Editorial
Front Page - Friday, August 28, 2009
The Critic's Corner
David Laprad
This summer, we’ve been treated to several science fiction blockbusters that cost well over $100 million to make, including “Star Trek,” “Terminator: Salvation” and “Transformers 2.” This Christmas, “Avatar” will hit screens with a price tag of a reported $300 million.
It’s hard to imagine how two hours of moving images could cost that much to make, but in this day and age of intense competition at the box office, that’s what many studios assume it takes to attract an audience. And while the special effects in all of the above pictures were remarkable, a couple of late summer offerings prove you don’t have to spend that kind of money to create satisfying sci-fi.
The first movie I’ll discuss is “District 9,” which writer and director Neill Blomkamp made for $30 million. That might seem like a lot of money, too, but in Hollywood, it’s chump change.
The key to the success of “District 9” is pure moviemaking talent. Somehow, Blomkamp was able to make one of the best-looking science fiction films of the summer for a fraction of what the others cost, pulling off special effects on par with “Transformers 2” and aliens one critic said look better than those in the footage he’s seen of “Avatar.”
If you decide to see “District 9,” do so while it’s in theaters. The shots of the massive alien spaceship hovering over Johannesburg are awesome, but not in the sense you might be thinking; rather, they have a gritty realism that makes the footage more immersive than a pristine shot of the Starship Enterprise ripping through space. And despite the otherworldly nature of the creatures, they look as real and as much a part of the environment as the humans.
Fortunately, Blomkamp knows science fiction movies can offer more than great effects; they can also explore the issues with which we struggle today.
Although humankind has made long leaps toward establishing racial equality, for example, Blomkamp uses his story about the confinement of thousands of aliens to a slum in Johannesburg to suggest there’s still work to be done. And his mix of no-holds-barred action and acerbic social commentary resulted in one of the strangest and most captivating science fiction films I’ve seen in years.
“District 9” is not for everyone. Most of the human characters are loathsome, the setting is filthy and there are a few shots involving alien body functions that were probably a factor in one couple leaving the screening I attended, but there’s no denying Blomkamp accomplished remarkable things for the amount of money the “Transformers 2” crew spent hiring actors.
The budget for “Moon” probably wouldn’t even cover the catering bill for “T2.” Made for the modest price of $5 million, which is half of what George Lucas spent making “Star Wars” 35 years ago, “Moon” is a rewarding throwback to an older kind of sci-fi flick.
Back in the day — by which I mean the ‘70s and ‘80s — science fiction films often featured blue-collar workers in realistic settings. Movies like “Alien” and “Outlander” were just as notable for their believable characters as their futuristic backdrops. Since few people make movies like that today, “Moon” is a rare pleasure.
The movie follows Sam Bell, an astronaut nearing the end of a three-year stint with Lunar Industries. For the entire duration of his contract, Bell has been the only employee at the company’s moon base, where he harvests solar fuel and sends it to Earth.
Since there’s no direct communication between the lunar station and Earth, Bell’s only real-time interaction has been with the base’s central computer, which makes it easy to understand why Bell is looking forward to being with his wife and daughter. With two weeks to go, though, he starts seeing people on the moon, making him doubt his sanity.
Since “Moon” has been on the theatrical circuit since June 10, I recommend waiting for the DVD. Duncan does a good job of masking his film’s low budget, but the print I saw was scratchy. I enjoyed the story, however, and liked the solution to the mystery, even though Bell solves it too easily.
Also, Sam Rockwell is terrific as Bell. I can’t say much more about his performance without revealing things that should remain unspoiled, but I have to applaud his ability to carry a film in which he’s in almost every scene and in which he must bring the same character to life in multiple ways. (Enough said!)
“Moon” is also emotionally complex. I found Bell’s fate to be tremendously sad, though I can see how someone would feel uplifted at the end of the film.
As with “District 9,” “Moon” isn’t for everyone. I recommend it to anyone who loves old school science fiction and more seriously minded futuristic fare.
Contact David at dlaprad@hamiltoncountyherald.
com.
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