Film Of The Week: ELYSIUM (2013)

SYNOPSIS:

In the year 2154 two classes of people exist: the very wealthy who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. Secretary Rhodes, a government official, will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium. That doesn’t stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max is backed into a corner, he agrees to take on a daunting mission that if successful will not only save his life, but could bring equality to these polarized worlds.

REVIEW:

I’m going to be straightforward and to the point to kick this review off. Or a commentary if you will. Whatever.

Prior to this week, I have noticed that there are some people who were already pissed off at Neill Blomkamp‘s latest film, Elysium, even those eager to opinionate themselves long before it came out. Particularly speaking, it was the narrative regarding the film’s illustrated divide between the poor and the highly well-to-do that led some critics and curmudgeons to label this film as a politically motivated, socially-preachy movie with some sort of liberal agenda. Oh please-Obviously that doesn’t, necessarily invoke the majority as the film is already kicking off to a pretty good start this weekend at the box office, whether or not some of those people will see the movie soon, unless they already have. The point though is, regardless of its hidden message…so freaking what?!??

Elysium sets actor Matt Damon in the role of an ex-convict named Max, living in 22nd century Los Angeles where mankind is pretty much sitting on the dystopian ass-end of its existence, riddled with sickness, disease, extreme poverty, and overpopulation, all of which are prominent issues throughout a society pretty much run by robots who couldn’t give a fuck about you. And this is on Earth, which is kinda depressing, wouldn’t you agree?

So all the rich people decide to get away from it all and move onto an artificial intergalactic spacestation planet where they can thrive, live in nice houses, and cure pretty much everything from the common cold and chicken pox, to broken bones, mutilated flesh and cancer. And it is all run by its own president and governing body who had the audacity to name their new home for the rich after a long-conceived description of the afterlife, rooted in Greek mythology.

Think about it.

Back on Earth, Max, ends up suffering from radiation poisoning at the factory where he initially started working in the hopes of a new life, better pay, and even a trip to Elysium with his childhood crush, Frey, played by Alice Braga, who eventually becomes a doctor, but is still left to her own devices despite her daughter suffering from the final stages of leukemia.

All this and more begins to materialize the plot as Max now has five days to get to Elysium or he will die. So who best to run to for help than his best friend, Julio (Diego Luna), and Max’s old crime boss, Spider (Wagner Moura)? And Spider has even MORE issues of his own as well, as his entire syndicate of cyber sleuths and hackers are using their own resources as best as possible to smuggle people into Elysium to get people the help they need, only to have actress Jodie Foster portrayal as Elysium’s homeland cecurity chief, portrayal of Delacourt, and Sharlto Copley as her sleeper agent, Kruger, shooting down whatever flies into Elysium air space unwarranted, with surviving stragglers sent back to Earth so that the citizens of Elysium can live safely knowing their perfect little world can stay perfect.

But this isn’t going to stop Max from trying, as he ultimately gets armed with a hi-tech exo suit that will keep him on his feet as he and several men must find a way into Elysium to get the treatment he needs, and maybe even hack into the mainframe and reboot the system…only that mission goes balls up in the air and screwed, Max has to dodge bullets, armed droids and the prospects of causualties when Frey and her daughter are kidnapped by Kruger and his men while hunting Max down and catching him. From there, it’s a really big one-shot coin toss, with even heavier gun fire and hard hitting action as Max fights his way through an army of guards, a hot-headed, sword-wielding mercenary with an axe to grind, and politicians who pretty much played all this a bit too close to the chest and want this whole thing to go away.

Yeah, it’s pretty much the ultimate battle for mankind in a fantasy, science fiction setting, amidst a story of redemption and humanity. To top it all off, with Blomkamp at the helm and Copley back on set with him since the 2009 surprise hit, District 9, and a great performance by Damon in a role originally meant for Eminem, I thought it was entertaining as all hell. And I should also add that actor William Fichtner was perfect in this movie as one of the corporate cronies who runs the factory company which Max works for. It was a mildly small role, but one which also keot the film going. He was hilariously evil, and carried great screen presence with Foster, making Elysium all the more reason to go see this movie this weekend.

Blomkamp makes for the perfect summer blockbuster filmmaker, with a great vision for film and storytelling that delivers as a great film should. The artistic conception behind Elysium, the robots, the environment, and all-around performances most notably by Damon, Braga, Foster, Moura and by all means, Copley, all have a hand at just how wonderful it is to go see a movie that can lift your spirits up and keep you entertained at the same time. The action is spectacular, the delivery of the story is well-balanced and thought out, and quiet compelling by the end. Certainly, the film does borrow a few elements from some movies, which most movies tend to do these days, but it doesn’t really matter as the film pretty much stands on its own feet. Also, the film does get a bit gory, from time to time, but all in good fun.

So, yes, with an underdog story about a down-and-out factory worker whose newfound life-or-death struggle motivates him to become mankind’s last hope for survival in a time where “I’ve got mine, screw you!” has become a lifelong philosophy for the uber-rich on their supercool, superwealthy and superhealthy life in space, again I ask those who have a problem with this film…SO WHAT?!?

Elysium was a fantastic movie packaged with really great actors, and a great visionary director who is about to become one of the most bankable filmmakers of our time. And as far as the film’s socialpolitical whisper goes, Blomkamp just wanted to make a great movie for moviegoers, and he did. Others view it somewhat politically motivated, and that’s fine. But if all you are going to do is dump on an excellent work of science fiction because of some of its underlying political themes about income inequality, sickness and death, then by all means, feel free to lose out on some really great entertainment.

Or better yet, if you can find a more appealing film to support where endorsing a fruitful, rich and healthy life in outer space mean blowing innocent people to galactic smithereens and leaving Earth to rot in a smog-ridden wasteland with decreasing life-expectancy, then by all means, you’re free to do that as well.

Isn’t freedom awesome?

I don’t know about you, but I like heroes. So on that note, here is a tip: Do yourself a huge favor this week when you look up what to see at the movies: Remember to check your politics at the door, grab a ticket and a sack of popcorn and go see Elysium. I highly recommend it.

If you saw Elysium, let us know what you thought of the film in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.