“District 9″ (2009)
Was District 9 ever an Oscar best-picture contender? Probably not. But it’s a solid little sci-fi film, which evokes tension and fear in spite of its low-budget effects. They aren’t bad, but they’d certainly not in the same league as Star Trek’s or Avatar’s. Speaking of that latter blockbuster, NPR writer Linda Holmes wrote that District 9 did a better job telling a nuanced, provocative story about alien invasion and fear of the other than did Avatar.
District 9 advances the thesis — graphically and imaginatively, if with comparatively cheap-looking visuals — that violent mistreatment of entire populations is per se immoral. And it advances this idea without suggesting that the targeted population should prove itself first — prove that it is a superior society, better in tune with nature, less violent, prettier.
And I agree. Avatar looked great, but had a tired story about noble savages and greedy human invaders. Evocatively set in South Africa, District 9 turns that premise on its head. Aliens come to Earth, but they’re sick and starving, not invading.
In his first role ever, Sharlto Copley is tremendous as the bureaucrat in charge of relocating the aliens. He’s like Michael Scott from The Office, until things go horribly wrong. This film reminded me (pleasantly) of a grand story from Torchwood or Doctor Who, and of the low-budget high-thrill 28 Days.