In a Better World: Review of Elysium

Elysium

Director: Neill Blomkamp

By Alex Watson

 

South African visionary Neill Blomkamp returns to our screens this week with his much hyped future movie Elysium. After his well received, Johannesburg set sci-fi movie District 9, many have been anticipating his follow up effort for some years now. Once again this summer we turn to a directors view of earth after destruction- but after some mixed receptions of the same idea, how will Blomkamp’s idea stand out from the rest? With Matt Damon on board as the lead this could be the element that strengths this movie!

Set in the year 2154, earth has become almost inhabitable and as a result, the wealthy members of the human race have formed their own satellite world Elysium where there is no sickness, death or ageing and is run with an iron fist by Defense Secretary Jessica Delacourt (Jodie Foster)- who works hard to keep any illegals from entering. But when ex convict Mark Da Costa (Matt Damon) is exposed to a fatal dosage of radiation in a factory incident, he is given only 5 days to live. His only way to survive to get to Elysium – but he will have an obstacle in his way in the face of psycho Elysium agent Kruger (Sharlto Copley).

Elysium is one of the more enjoyable and believable futuristic earth movies of 2013 and Blomkamp succeeds in giving us a realistic and visually stunning portrayal of an earth which is on the verge of collapse. The Los Angeles of 2154 is a grimy place littered where employment is scarce, robots have become our police force and crime is large- all the while the gleaming white circle Elysium hangs about them in the sky! The early scenes showing a mainly robot controlled earth provides some great moments (such as Max’s robot control parole officer) , unusually for a big blockbuster, Blomkamp focuses largely on theme of illegal immigrants attempting to enter the different airspace to get better medical treatment- but instead are rounded up like cattle!

Max’s journey to try and break into Elysium is one that gives the movie direction- the moments after he is pulled from his accident- he is met by another monotone robot who simply gives him pills while saying “Thank you for your service” from there rather than accept defeat, he decides to rise up and live another day. His plan is not without its problems and an assault on billionaire John Carlyle (William Fichtner), Kruger and his gang onto him like white on rich and from there he literally has to play it smart or die trying! His reconnect with childhood sweetheart Frey (Alice Braga) is one that gives the movie some heart- though is perhaps underdeveloped.

While Elysium looks and sounds great and for the majority of its 109 minute running time, the story doesn’t quite flow like it should and its rather flat and slightly hoaxy climax misses the thrills of District 9 that Blomkamp gave us previously, also it is let down by a series of rather one note villains- Delacourt while ruthless, fails to really pose any kind of serious threat other than her desire to have society which looks like a picture postcard while destroying innocent illegal’s attempting to join the party. When Kruger enters, things become more interesting as this an agent who couldn’t give a damn about the folks he servies- he is always for himself (no matter whether the action he takes is right or wrong!) his showdowns with Max give the movie an extra shot of adrenalin.

Matt Damon proves he can do sci-fi well and rings in a typically solid lead turn as Max, through his shaved head and prison tats- this a very different Damon than people will be accustomed to seeing- but as usual he is able to give the movie a centre. Though Jodie Foster proves unusually disappointed as the bizarre accented Delacourt and for her she is not firing on all cyclinders. Personally I am a big supporter of Jodie, but as the villain she doesn’t quite fit!

Sharlto Copley however, has the most fun as outlandish agent Kruger and the OTT feel he brings to the character makes him the main villain of the piece and gives him a presence that makes us stand up and pay attention.

Though Elysium might not be the top movie of the summer, it sure does provide an interesting view of the future and Blomkamp’s view on human condition are very thought provoking throughout. As a director he will be one of the more impressive visual artists to watch over the coming years. Save and invest your money wisely everyone- you never know when it could come in handy!

After Earth: Review of Oblivion

Oblivion

Director: Joseph Kosinski

By Alex Watson

Numerous times on the big screen we have seen the world threatened by a variety of different means such as alien attacks, nuclear war and most notably- Doctor Evil from Austen Powers! This week, we see Tron Legacy director Joseph Kosinski show us a world devastated by war and the people who are trying to survive in his follow up movie Oblivion. After the visual feast of his previous effort, expectations will be high for this one and with Tom Cruise’s star power in support, this effort could be interesting! But after seeing this event so many times, is it possible to present a fresh version of these events?

Set in the far future, Earth has been attacked by an unknown alien race and as result has been devastated and the surviving human members have been evacuated to a new home before they settle on the planet Titan. Technician Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) is currently based on earth with his lover Victoria (Andrea Riseborough) and their job is to protect and maintain the equipment for the earth’s resources- but Jack is troubled by dreams of an unknown woman (Olga Kurylenko) and starts to wonder is something is wrong with the mission- soon he will come across the mysterious Malcolm Beech (Morgan Freeman) who will shed more light on his suspicions!

Oblivion is a visually spectacular effort from Kosinski and after his impressive debut in Tron Legacy, his eye for the splendid CGI is well present here and we are shown an earth that is almost in the same vein as Planet of the Apes and as we see various landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the Empire State Building we realize the devastation caused. Also his choreography of the action scenes is equally impressive and this will prove to be effects money well spent.

But although everything looks pretty on the surface, it is a shame that more attention wasn’t given to the plot! And it is in this area where Oblivion begins to lose itself because although there are many ideas present, the story feels a little a thin on the ground and the film seems to focus on the big effects, although a starting voiceover from Cruise inform us of attacks and the relocation of humanity- the logic of certain events later in the story become mangled and this will mostly like present more questions than answers as the end credits roll. Kosinski has created a truly stunning world that rings true but his fast paced direction suffers from the same effects as Tron Legacy did where attention was shifted firmly to the effects leaving the story secondary.

Another problem faced is that we never truly get a feel for the characters that are presented to us, Jack Harper’s story is one that has potential and it poses some interesting questions about life after earth- but some of the supporting characters he is given are very one dimensional, particularly Victoria who seems to merely follow protocol at all costs and although Malcolm Beech hints at big mystery, ultimately his character falls at bit flat and feels just like Morgan Freeman’s typical character these days!

Tom Cruise is as solid as ever and makes the most of the material he is given for Jack Harper, but it is not a role that stretches his ability by any means and simply requires him to turn up and look heroic. But his presence does elevate this picture above the average standard and when it comes to blockbusters, he is always the man to turn to. Andrea Riseborough and Olga Kurylenko provide good eye candy but neither really musters a commanding female presence to truly affect the picture, though it is nice to see the talented Riseborough being given a shot in a major flick!

I understand that that this is just entertainment and Oblivion is not a bad picture by any means and give us a solid night’s entertainment, but with its talented cast and director, this film could have been much more than what is given to us. Kosinski is a director for the future; there is no doubt about that and you can feel a definitive picture brewing somewhere. But this picture will make you wonder how life will be spent on earth if the aliens really do turn up someday!

About to Explode: Review of Children of Men

New Cult Classic

Children of Men (2006)

Director: Alfonso Cuaron

By Alex Watson

 

There are some truly remarkable visions of the future, some of which are starting are to look like a reality starting with Ridley Scott’s depiction of a polluted world run by genetic engineering in Blade Runner or George Miller legendary representation of a wasteland Australia infested with outlaws in Mad Max. But the modern day vision that has hit closest to home is in Mexican maverick director, Alfonso Cuaron’s vision of a dystopian Britain in his loose adaptation of PD James’ novel Children of Men, a vision that today looks disturbingly close.

In Britain 2027, the world has not had the birth of a child in over 18 years and now the country is slowing falling to pieces due to radical measures taken to imprison illegal immigrants. Theo (Clive Owen) is a man whose life has lost all meaning and take solace in his weekly visits to Jasper (Michael Caine) an ex hippie political cartoonist. Suddenly out of the blue his ex partner Julian (Julianne Moore) offers him £5000 to escort a refugee girl Kee (Claire-Hope Ashitey) to the coast. Reluctantly he accepts but soon he will make a startling discovery!

Children of Men isn’t a spectacular vision of the future, but this is very intentional and Cuaron superbly demonstrates this through a very ugly future Britain where buses and trains are heavy battered and windows are guarded against attacks, a place where political graffiti lines the walls, Terrorist make constant surprise attacks and immigrants are rounded up like cattle by soldier like cops. The cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki gives the film a rough edge which suits it well and adds the desperate feel of the characters.

From the very start we know we are faced with a dangerous situation, when Theo buys a cup of coffee- a moment a later as he walks down the street, the same shop explodes! This one moment presents us with one of the most exciting opening shots in recent years and as we jump in our seats, we realize a very bumpy ride is ahead! But it is perhaps the stunning one take finale that holds our attention as Theo and Kee attempt to escape Bexhill prison camp which has just descended into a minor war!

The message of the potentially destruction of our society is faced with is very clear and here Cuaron pulls no punches. The world is on the brink of collapse and due to mass war many of the major cities have been wiped out and only Britain struggles on. Themes such as widespread infertility and internment of immigrants are a heavy warning for the future. But although the message is heavy, there is also heart to the story and it is shown through Theo’s bonding with Kee.

At first Theo is not a likeable character due to his empathetic and constantly hungover manner, but he makes his discovery he finds a reason to fight on and it through this that Children of Men finds it emotional strength and it provides the story with a bright light.

Clive Owen gives a wonderful everyman performance in Children of Men as Theo, one of the today’s most consistent actors, Owen gives more depth to his character as the piece progress and as Theo finds his place in life, he wins the audiences heart. Michael Caine is also wonderful as Jasper and rings in a charismatic yet heartfelt performance as a man who lives in the old times but knows the dangers that surround them in the future. This is yet further proof of what presence Caine still has in today’s film world.

But it’s Claire Hope-Ashitey who holds our attention most as girl with a secret Kee and she gives her character a thinly veiled fragility underneath her determination and when what she’s hiding is reveled we pray that Theo will see her home safe.

The future that Children of Men presents could be worryingly close and Alfonso Cuaron sends out a warning with film. Although the future may not be pretty here, but is however stunningly shot and gives one of the most engaging stories we will see for some time. If you ever needed a guide to planning your future carefully then we have found the film to guide us, just hope someone like Theo is by your side though!

 

Changing with the Times: Looper Review

Looper

Director: Rian Johnson

By Alex Watson

It has been a little while since there has been a truly mind bending sci-fi thriller, not since Chris Nolan launched Inception upon the film world and made our twist like a pretzel has there been a film that has made us ask all kinds of questions! But this year there has been a lot of hype surrounding Rian Johnson’s follow up to his well acclaimed debut film Brick, a film which deals with a very different form of time travel and proposes us to think, what happened if we met our future selves? Expect debates a plenty as we review Looper.

Set in the future, Joe (Joseph Gordon- Levitt) works as a Looper- an assassin who executes people sent by time travel from 30 years in the future. He is very successful at his job, but one day- the target turns out to be the future Joe (Bruce Willis)! Because of this he fails to carry out his hit and as a result his bosses are soon in pursuit of him. When he meets his future self and learns to plans to avenge his pain filled past. As both work to change their future, they will both some come into contact with single mum Sara (Emily Blunt) and her interesting little boy!

I am happy to announce that Looper is exactly the kind of intelligent sci-fi thriller we have been searching for in the last couple of years. The plot is very technical to describe and would normally require Professor Brian Cox type intellect to understand, but where it stands out is in its brilliant storyline which has legs that allows it to stride forward; the notion of history being re-written is fantastically portrayed and brings into a view a number of interesting questions.

After all, we have all wondered what meet our future selves would be like and how it could change our path in life. The moment when both Joe’s cross paths is one of the highlights of the movie, and is proceeded by an impressive 30 year montage where we see Joe go from being a callous young assassin, to a being mixed up with the mob and a life on the run! Afterwards we see the fear in the young Joe’s eyes as the older one describes the pain and heart break that has plagued his life. Although his younger man scoffs at this, he can’t shake the feeling that this will one day happen to him! Here Rian Johnson puts all our questions into view and makes us think about what we can do to change things for the better!

Looper succeeds on a level where films like The Adjustment Bureau (which also dealt with re-writing history) failed because although the former had an interesting idea to it, the logic got mangled on screen and caused people to ask too many questions surrounding it. From the very beginning of Johnson’s film, he has any potential questions iced in an opening voice-over and from there it makes the future seem plausible. Here were are shown a dystopian future where people do drugs through their eye balls and the economic crisis is so bleak, tramps literally line the streets. This is a truly unique vision and for once shows that in a brainy sci-fi, ideas come before visuals!

Both Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are magnificent as the older and younger versions of each other and together they hold centre stage well, also through impressive make up Gordon-Levitt looks identical to Willis and this blocks any potential snipes that two don’t seem alike!

Emily Blunt is also wonderful as Sara, a woman whose love for her son is absolute; even though he will pay an awful part in the future Joe’s tragic back story! Blunt doesn’t just play the typical doe eyed woman and gives Sara a strength that makes her stand out.

There is no doubt that we are looking a major talent of the future, Rian Johnson has brought us a film which has great heart and truly makes our mind ticks. Looper will be high on my list of films for 2012 and I can guarantee any viewer that they will not have a brainier and thought provoking experience like this. Cult status is guaranteed for this picture, Johnson and Gordon-Levitt better get together soon because together anything is possible! Be sure to think of your future everyone, because who knows what lies ahead!

I’m a Cyborg… But That’s Ok: Review of Robocop

Classic from the Vault

Robocop (1987)

Director: Paul Verhoeven

By Alex Watson

 

The world of Paul Verhoeven is a very interesting one, and at times it can be a very full on experience! The Dutch director has produced some varied results over the years starting with his well acclaimed war drama Soldier of Orange, to making the violently entertaining future film Total Recall, to full frontal nudity with Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct to finally US Marines battling massive bugs in the far off future in Starship Troopers. But it was a cyborg policeman, who was to give Verhoeven his biggest hit, blood sprays and the law is served in Robocop.

Set in futuristic Detroit, the city has now evaporated into a cesspit of crime and drugs and now it is pretty much a warzone! The city is controlled by giant corporation OCP who are planning to re-build Detroit into Delta City! Meanwhile veteran officer Alex Murphy (Peter Weller) has just transferred to a new rougher precinct, and is partnered with rookie officer Anne Lewis (Nancy Allen). On their first patrol Murphy is brutally murdered by arch villain Clarence Boddicker (Kurtwood Smith) and his gang! OCP realize that humans are becoming inadequate to enforce the law use Murphy’s remains to transform him into Robocop. Very soon a new presence is shaking up the streets!

Robocop is a good all fashion shoot ‘em up with a slice of a cop with a grudge thrown in for good measure. But more than anything it gave Paul Verhoeven free reign to explore his love of mayhem!  The final body count in Robocop stands at 30, more than many films of its kind! And when the death’s come the corpses are literally riddled with bullets! Although the effects may look cheap in today’s world, it still makes for a very entertaining piece.

But aside for the blood splatter, the film has a main character that we warm to. Alex Murphy is presented as a likable and decent man, so when Boddicker and co literally blow him to bits, our hearts sink! But when he is retooled as Robocop, we quickly realised that Murphy’s memories are intact and that his justice will be swift and twice as brutal.

But the real villains of the film are the corporation OCP, who are presented by Verhoeven as the tyrannical rulers of Detroit. They are company so keen on power that they have taken advantage of world that is out of control! OCP have also privatised the Police Force to make way for more robotic replacements and thus making more money! People’s lives come second to progress in the corporate world.

This notion is painfully demonstrated when the original robot model ED-209 malfunctions and fiercely kills a young executive during a board meeting! The president reprimands Dick Jones (Ronny Cox) not for the murder but because they will lose money because of the production delay! Verhoeven based OCP on the Nazi occupation of Holland during his childhood, this view of Totalitarian rule he would explore his feature Starship Troopers.

Although star Peter Weller spends most of his time behind an armoured suit, he is still an engaging presence and his early scenes with Nancy Allen are very heartfelt and we wish we could have seen more of Murphy before his demise. Ronny Cox makes for the perfect slime as suit wearing Jones; Cox would later play a similar role in Verhoeven’s Total Recall. But as the villain it’s Kurtwood Smith that has the most fun. As Boddicker he is perfectly insane, his sadistic love of mutilation make us open mouthed in shock, it is a shame that we haven’t seen him in similar role since.

Robocop by far Paul Verhoeven’s greatest work, his mixture of action and utter madness is the perfect blend for this futuristic battleground! After this film his work went downhill and it wasn’t until 2006 Dutch film The Black Book that he was finally redeemed. But for a reminder of how great his work can be then revisit a blood splattered classic, as Robocop would say “Thank you for your Cooperation!”

Fight for Survival: Review of The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games

Director: Gary Ross

By Alex Watson

There have been many adaptations of popular teenage novel in recent years. The Twilight Saga in particular has caused mass hysteria across the world with its young vampire lover’s story line. Cinema queues have been as far as the eye can see and it has made stars of its actors Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.  But although these films have been ringing the box office bell, the critics have been frequently criticised the series for its poor plot and under developed characters. Quite simply, this story line can only appeal to a certain age group. Now we turn to director Gary Ross’ adaptation of Suzanne Collin’s big selling novel, The Hunger Games. Will this version keep its head above water or will be just another teen movie?

The story is set in the futuristic world of Panem, which used to be the former United States. The country has now been divided into 12 different districts and each year they select one male and female to compete in the annual Hunger Games- a competition where 24 young people fight to the death! When sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutchison) are selected from district 12, they will make a lasting impact on the games as they fight for their own survival!

The Hunger Games easily the best of the teen novel adaptations in years gone by, the smart concept is well executed and it will easily please fans of the books. Gary Ross sucks us into its unique world which is ruled with an iron fist by a wealthy capital city and its all powerful leader (Donald Sutherland). The districts are literally living off scraps that others throw for them and in return they must risk the lives of their children for the entertainment of the public! The lingering sense of dread is built up to high levels as the start of the games grows near, this is made all the more frightening by the fact that all but one of the children will die for a nothing cause!

The violence in the movie is both a terrifying and fascinating experience, for teenage movie we are not shown typical blood and gore, but every time a scream is heard our chest tighten in fear as Katniss ducks for cover in the thick forest.  Ross is relentless in his representation of violence, but not once does he cross the line into darker territory. His delivery of these scenes is well done and although shocking in places, it adds to The Hunger Games’ intelligent appeal. The most shocking element of the film is that we see a society that is completely desensitised to violence. Reality television has gone to the next level and behind the scenes we see the cruel bigwigs masterminding every unpleasant kink to make sure the ratings go through the roof and that brutality is celebrated!

As Katniss, Jennifer Lawrence is a perfect choice. Her performance in the under seen Winters Bone, showed that she could play the tough heroine, and in The Hunger Games this suits her character perfectly. Katniss isn’t in this game to win, she in this to fight for her life and because of this she has a level headedness to see things through!  Lawrence is a new star in the making and I look forward to seeing her in the future. Josh Hutchison is also good as Peeta, a boy who has a long standing crush on Katniss. When he publically professes his love the public go wild for the pair! Through the emotional longing in his eyes, we fear for Peeta’s safety and pray that Katniss will keep him safe! Woody Harrelson and Lenny Kravitz also give great support as the pairs respective mentors. They bring a human touch to proceedings and give the pair much needed emotional support. Harrelson’s character has seen the bloodshed world of the games and as a result is permanently disturbed and has turned to alcohol to ease his pain!

The world of The Hunger Games is one of the most original ideas in cinema in recent years. Through this it proves that not all teenage novels have to be cute and family friendly to audiences. But through it is a powerful message about the influence that reality television over people. It’s a terrifying thought that this could be the future of entertainment! Its sequel Catching Fire is due out later in the year; I lie in waiting to see the next series of events in the world of Panem!