We are half way through the 22nd Century, and the Earth has become diseased and over populated. Generally not a nice place to live. However, should you be someone of influence and wealth then there is an alternative. You can leave the wasted desolate lands of Earth and go live on Elysium, a huge structure which orbits the Earth. A place where there is law and order, where life is good, where any illness can be cured.
Everyone on Earth longs to go there, and they try any means possible to do so, but these efforts usually prove futile. Keeping order on Elysium is Delacourt, a hard nosed Defence Secretary. Her methods have been known to get her into hot water, especially with the President. So she aims to replace him with someone more reciprocal.
Back on Earth we meet Max, a drifter, who has never really amounted to much throughout his life. He has dealings in petty crime, but is now doing his best to survive, working in a factory. It is a struggle for him, but things do get worse when he is exposed to a massive dose of radiation at work, unfortunately it will prove to be fatal, having at best five days to live.
Knowing that he has nothing to lose, and that if he is to survive, then there is only one course of action. He must somehow get to Elysium, no matter what the cost.
So he meets up with 'Julio', a shady character from his past, seeking a job that will then mean he can be given pasage to Elysium, and use their state of the art equipment to remove the deadly radiation from his body. The job he is given is tough, to say rhe least. He is to be fitted with a device which when connected to a third party allows for brain transference, including sensitive data, passwords, etc and with this data, Julio aims to use it to gain access to Elysium and turn it over to the people, all the people. The added bonus for Max is that their target is 'Carlyle', owner of the plant where he worked, and who he sees as the creator of his health predicament. However, 'Carlyle' is also to be instrumental in the coup being orchestrated by 'Delacourt' so the race is on.
Given his age, he becomes 42 in October, Mr. Damon has certainly proved that he can still do the intense action roles, and show an impressive physique, whether it be here or in another recent film - "Behind The Candelabra". At the end of the day, this is one of those films where story and what is on screen supercede screen performance. Damon is good as 'Max' and does what needs to be done. Sharlto Copley is quite unpleasant, intentionally, as 'Kruger', a sleeper agent working on Earth on behalf of 'Delacourt', doing her dirty work when required. But he does seek retribution when his employment is ended.
Jodie Foster is always worth watching, no matter what the film. I know that some have likened her performance here to that of a pantomime villain, but I found it to be entertaining. Nice to see her playing a non goodie goodie type role.
One of the highlights of the film are the visual effects, which are quite stunning, and are just a real pleasure to sit and watch. They alone are almost worth the price of admission. Things have certainly moved on a lot of the last few years.
As good as the effects are, for a sequence to be truly memorable, there also has to be a great score to accompany it, and the film does boast some good music from first time Composer Ryan Amon. Going on the strength of his first score, he will most certainly be a talent to watch out for.
South African Director Neill Blomkamp brings to the screen this Utopian vision in space, and the slums of Earth. It is entertaining, and as already stated worth watching for the visuals alone.
Enjoyabke movie, and Blomkamp can be forgiven for the dire "District 9"......7 out of 10
