Great performances and special effects highlight Neill Blomkamp's latest.
In 2009, up-and-coming writer/director Neill Blomkamp abandoned the much-troubled Halo project in favor of his own film, District 9. Many fans felt that this was a mistake, but the movie ended up being a triumph, between stellar – and affordable – special effects and a powerful performance from Sharito Copley as a reporter who gets mixed up in the alien surroundings.
For his latest go-around, Blomkamp pays a visit to Elysium, a move that once again blends terrific special effects with a story that mostly has meaning. There are a couple of moments that falter, but overall, it's a sci-fi thrill ride you don't want to miss.
Max (Matt Damon) is a former car thief trying to adjust back to life after spending several years in jail – though the local police robots won't give him a break, injuring him while he's on his way to work. It's here he runs into his childhood love Frey (Alice Braga), working at a local hospital. After making a date with her, he returns to work, where things take a turn for the worse.
