Boxoffice > The Business of Movies > Movie Reviews

District 9

by Tim Cogshell

posted July 29, 2009 12:35 PM

High concept allegory for apartheid

District 9 is about the apartheid struggle in South Africa. For those under the age of 35 or so, apartheid was the system of racial segregation legally established by the government of South Africa between 1948 and 1994. No matter what else it seems to be about, District 9, a film made a young, white, South African director, is about apartheid. Co-writer/director Neill Blomkamp spent his formative years living under the system of apartheid and has conscientiously insinuated the issue into his film. The attitudes, ideals and actions of the characters, from everyday citizens to government officials and those in business, reflect those that were common during the apartheid regime. The filmmakers, including producer Peter Jackson, have stealthily laid the artifacts of these dark days beneath the guise of an Alien invasion movie that is intense, graphically novelistic (though it’s an original story) and just funny enough to keep you thoroughly entertained, even while the subtext is of a very serious nature. Buzz and an also clever marketing scheme suggest this should be worth a few bucks at the box office—especially if the audience is mostly under 35.

The film is told using a number of cinematic modes including documentary footage, mockumentary footage, newsreel accounts, surveillance cameras and the standard story elements of narrative fiction. This is actually less chaotic than it sounds and serves to move the narrative along at a brisk pace. There’s little need here for filler. The filmmakers can justify any narrative exposition by putting a camera on the action (any potential camera) and just showing us, or having the characters explain the action to the cameramen. When all else fails Blomkamp inserts a movie moment and presses on. Lovely. Mister Blomkamp is a fine director who cut his teeth on commercials and music videos, and at the knee of director and special effects guru Peter Jackson. Between the two of them (Jackson’s company was employed for the effects) they’ve come up with the best CGI effects film to date. The spacecrafts, the cityscapes, the weapons effects and the aliens themselves (which we are told are 100 percent CGI) are all exceptional. But the best thing in the movie is lead actor Sharlto Copley, a long time friend of the director and fairly novice actor. Copley is pitch perfect, delicately straddling the line between ordinary Afrikaans racist and empathic hero.

The narrative of District 9 revolves around a giant alien spacecraft that came to rest above downtown Johannesburg, South Africa, some 20 years before the story began. Inhabited by one million crawfish-like, cat food and raw meat eating, humanoid aliens, little can be discerned about where the ship came from or who the creatures are. They are simply here. They are strong but without direction or purpose, mostly docile and apparently of little use to humanity. So we warehouse them—in District 9. Then, we decide to forcibly move them to a different, shoddier, interment camp.
While other nations are far from guiltless of such cruelties, the emphasis here is on the South African history. Still, the structures the film employs are incisive and direct and, if you’re over 35, they might piss you off.

Distributor: Sony Pictures
Cast: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt, Sylvaine Strike, William Allen Young and Robert Hobbs
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Screenwriters: Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
Producers: Peter Jackson
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: Rated R for bloody violence and pervasive language.
Running Time: 113 min.
Release date: August 14, 2009

47 Comments

Andreas said:

This movie looks really awesome. Its an original idea that seems like it will be a poignant take on past and present policies of institutional exclusion for the wrong reasons.

July 29, 2009 9:06 PM

Steph Sharples said:

I cannot wait for this movie.. I am a huge fan of the sci-fi genre and this one is looking great. The spacecraft looked incredible- looking forward to seeing the CGI like you mentioned. Nice review.

July 29, 2009 10:13 PM

Henry B. Rosenbush said:

Like any great episodes of "The Twilight Zone" where Rod Serling used aliens to get across his points about bigotry, war or whatever the censors weren't hip enough to catch this film definitely looks to shine an unfavorable light on the human race and its treatment of anyone,or indeed anything, that is different. The website is a great example with the options of entering as Human or Non-Human and is both intensely frightening and humorous in equal measures. Very nice review, too, Tim.

July 31, 2009 10:23 PM

Oom.Jislaaik said:

SUID AFRICA JOU LEKKER DING!! Finally a South African movie that truly showcases something different about South Africa

August 1, 2009 10:40 AM

Over 35 said:

A South African movie about something different? Hello, this is about how South Africa used to be!

August 3, 2009 3:32 AM

josh said:

it looks realy good

August 3, 2009 7:35 PM

josh said:

The trailer makes me want to see more i realy think that this movie has big chnaces at the box office,I mean the way that it waz shoot i can't wait to go see this!

August 3, 2009 7:37 PM

josh said:

The trailer makes me want to see more i realy think that this movie has big chnaces at the box office,I mean the way that it waz shoot i can't wait to go see this!

August 3, 2009 7:38 PM

maj said:

Credit where credit is due.

Yes Jackson's Weta Digital did do some of the vfx work but the bulk of it was done by two studios in Vancouver

Image Engine Design and The Embassy.

August 5, 2009 12:58 AM

South-side-of-Africa said:

I honestly can't wait for the movie. And I'll watch with interest as the rest of the world debates how bad us South Africans are, or used to be.

August 5, 2009 1:12 PM

letterman said:

I can't figure out what is meant by "graphically novelistic." Unless it means "like a graphic novel," it seems an opaque turn of phrase.

August 6, 2009 8:45 AM

Ezee-T said:

@ Over 35.
What my fellow South African was eluding to was that finally there's a movie that involves South Africa that doesn't have the overbearing topics of AIDS, crime or apartheid as it's central premise. Although the reviewer says apartheid is central, other top reviews have not and I hope that's the case.

For once I'd like to see a zombie amble on a South African street and not a black person running away from a racist white person.

August 6, 2009 6:28 PM

Anonymous said:

Ezee-T:

Read the wikipedia entry on District Six, then you'll understand how the movie District 9 is a commentary on apartheid. Black persons aren't running away from racist white persons, aliens are running away from xenophobic humans.

August 10, 2009 2:00 PM

goo said:

This movie is definitely more about the recent xenophobic violence that happened in South Africa (where some of the documentary footage were captured), with an undertone of apartheid racism, not the other way round.

It is a pity that the majority of the viewers only attach South Africa to the apartheid (pre '94), and ignoring such fact as a black Zimbabwean was burn alive by black South Africans (2008). These ongoing violence marks xenophobia a no-less serious issue than racism, and dare I say, maybe even the past apartheid as a whole.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenophobia_in_South_Africa

August 11, 2009 4:18 AM

GaryM said:

This movie is a good movie, in a w ay of story telling. The movie shows the harsh reality of character testament. The actions a preety solid and the drama is so intense. Great story telling, with good CGI quality, in which the aliens looks so real. Its suppose to be rated 5 star for its pure drama.

August 13, 2009 6:10 AM

adam said:

If you guys are interested in finding out if any of the cool science in the movie could happen in reality, go to www.district9facts.com. You can weigh in about what you think of the movie and get details on the behind-the-scenes science. I like the idea that a gun can only be used by whoever's DNA it is registered to. What do you think?

August 13, 2009 11:58 AM

Anonymous said:

your an idiot! And you probably were the kid that got beat up every day in school. You probably think we need gun control too. What we need is the panty wearing idiots of this world to stand up and stop wanting the government to fix everything, including feeding us, giving us money and health insurance.

August 14, 2009 4:40 PM

AaronG said:

Really now, Anonymous person. How old are you, twelve? Listen to you babbling about kids who get beat up in school. You, above anyone else, must have, considering the fact that you have kept yourself Anonymous. The Government has made good, and bad decisions altogether, and frankly, if they feed us, give us money, or HEALTH INSURANCE, we should take it. It's to our advantage, and when we are given a valuable asset to our lives, we take it. So stop pissing your pants, you little prick.
***Pardon my language and aggravation to all of the others after and before this comment. The government should of put THIS guy in his place***

Back to topic, this movies was actually extremely entertaining. Sci-Fi/Fantasy isn't really a proper Genre for this. It's more of a Thriller and Sci-Fi fusion, if you will. The cinematography of each scene was very realistic.

Here are some examples:
In shooter style video games, the camera moves with the character, showing a partial view of the arms and gun itself. This element was used in the movie, effectively.

When a death occured, a body explosion perhaps(wink wink), the blood splatter would splat on the screen. It gives you the sort of effect that makes a person want to wince, or flinch, and move back quickly. That's an effect that gets you into the movie indeed.

The "Mothership", which is the large flying UFO above the setting of this movie, in South AFrica, is just so massive and well detailed. It gives you the fantasy about what dwells inside of it, in each nook and cranny of it. Every shadow, shade of grey and black, crack, rip, tear, rust, or damage on it is clearly shown on it. Almost as if it really exists.

On these Aliens, facial expressions were shown on them. This was a very nice thing, because it showed the in-depth emotions felt by them. If you've watched the Trailer for this movie, you saw how they said they had just "wanted to go home." You see those emotions in the eyes of these unknown life forms. When one of their own is dead, or killed, the eyes show what they're feeling. You feel real sympathy for them when you see these facial details, and that's a real turn-on when it comes to a movie.
__________________________________________________

My rating for this movie overall: 5/5 stars. But i'm only saying what I feel about it. If you want to see these things and more, see the movie yourself. Hurry before it leaves theaters, as I would NEVER enjoy seeing this on DVD. The theatrical feel from going to my movie theater just makes it feel a whole lot better.

Happy watching!
~AaronG

August 14, 2009 7:01 PM

GaryM said:

THIS MOVIE REALLY ROCKS......period. It is a realistic movie with all the dramas and actions, Everything is combined together ...... well made movie.

August 14, 2009 8:18 PM

SoFlSndwve said:

Saw it and I give it 5 stars. Well frickin done man! I want Peter Jackson, to take over the Transformers franchise! Sorry but Bayformers inferior...Jackformers would be superior!

August 14, 2009 9:03 PM

Carrie from Ohio said:

This movie was spectacular. I went and watched it tonight and I must say that I will be watching it again hopefully in the next week. I found it quite refreshing to see a new bill of actors/actresses.

August 14, 2009 9:46 PM

jared said:

This was a really great movie. Fun adventure. Can anyone say sequal?

August 15, 2009 6:51 AM

Kenny from Henderson said:

I was astonished by this movie. Words can not describe what I saw. I urge my friends to make this Sci/Fi journey and see if you aren't as shocked as I was.

August 15, 2009 8:27 PM

JaderoZ said:

Good job! District 9

August 16, 2009 5:46 AM

Jay Shanks said:

That **** sucked.. I would have loved it, if i was 7 years old. People today and movies really piss me off. G.I joe gets on star when this crappy movies gets like 3. I'm moving to another country i'm fed up

August 16, 2009 7:18 AM

Chris K. said:

Wow this movie is something else!
I love this movie!!! One of the best SF movies I've ever seen.

August 16, 2009 1:12 PM

Steph said:

I saw the beginning 1/2 hour, and couldn't finish. It was so BORING. Good graphics, good idea, but extremely boring.
I hate to say that because I know there was a lot of time and effort put into it, but someone has to be honest.

August 16, 2009 7:02 PM

Steph said:

And Aaron G, the Americans who can't spend their own money wisely, how do you expect them to spend OUR money wisely?
But anyway, enough with the politics. 8^)

August 16, 2009 7:07 PM

AaronG said:

Steph the story was one that you were supposed to listen to. If you'd given it a chance then you may have thought differently. Otherwise, unless you're, say, a 10 year old, you'd care about the story.

August 18, 2009 5:12 AM

Aking said:

Seru gag sih?

August 20, 2009 8:44 PM

Pinkjacket said:

Something good coming out of Afrika and it's about aliens? Sign me o brother!

August 22, 2009 4:11 AM

Aking said:

Better than cloverfield

August 23, 2009 8:57 AM

Iced said:

So did anyone notice this film was racist against Nigerians? I'm a Nigerian and I tried to be objective about the whole Nigerian Gangster portrayal but I then thought of it this way, if the movie is a satire and the aliens represent the "blacks" of Apartheid South Africa and the humans represent the oppressive "whites" then who do the Nigerians represent other than Nigerians? This was just a twisted view that South Africans have about Nigeria! And sadly they are now portraying it to the world!

August 24, 2009 12:43 AM

zhack said:

klo ngliat trailernya si seru.actionya cakep.gue harus nonton film ini

August 24, 2009 2:04 PM

Jules said:

For Iced:- The Nigerians were portrayed in a bad light - but really none of the white guys were portrayed that well either - they were all money hungry and seemed to have no feelings whatsoever All the humans were all portrayed as bad in a semi stereotypical manner - it was kind of the point i think :)

August 24, 2009 7:19 PM

B.Doug said:

Yes, the movie was a little slow at 1st, but it definitly delivered.
Aking, you said this movie was better than cloverfield, every movie is better than cloverfield. Cloverfield gave me a headache, and this was enjoyable.
AaronG, yes, the government has made good and bad decisions, but they absolutly should not give free handouts. That attitude is what makes people lazy, and it's that attitude that almost everyone on wellfare has. although, you were right about one thing...I wouldn't want to watch this on DVD either.

Over all, 4 1/2 out 5 *'s

August 26, 2009 12:34 PM

Anonymous said:

Why are we commenting on government issues... this is a forum for movies...
A wouldn't see this movie on DVD, while refreshing and something new, I was kinda upset they didnt take the 15-30 minutes to wrap it up, sequels upset me. No human in this movie are portrayed as decent people, the protagonist isnt the traditional protagonist... It doesn't seem like he learns anything

I liked the movie though, worth seeing once

August 28, 2009 10:21 AM

theNEXTbigTHING said:

People of the forum, I will say that this movie was structured well (story,camera angles/shots, charactures, and overall presentation) But I found one thing horribly wrong with this film. half of the script was the F-word. why cant we today, make amazing movies with out obsessively using profane words? I'm a big scifi nut and so is my little 11yr old brother, and i was disapointed when i had to leave him home. Now i dont care if he sees a movie were somebodys in some way is blownup,smashed,vaporized,ect. because he plays halo and sees this kind of stuff all the time, but why do directors have to use so much profanity in thier movies now a day. It doesn't add ANYTHING to the film. District nine could have been so much better if the script had not been 1/2 the F-word. overall i would have given this film 4 out of 4, but for the reason i stated above results in me giving it a 2 1/2 out of 4 stars. I hope the sequel will be better. if you agree and want to leave me a reply go to youtube.com and search GAMERBOY4000, this is my channel tag and just leave me a message. thanks for your time.

August 30, 2009 12:42 AM

Skiballas said:

@ Iced: Dude, I dont think they tried to potray Nigerians in a bad light. But I will, it is a well known FACT that Nigerians run the drug industry in South Africa, as well as alot of prostitution. If you dont believe me, watch "Louis Theroux's Law and Disorder". It is a shame though, as a few bad apples gives the impression that all Nigerian people are bad. We know it is not so, and I am sure if I ever visit Nigeria I will have a good experience, but hell, I dont trust one Nigerian in South Africa.

August 31, 2009 3:25 AM

South African said:

LOL...some of you foreign people believe anything you hear or see...Dont think that South Africa is a place where Nigerian Gangs rule certain parts etc...lol South Africa is actually a very nice and peacefull place...and Skiballas...I think you would wanna think twice about your comment "and I am sure if I ever visit Nigeria I will have a good experience" YOU CLEARLY have no IDEA what is going on in Nigeria...and btw if your foreign in Nigeria you get kidnapped and held ransom...There is security companies that escort all foreigners in Nigeria...and I could go on and tell you some more of the detail but that would spoil the thread...just go do some homework before you make comments like that again... ;)

August 31, 2009 4:03 PM

. said:

Perfect movie i ever seen

September 1, 2009 7:15 AM

Dan said:

Fok it's the coolest movie since The 5th Element

September 6, 2009 3:12 PM

Matt said:

Best movie ever - cant wait for district 10!

September 7, 2009 12:25 PM

wall said:

Perfect movie i ever seen