Elysium ★★★★☆

Elysium is hands-down my selection for the best action thriller of summer 2013. Billed as a Sci-Fi/Action/Drama/Thriller, Elysium is all of these and more. Elysium is written and directed by Neill Blomkamp, who gave us the memorable District 9 in 2009.

The special effects are incredible; I must admit I was enthralled, and I am not easily impressed by fx in the sci-fi genre. Elysium just feels different to me and definitely gives me the sense of that huge blockbuster action/sci-fi of ages past while still being current and extremely relevant. The costumes, fight scenes, weapons, ships, Elysium itself - everything was so well done, and Damon's droid-like exoskeleton was bad-to-the-bone!

Matt Damon is perfection as Max, the working class everyman-turned-hero. He shows us emotion and lets us look into the soul of what it is like to live on a post-apocalyptic Earth, and when the time comes he gives us a flawless performance as a gritty, no holds barred hero who is willing to do what it takes to save himself and Earth.

Jodie Foster is brilliant in a powerful & unique role that adds drama, suspense and, well, just "Wow!" to every twist and turn of the movie. She rocks futuristic-style pantsuits throughout the film designed by Giorgio Armani in coordination with April Ferry, costume designer for the film. Foster's portrayal of Delacourt couldn't be better. She is powerful, yet graceful, and has a cold way of delivering her lines that lend such strength to the role.

Brazilian-born Alice Braga plays Frey, the childhood friend and grown-up love interest of Damon's character, Max.  She does a decent job as Frey, but certainly is not a standout as far as the supporting cast goes. Sharlto Copley is real and truly believable as Kruger, the psycho rogue agent who Delacourt, played by Foster, is using as her hit man. He wears a mean-guy face well and looks the part. 

I truly loved the dynamic that played out in the movie between the underprivileged and sick living on a destroyed planet Earth (How did it get totally destroyed in the first place?) in 2154 and the very wealthy few who lived on Elysium, a man-made planet orbiting Earth. Of course, the illegal immigration allegory is evident throughout the film, and very real parallels to today's society were not lost on me (some can't afford insurance, the super rich can afford better doctors and care).

 

There's an incredibly touching scene in which a child is healed in one split second of cancer. I found myself hoping that one day soon, the sci-fi healing I was witnessing would become something very real. Now THAT would be the real thrill of a lifetime. Just imaging a pod that can heal anything; that's the stuff so many dream of every day. 

While the ending is good and I love the romantic aspect of the film, along with the sentimental touches, Blomkamp really could have opted for a combination of the sentimental ending and one that included showing more of how the hardships of those who were sick and in need on Earth would be resolved.  I'm not saying that showing the healing of a child at the end should've been taken out, because that was incredibly touching. However, the plight of Earth's people should have been more prevalent in the ending and how life would be forever changed for the better highlighted as a finale.

For now, Elysium is a really good movie that is a sci-fi thriller, action, must-see event that I highly recommend for older teens and adults. It's summer blockbuster cinema at its best.  I give it ★★★★☆.

MPAA Rating:  R    

     

Running Time: 1 hr 37 mins

Sex     ☆☆☆☆☆

Nudity      ★☆☆☆☆

Language      ★★★★★★

Violence     ★★★★★

Alcohol/Drugs     ★★☆☆☆