[8.50/10] District 9 (2009)

District 9 (2009)

"District 9" is one of those seemingly rare examples of science fiction in movies done right. Although it isn't without a handful of hiccups, "District 9" still manages to be a fairly thoughtful piece while providing wallops of entertainment. And for providing both substance and plenty of explosions, I'm pleased! The story is established via a mashup of faux-documentary footage and standard third-person camera, a technique that I actually found a little jarring at times since switching between the two wasn't exactly systematic, but, despite its chaotic nature, it generally worked. In terms of action, there are only a small handful of action set pieces, with chases and bursts of combat amidst the drama. Some of the crazy effects of the alien weaponry seem inspired by videogames and seemed a little random, because of the diversity of the effects. Some of the props also seemed a little toy-like as well. Still, it's all designed pretty well. The film is shot convincingly, with the found footage hitting all the right notes and the omniscient eye staying close with a cleaner look, but still gray/neutral. Acting had to be largely held by our leading man and the newcomer South African, Copley, manages to hold his own through the running time of the film. Many of the other characters are rather one note and so the other actors don't have much to do. The rest of the production does really well given the fractional budget. Above all, "District 9" manages to become a truly reflection of classic sci-fi, action, and a gritty depiction of social interaction, and humans' "print" on anything that opposes or bewilders it.

• My Rating: 8.50/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 90% (7.8/10)
• IMDb: 8.4/10