'District 9' review

Sharlto Copley (Credit: David Bloomer/TriStar)

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A massive spaceship arrived over Johannesburg, South Africa more than 20 years ago, and ever since then humans have been trying to figure out how to deal with the aliens stranded by the event. Neither benevolent nor menacing, the creatures are distinguished by their large height, ugly mugs (earning them the nickname “prawns”), love of cat food and occasional bursts of recreational vandalism. Ghettoized from general society and forced to live in the labor camp/shantytown known as District 9, they’re under the jurisdiction of private company Multi-National United. The story is told from the perspective of one MNU employee, Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley), whose life is permanently altered by close contact with the aliens.

The buzz: A savvy viral marketing campaign including multiple websites tied into the storyline, exclusive events at the recent San Diego Comic-Con and outdoor advertising urging citizens to “report non-human activity” has helped get word of mouth going on the relatively low budget ($30 million), star-free “District 9.” Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson is the big name behind the scenes, serving as producer and helping to publicize the film. But the director is first-timer Neill Blomkamp, who originally intended to direct blockbuster video game adaptation “Halo” for Jackson. When that project fell apart, Jackson agreed to produce this expanded version of Blomkamp’s aliens-in-South-Africa short film “Alive in Jo’burg.”

The verdict: There’s no doubt genre fans will eagerly surrender to the crafty, low budget charms of “District 9,” but can the movie cross over from a sure-to-be devoted cult following to the mainstream? It definitely has the goods: an interesting concept, Blomkamp’s clever filmmaking (the movie begins as a faux-documentary and gradually shifts into a survival tale) and ambitions that far exceed the Hollywood norm. Copley—a film school buddy of Blomkamp’s—carries the movie with a terrific performance as the alternately funny/sleazy/tragic/heroic lead, but the aliens steal the show. Their excellent design and execution never betrays the modest budget, and it's clear that just as much effort went into developing them as compelling characters beyond the special effects. They have such an intriguing backstory it’s a shame we don’t see more. It’s also a shame that in a movie partly inspired by the lessons and legacy of Apartheid, the most prominent black African characters are thugs exploiting the aliens. But “District 9” isn't about delivering a message. Even though the movie takes itself seriously, it’s not heavy-handed, opting to deliver solid entertainment that’s creatively inspired.

Did you know? Copley is a filmmaker as well as an actor, he has an extensive background in South African television and co-produced and directed (with Simon Hansen) the successful short film “2001: A Space Oddity.”

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