivory tower.
The Verdict: Neill Blomkamp proved a knack for dealing with polarised worlds in 2009 with his sleeper hit District 9. It was an excellent film that infused social commentary and sci-fi themes seamlessly against a South African setting. So who better to direct a brand new concept surrounding a futuristic version of the have-and-have-nots, then?
Nestled within the fantastical world of Elysium is a fundamentally human dynamic which raises contemporary questions about race and equality. Granted, Elysium may share DNA with Blomkamp’s directorial debut – Sharlto Copley returns for his South African pal and the image above hints that the filmmaker hasn’t lost his love for cool sci-fi weaponry. Still, this is a significant departure for the talented director.
With a budget estimated to be four times that of District 9, Elysium will portray a grittier, more arid Earth in comparison with the other futuristic earthbound releases this year – namely After Earth and Oblivion. The cast is worth commending, too. Particularly Copley, playing a shoddy military agent named Kruger who acts as part of Elysium’s earthly enforcers. The South African actor has claimed that he channelled inspiration from his indigenous heritage – principally the infamous Apartheid era gang known as 32 Battalion – for his portrayal of the movie’s villain.
From the outset, the entire production has been shrouded in secrecy, as though a giant alien spacecraft is sitting above our cities and blocking and form of communications, you might say. Though the film was initially set for a March release, I’m starting to get the feeling an August release window is a more natural habitat for a film of Blomkamp’s tenor – after all, District 9 did remarkably well within a similar late summer timeframe. One thing’s for certain, though, Blomkamp’s expertly balanced combination of popcorn entertain and intellectual sci-fi will be at the very foundations of Elysium and I hope his transition to big budget filmmaking is an out-and-out success.
Hype-O-meter: 8/10
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