DISTRICT 9 REVIEW

1st take: Wow this is really sensitizing me to aliens. So, this is how the E.T. generation must have felt!

Near perfect CGI combined with shaky, embedded-reporter-style camerawork makes District 9 (affectionately known as D-9) a cinematographic hallmark with the alien presence looking and feeling as real as the human mind can possibly imagine. I heard whimpers from the crowd when the lead actor, Wikus Van De Merwe ( Sharlto Copley), was insensitively killing infantile aliens to collect souvenirs.

D-9 sets the notion of the ‘other’ (aliens) being in perfect harmony with the notion of the ‘known’ (humans) by moving away from conventional alien movie settings, using Johannesburg as its main location instead of the more familiar settings of New York or L.A.

Quite possibly to become a classic of our times, Di-9, will stick in the memories of moviegoers, critics, filmmakers and social commentators for a long time. As a genre film, it is THE new benchmark in science fiction. D-9, with its simple plot, offering appeal to a universal audience, it may well make life just a bit more difficult for regular sci-fi filmmakers, who often flood this genre with sub-standard B-movies and might make life very difficult for B-rated sci-fi makers.

The only weak point of the script is when Wikus’ character mutates and develops an alien arm, which comes across as being unrealistic and unessential to the progression of what is in general a truly captivating story. This being said, most of the other sub-plots and sub-themes texture the film tastefully. Wikus’ character development and journey is a  thorough one,  with ups-and-downs and highs and lows that show his character depth ranging from thoughtful and warm, to cold and self-centered, offering an intriguing and often intense character study of a hero in a precarious situation.

2nd take: What is Borat doing in a serious, thought provoking alien film?

Debutant director Neil Blomkamp makes the important choice to give the lead actor Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley) a comical, thick Afrikaans accent to match his borderline comical Afrikaans name. The accent is often a relief considering Wikus’ dialog-driven role. But Sharlto Copley does give away his Sacha Baron Cohen influence at times. More importantly, Neil Blomkamp does not cast well-known faces in the film which would have as definitely spoiled the imaginative process and challenged the film’s certain future hallmark status.

And Cut…

D-9 is far more than just a movie, it is a cinematic event and complete experience that also offers a brilliant platform for the next major first person ‘kill-em-all’ video game.

This production is not a film alone and its advertising, branding and promotional website serves to make D-9 a complete entertainment product. I suggest you check out www.d-9.com to get a taste of D-9’s holistic play on reality.

CBFF are looking for a feature critic to write weekly reviews for our website, reviewing films shown at the CBFF Monthly Film Club as well as the latest films of black interest, classic or vintage titles, as well as the latest general mainstream movie releases. If you love watching movies and can regularly submit one review per week this could be the contest for you!

Entry Rules:

• Each participant can enter no more than 2 reviews for the purposes of the content.
• Each review must be no longer than 800 words
• Films to be reviewed will be the choice of those entering the contest.
• The top 5 reviews will be posted online and judged by the CBFF web community
• The CBFF executive team judge will select the top 5 for online voting. The decision of the CBFF executive team in this selection stands as final.

Deadline for entries: August 31, 2009.

Please submit entries by email, leaving your name, email address and telephone number to filmclub@cbff.ca .

The winner will be announced at the CBFF Monthly Film Club on 6th September 2009. An online announcement and review of the Film Club itself by our contest winner will be up on Monday 14th September.

*Any contest winners found to be plagiarizing from established critics, publications or copyright protected materials will be immediately removed from the post.