Elysium (2013)

Directed by: Neill Blomkamp
Country: USA

Review: Neill Blomkamp’s sophomore feature didn’t disappoint me, even entering in a more conventional territory. Creative sci-fi is already associated to his name and “Elysium” hits this requisite, entertaining us with fierce battles, advanced technology, and urban chaos similar to his previous work “District 9”. Max (Matt Damon) is an ex-con who lives on the Earth and works for the corporation that made Elysium, an advanced space station where there is no poverty, sickness, or war. After having an accident with radiation while working, Max is fired and informed that he only has five days to live. His only hope is to enter in Elysium and use its advanced Med-Pods, and for that he will need a smuggler called Spider (Brazilian Wagner Moura from “Elite Squad”), who in turn asks him for a last favor. In all this process, he will inevitably bump into Elysium’s minister Jessica Delacourt (Jodie Foster) and a raging chaser of illegal immigrants, Kruger (Sharlto Copley). Spectacular action scenes are established among the warlike scenarios of a world where robots assure the security, and computer data is transferred directly to human brains. The colors, soundtrack, and camera work, created a stifling background in tones of noir, filled with merciless violence and fulminant moves. Never bland or uninteresting, “Elysium” is not totally unexpected but guaranteed my attention from start to finish.