HOLLYWOOD—“Elysium” presents to the audience a post-apocalyptic world to the spectator. In one corner, there is the ravaged, desolate, yet populous planet Earth. Lots of people are struggling to survive on the planet that barely has any resources for its citizens. In the other corner, we have Elysium, a distant space station that is a utopia unlike any other. Serene, beautiful people, no crime, no diseases; it’s what we as viewers hope for in real life.
The picture stars Matt Damon as Max DeCosta, an ex-con currently working as a factory worker who inhabits a cancer virus that only gives him several days to find a cure. Not willing to accept death, DeCosta develops a plan to get him inside of Elysium, but the forces working against him are not as forgiving as one would suspect. Jodie Foster is sensational as Secretary of Defense Delacourt who is hard as bones.
She’s a no nonsense authority with very little emotion for human life. She will do whatever it takes to protect the citizens of Elysium. It’s important to note that Foster’s role was originally written for a male, so for her to takeover the reigns are just a slight indication of her power as an actress. Damon’s transformation into character is a revelation as well. The actor shaved his head and packed on pounds of muscle to portray the picture’s hero.
Director Neil Blomkamp who helmed the 2009 thriller “District 9,” has a keen eye for post-apocalyptic worlds. That picture gave audiences a glimpse of a world in the distant future, similar to what “Elysium” presents; towering buildings, an outcry of public mutiny and a clash of government. That’s the theme to highlight in the picture, the battle between social classes: the uber wealthy and the desolate poor.
Those with money continue to live without any worries; those without money continue to suffer. A revolution is bound to happen. An elite station that has devices that can cure diseases in an instant would rather allow people to suffer instead of disrupting the peace on their planet. Nothing stays perfect forever and this movie addresses that issue.
Even in a perfect world flaws exist or permeate through the surface, over time those flaws become bigger and bigger and before you know it all explodes. Blomkamp does reunite with actor Sharlto Copley who portrays Agent Kruger, a member of a violent secret police force that protects those on Elysium and halts any citizens hoping to immigrant to the utopian space station.
What I found so enthralling about “Elysium” is its ability to suture the audience into the picture in a small amount of time. The introduction of the characters which the spectator will identify with one or several, which propels the story of one man’s battle to fight for the those who are unable to fight for themselves. “Elysium” is a scary concept in my opinion, because I fear it is something that will indeed happen in the near future.
By LaDale Anderson
