District 9

**** Stars

Who would have thought? One of the best films of the year is an alien movie directed by a first time director with a $30 million budget featuring no star presence whatsoever. As a label, District 9 doesn't exactly scream critical and box-office success does it? But labels are exactly the reason why this film is so refreshing. Neill Blomkamp, originally attached to direct the frustratingly canceled Halo adaptation, proves that he is no amateur when it comes to making movies. In fact, if someone told me this was directed by Peter Jackson and not just produced, I'd believe it. What makes this even more of a wonderful feat of filmmaking (along with its artistic success, of course) is its opening weekend at the box-office. District 9 pulled in $37 million on its opening weekend. For someone who is seriously committed to box-office tracking, this is one of my favorite pieces of movie news all year. Finally, a film worthy of taking the #1 spot.

The film's concept is one hell of an idea. Aliens, instead of invading earth, become stuck on earth. The film opens with documentary-style footage of interviews that reveal the history of how District 9 (a ghetto for "non-humans" only) came to be. Twenty years prior to the films events (it takes place in 2010) an alien ship is spotted above Johannesburg, South Africa. Instead of the aliens setting foot on the ground first, we humans get too anxious and decide to board the ship, only to discover a large amount of aliens suffering from illness. A ghetto is formed, and District 9 becomes the living ground for all non-humans (in case you were wondering about the terminology, the creatures are called "Prawns"). While apartheid allegory is clearly a present theme in the movie, Blomkamp dares not to exploit political messages of today's world, and instead lets the story unfold for the viewer to think for themselves. Who are the victims here, the aliens or the humans? Why won't we let the aliens leave? Why aren't the aliens attacking us? Is there meaning behind why the ship landed over Johannesburg, South Africa?

After twenty years of aliens on earth, people are beginning to grow tired of their money being invested in District 9. So a private company called Multi-National United (MNU) shows up to move as many creatures as possible to District 10 in order to control the over-populated District 9. The movie then shifts from a documentary style to a gritty sci-fi thriller, centering on a MNU field operative named Wikus van der Merwe (newcomer Sharlto Copley) and his experience in District 9. During his time there, he is exposed to a mysterious alien liquid, and over time, becomes very sick.

Sorry, but you'll have to see the movie to know what happens to him. My apologies, but there is not way I am ruining the element of surprise for you. All you need to know is that it's riveting entertainment.

I am baffled as to how Blomkamp was able to pull this movie off with only $30 million. District 9 feels like an epic summer movie, but one with the smarts and visual expertise you deserve out of an epic summer movie. I hope Michael Bay (Transformers 2) and Stephen Sommers (G.I Joe: The Rise of Cobra) are sitting down somewhere with their combined $375 million budget thinking, "Shit. I didn't know people actually wanted a story to go along with action." Good riddance again that this movie is taking names at the box-office. It's the film we've been waiting for all summer folks. So don't hesitate. Go see District 9, a vivaciously spectacular movie event with the heart of a natural storyteller and the eye of a born filmmaker.