District 9

Peter Jackson presents a film by Neill Blomkamp is the most brilliant way to get people to see a film by Neill Blomkamp possible.

Joking aside, the advertising campaign for this one was well done. A mysterious alien film that was shot under the radar in South Africa for a paltry 30 million with no star power doesn't sound like much. Throw in Peter Jackson, great special effects and a pseudo-political theme, and it becomes the sleeper action hit of the year.

Intentionally shrouded in secrecy, Blomkamp cast his friend, Sharlto Copely as an agent in a parallel present day South Africa where aliens have been residing for nearly 30 years. Copely is charged with relocating the nearly 2 million aliens from their dilapidated and dangerous slums into a more "cozy" and safe concentration camp. Sound familiar? The aliens are also incapable of leaving due to a broken piece on their mothership that just sort of hovers over their slums.

The cool thing about the film is the way that the aliens are presented. They are not the ferocious creatures that we have seen so many times, and although they do have the cliche advanced technology (which I suppose they would need to get to earth) there is a segment that is skipped by having them reside with us for nearly 30 years. There is a fearlessness on both sides, and the communication gaps are filled. It is almost as if they are an accepted part of society. And that is the intent.

Because of their differences, most evident to us by their appearance, they are segregated and relegated to an enclosed confinement, aptly named District 9. It is a slum that makes Mumbai look almost pleasant - they are creepy crustacean-looking creatures who scavenge through garbage and enjoy cat food, and are unaffectionately nicknamed "prawns" by the people of Johannesburg.

What happens during the relocation process sets off a chain of events that leads to the uncovering of a government conspiracy, and ultimately a bloody battle.

The story is set up in documentary style, with interviews of witnesses and scientists, and more than anything else, it is a clever way to quickly tell the back story without going into too much technical detail. There are additionally some interesting camera angles throughout - some reverse first-person shooter when the paramilitary group is closing in on the protagonist, and the film jumps back to documentary at the conclusion.

It has the feel of 2008's Cloverfield without the headache. In the manner that it is presented, there is a feeling that although entirely preposterous, it becomes believable. The alien technology provides us with some of the highlights of the film - explosions and bloody gore.

Copely had given Blomkamp his first job nearly 15 years ago, and he is receiving a huge favor in return now. I'm not sure about the connection between Jackson and Blomkamp, but they likely share an interest in the creation of this project.

Not for the squeamish, District 9 is ultra-violent and causes plenty of cringes with human explosions and nasty prawn alien sequences. I would highly recommend this for its originality alone. But the effects are pretty cool too. 9/10.