Elysium (Blomkamp, 2013)

Class struggle has remained a popular theme among cinematic allegories. The classic good vs. evil moral themes and the similarities to the problems of today make it an easily accessible backdrop. From The Tale of Two Cities to The Dark Knight Rises, each new reflection of class differences tries to add something new to the genre. On the outside, Neill Blomkamp's Elysium seems to be a creative new look on these overdone themes. But what viewers get instead is one shrug after another, leaving them empty and none the better because of it.

While it's not nearly as inventive as it boasts, Elysium nevertheless remains a visually spectacular action film. It features multiple small-scale fighting sequences that keep moviegoers entranced during the initial viewing. The problem with Elysium is not the movie itself, but rather it's aftermath; once viewers start to talk and think about it, they will realize that there's really not much to this picture. Neill Blomkamp's District 9 (2009), on the other hand, is a highly thought-provoking sci-fi piece. This clearly talented filmmaker could have done so much more to make Elysium an entertaining art film.

Set in a dystopian future where overpopulation and disease has shaken Earth, the upper class moves into a large space station orbiting the planet. The station, Elysium (which means "paradise" in some cultures), is a fully-functioning atmospheric habitat, allowing the rich to live in peace and preserve their way of life with the best technology at their disposal. Earth, on the other hand, is a crumbling nightmare, controlled by abusive robots and unsympathetic corporations.

Max (Matt Damon) dreams of one day living on Elysium, but due to his troubled past, cannot find a stable job to earn the money necessary to purchase a ticket. He's trapped in a parole system that treats him as a public menace. But after an radiation-fueled accident, Max learns that he only has days to live. Seeking help from a shady technophile eager to start a revolution, he dons a robotic suit that makes him stronger and faster, keeping the fatal radiation at bay. Now, Max must steal vital information that could be the turning point in Earth's future. But, he must contend with Defense Secretary Delacourt (Jodie Foster) and her lethal assassin Kruger (Sharlto Copey), who desperately want the information for themselves.

The casting in Elysium is one of the weak points. Matt Damon is the wrong choice for Max, and he just feels awkward in this role. His potential as an action and/or dramatic star is not in contention, but he tries just a little too hard here. Jodie Foster's cold and calculating femme fatale is highly interesting, but she is not given enough screen time to take any real notice. On the other extreme, Sharlto Copey, as the mindless killer, is seen WAY too much; his cool novelties wear off after the first hour, and he's in the second half twice as much. William Fichtner, Alice Braga, and the other supporting roles do not perform particularly well, either.

The dialogue is atrocious, with one cliche-riddled line after another. The premise itself is fascinating, and there's no denying Blomkamp's capacity as a storyteller. But the "one day you'll make a huge difference" garbage is old and never satisfactory writing. In addition, as entertaining as it is to see someone blow up into a million little pieces, seeing it with every single death is palm-in-head worthy by the end.

Elysium remains visually stunning, with awesome special effects and well-developed production designs. On Earth, every scene is crowded with people, a little detail of overpopulation that most directors seem to forget. The robots are very life-like and fulfill their CGI purpose nicely. Someone pointed out to me that everyone on Earth speaks Spanish, and those on Elysium speak French, which is another well-integrated and thought out detail.

Science fiction at it's best serves as a social allegory, masked behind a seemingly-fantastical universe; District 9, for example, dealt with the apartheid of South Africa through aliens that crash land on Earth. That film in particular harkens back to the glory days of highly creative science fiction writing that is not seen as much today. Elysium and it's director should have stuck with the formula they knew worked for District 9, and applied it to a more entertaining story with bigger thrills. Instead, they crafted an empty picture masked behind a visual sleight-of-hand.

Two and a half out of five stars.